Resolution Waffles (aka Healthy Waffles)

//recipe by Mary Shirley//

The holidays are filled with cookies, cupcakes, and anything else you can think of to make! I am all about indulging during the holidays (that's what they are for right?). But, one thing I will stick with during the holiday season (unless I'm eating cronuts or pancakes), is eating a healthy breakfast. For the past 5 years or more, I've eaten oatmeal for breakfast. Its filling and healthy. But, I recently made waffles with oatmeal, and haven't looked back since! These Banana Oatmeal Waffles are my everyday breakfast. I usually pick up a bag of oatmeal and a few ripe bananas when I'm walking through Trader Joe's and I'm good to go!
I literally eat this for breakfast every day. I normally smear them with peanut butter, but sometimes I'll top with a banana, greek yogurt, syrup, or jelly. Really, anything would be great. These taste pretty much like a regular waffle but they are made with oatmeal! These have been life changing for me. Check out the recipe here.   If you'd like to see how I make these things in bulk, so I can easily grab and go literally every single morning. Check that out here. Meal Prepping my breakfasts has been a life changer.

Recipe: Cookie Butter Pound Cake Cupcakes with Cookie Butter

//recipe by Mary Shirley//

Another Cookie Butter recipe for you Cookie Butter Lovers (AKA ME)!! I've mentioned a few times how obsessed I am with Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter. I actually recently bought the Cookies and Creme version, and have eaten most of the jar without making anything with it. Highly recommend. A few weeks ago I made these Cookie Butter Pound Cake Cupcakes with Cookie Butter Icing. YUM. They were moist and delicious. The perfect combination of Cookie Butter and my grandma's pound cake. Check out the recipe over on my blog, Gold Layer Cake. c

Teach Me How to Panko

//I Prefer Panko by Keri Ann O'Riordan//

The other night, my boyfriend asked what was for dinner, and I told him panko-breaded chicken breast, roasted corn, and a mixed green salad. He had no idea what panko breadcrumbs were and couldn’t wrap his head around why I’d use panko instead of regular breadcrumbs.

I was dumbfounded, since panko is one of my go-to ingredients. For those of you who are like my boyfriend, and don’t understand panko or its uses, read on! You can find a bag of panko at Trader Joe’s. I’ve found that the bag is plenty, and lasts me through a few meals.

Panko: Japanese-style breadcrumbs; used in place of regular breadcrumbs in a variety of recipes

Picture from Confessions of a Chocoholic

Typically, panko crumbs are made from loaves of white bread, so they are lighter colored and coarser than regular breadcrumbs. They produce a crunchy coating with a nice flavor. I recommend toasting panko in a pan before using them, as it deepens the flavor and makes the crumbs even crunchier. Panko can be used for practically any recipe that requires breadcrumbs, but here are a few of my favorite uses: 

• Breaded chicken
• Breaded fish
• Breaded pork
• Chicken and eggplant parmesan
• Fried foods, like onion rings and mozzarella sticks
• Baked macaroni and cheese
• Topping for baked foods like casseroles, meatloaf, and shepherd’s pie
• Crispy Asparagus Spears