Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

I've been having a baked oatmeal craze lately. It never used to appeal to me until out of the blue, I decided to give it a try.... and the rest is history!

Oatmeal is a crazy thing. It's so healthy, but so delicious. That is, if you make it the right way; and this, my friends, is the right way. Brownie-like on the outside, fudgey in the middle, it doesn't get better than this. 

Remember my chocolate pudding oatmeal? If you tried it, then you know it's delicious. Well this is the baked version, which is also delish.

So go ahead, give it a whirl. You won't be disappointed.

Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/4 tsp. Baking powder

1 1/2 tbsp. Cocoa powder

1 small ripe banana, mashed

1/3 cup almond milk, or milk of choice

1) Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. And grease a single- serving ramkin.

2) Combine first three ingredients.

3) Stir in first the banana, then the milk.

4) Bake until no longer liquidy in the center, or about 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

-Danielle

How to Get Some Exercise on Accident

I work out 6 days a week. I walk/run in the mornings and do my daily workout routine in the afternoon. I exercise because it's good for me, and I feel accomplished after I finish. I feel better on days when I work out. But, I would be lying if I told you I enjoy working out.

However, working out doesn't always have to be a chore. Here are some ways of sneaking in some exercise that can be enjoyable:

Hiking. This is fun because it allows you to enjoy nature while getting some exercise.

Biking. Choose to bike to the store, library, school, work, etc. Personally, I love biking, but somehow, it becomes ever so much more bearable when you have a destination.

Walk with friends. Walking (or almost anything) can become exponentially more fun when done with a friend to talk to; they really make the time go by fast!

Skiing. I have never water skied, but I adore snow skiing! It really works muscles that are normally seldom used.

Sports. The only sport I play is tennis. The thing I love about sports is that when you are playing, you aren't thinking about exercise, you are focused on winning. It's totally a mind game.

Dance. Although they may help, wallet-emptying dance lessons aren't even necessary. Just play your jam, and flow to the music!

Shop (!!!). Although this definitely shouldn't be your daily exercise routine, shopping very now and then is actually not bad exercise. At least if you're like me and speed-walk the whole time.

Just be.creative when trying to exercise. Switch it up and try to enjoy it. Other suggestions I have are to:
Listen to audio books during your workout.

If you are on a treadmill, exercise bike, or working out in a relatively stationary fashion, watch a movie. It makes the time fly!

So get out there and have fun moving around! If you have any other suggestions on ways to accidentally exercise, comment below!
~Danielle

Peaches 'n' Cream Smoothie

Hey there! How have you been? I've been awsome since I recently got two GIANT crates of peaches. Seriously, there are probably about 100 peaches in my house, awaiting their fate. Mwahaha. 

The thing about peaches, though is that they ripen rather speedily, so I had to figure put how to use them up within a week. It wasn't too hard considering how scrumptious they are, whether they're plain or in something.

Whether you are a peach purist, or of you like to put them in pies and cobblers and such, you'll looove this smoothie! The peach and the banana compliment each other well, although the banana's flavor is not really the star of the show. It's more of the supporting role.

Peaches 'n' Cream Smoothie

1 peach, cut into chunks and frozen

1 Banana, cut into rounds and frozen
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 scant tsp cinnamon

Blend in a blender untill smooth. Enjoy immediately.

Comment below your favorite way to use peaches!
~Danielle

Creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter

Remember my last recipe for peanut butter? Well here's another!

Peanut butter is seriously my favorite food. Now over the course of this blog, I am sure I'll frequently state otherwise, saying, "mango is my favorite food", or "chocolate is my favorite food", but the truth is, I have many favorite foods, but it just so happens that peanut butter is at the top of the totem pole. In fact, this blog might have been titled "Chits and Chats and Peanut Butter", if Chocolate didn't sound better.

But, chocolate is another of my favorite foods, and it's just so wonderful that two of my favorite foods happen to be such a brilliant pair.

And now, you too can have your fill of peanutty-chocolatey goodness without the chemicals and sugar in Reese's peanut butter cups, or store-bought chocolate peanut butter!

Creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter

Makes about 1 to 1 1/2 cups

2 cups peanut butter

1 tbsp. Coconut oil

3-4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 oz. dark chocolate 

1-2 tbsp. agave syrup (more or less depending on desired sweetness)

Grind peanuts and coconut oil in food processor until it forms a coarse paste. Add remaining ingredients and continue to process until completely smooth. The peanuts will go through phases--

1) coarse crumbs, like sand

2) a thick, coarse paste, like play doh mixed with sand (yum, right?)

3) a giant ball, mostly smooth

4) the ball will melt down into a smooth, luscious dream come true

Refridgerate in an air-tight container ~2 weeks. Use your best judgement.

~~{~@ Danielle

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The Letter Challenge

When was the last time you sent a letter? This form of communication is becoming increasingly unpopular as technology advances, which is a shame, because I think receiving letters is so much more fun than receiving e-mails of texts.

So, I'm starting a challenge. Once a week for at least a month, I'm challenging you to send a hand written letter to a friend or family member. Trust me, it's not that bad, and it's one of the best ways to show that you're thinking of them and that you care. And it is not unlikely that if you send a letter, that you'll receive one in return!

·~Danielle

Let's Chit and Chat no. 2

Hey! Welcome to my Let's Chit and Chat post no. 2! My last one has been one of my most popular posts, but no one commented! Please comment. I don't bite. Really. Unless if you are a bowl of salted caramel pretzel chocolate peanut butter banana soft serve. Then I can't make any promises.
 Anyway, like last time, my answers are in italics. Comment your answers below, pretty please with sugar on top!

Secret Talent?
I taught myself how to play the harmonica.

Do you have any pets? What are their names and what animal are they?
No pets! 

What's your favourite sport to watch? To play?
Does figure skating count? I love playing tennis!

What does your ideal vacation look like?
A tropical cruise.

If it was your last meal, what would you choose?
Crab for dinner, cheesecake for dessert!

So please comment your answers! I'd love to hear them!
~Danielle

Blueberry Peach Cobbler Baked Oatmeal

Originally, this oatmeal title was not going to include the "cobbler" part, but the second I took my first bite, I knew I had to forewarn you all: this tastes shockingly unhealthy, or at least a lot like dessert. Not all deserts have to be unhealthy. This recipe just so happens to be healthy enough for breakfast, and tasty enough for dessert. The best of both worlds!

The blueberries bloat in the oven untill they become little packets of flavor that burst in your mouth with every bite. The peach sweetens it and give it that wonderous cobbler-like texture and flavor. Yes my friends, this is the breakfast of champions!

Blueberry Peach Cobbler Baked Oatmeal
1 peach
1/3 - 1/2 cup blueberries (depending on your preference)
1/3 cup milk of choice (I used almond)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
Sweetener to taste, optional
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
Pinch of cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Baking powder

1) Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit
2) Combine last three ingredients and set aside
3) In a blender, puree 1/2 of the peach, milk, vanilla, and sweetener if using. Pour the liquid over the dry mixture and stir gently until combined.
4) Dice the remainder of the peach, and fold it and the blueberries into the oat mixture until the are evenly distributed.
5) Bake in a greased ramkin for 25-30 minutes, or until center is no longer very wet.
Allow to cool a little before consumption.

~Danielle