Okay supermoms! Home schooling is a HUGE undertaking as well you know. Now here I am, asking you to feed your little scholars something other than cold cereal. You may be thinking I’m asking too much – after all – how could I possibly know how much you have on your plates? Well, I’ve been there and done that. Including wallowing in the guilt that accompanies the slap-dash breakfast that is all we think we can manage on busy school mornings.
Just how important is breakfast? Hugely important!
Eating breakfast is important for everyone, but is especially so for children and adolescents. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and on the playground, with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and eye-hand coordination. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/many-benefits-breakfast
Well, dear ones, I have the answer to that troublesome issue. It is a recipe I developed while observing my family’s eating behaviors over the years. After finding it was impossible to get everyone (different grade levels and schedules) to the breakfast table at the same time – I finally came up with something that served the needs of all family members and schedules – including mine. If you read the article about Saturday baking, then you will see how this is accomplished. During the Saturday bake (cookies and treats) I also bake enough of my “Oatmeal Power Bars,” to feed my family breakfast for a week. Everyone loves these.
The basic recipe for Oatmeal Power Bars:
6 eggs beaten
1 cup olive oil (not extra virgin)
1 1/2 cups honey
4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
4 cups quick oats (not instant!)
In a LARGE mixing bowl, beat the eggs with an electric mixer, then add oil and honey, beating until well blended. At this point, you will add your “enhancements.” Extracts should be blended in with the oil and honey, and the dry add- ins get mixed in with the oats. The 8 cups of oats and dry add- ins will need to be mixed with a sturdy spoon or spatula – they are very dense!
- Chocolate chip – add 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Apple cinnamon – add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 cup chopped dried apples, and 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Cranberry – add 4 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 cup Craisins, 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped pecans
- Cherry – add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons almond extract, 1 cup dried cherries, 1 cup sliced or slivered almonds
There are many other options to flavoring these bars. I only share with you my family’s favorites. Raisins are not popular at our house – but I’m sure you could come up with a raisin variation your family would love. They are soft, chewy, and you can really sink your teeth into them. They are so good in fact, that a young athletic man ( a neighbor) pays me to make him a pan every week. He says he “has to have one every morning!”
Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray, and dump the mixture in, flattening it with your spoon or spatula. Put directly into a cold oven, set it to 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. The edges should be golden brown. If your oven has poor circulation, rotate the pan half way through the baking time.
This recipe can be halved and baked in an 8 in. square pan – and it can also be doubled if you have two 9 x 13’s and a really huge mixing bowl!
Allow to cool completely before cutting. These bars are even suitable for toddlers, if crumbled in a bowl, and softened with milk. I just popped it in the microwave for 30 seconds, and my little ones loved it.
High in soluble fiber and protein – gluten free as well. These will transform your mornings – I guarantee it. And since you make enough to last for a week – this is the most instant of breakfasts – but oh so much better for your family than anything you could buy from any store. I buy my oats from Aldis – the absolute cheapest place to buy them – and they are excellent quality. I also buy my eggs from Aldis – because there is a Bible verse inside each carton. I buy honey and vanilla extract from Costco.
The Vine Vigil 
