Name: 4 Ingredient Single Serve Pumpkin Oatmeal
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 6 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup old fashioned oats; 1 cup almond milk; 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice; 1/4 cup canned pumpkin

4 INGREDIENT Single Serve Pumpkin Oatmeal

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

This four ingredient single serve pumpkin oatmeal is the best quick and easy breakfast to make on a cozy fall morning to get your day started off on the right foot.

Single Serve Pumpkin Oatmeal:

If you're a lover of all things fall and pumpkin like me, you'll love this pumpkin oatmeal added to your breakfast rotation. It has simple ingredients you likely have on hand such as oats, pumpkin pie spice, almond milk, and canned pumpkin. There is nothing super fancy about this recipe, but it will definitely make your morning feel a bit elevated.

Ingredients List for Single Serve Pumpkin Oatmeal:

There are four simple ingredients that you'll need to make the base of this oatmeal recipe, along with some optional toppings I'll list below as well.

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup canned pumpkin

How to Make Pumpkin Oatmeal:

To make pumpkin oatmeal you'll simply combine all your ingredients together in a pot on medium heat and stir to combine. Once everything starts to boil, stir the oatmeal to avoid sticking to the pan. I like to keep stirring and cooking until most of the liquid has been boiled out of the oatmeal so it's not super runny, but if you like your oatmeal to have a bit more liquid, you can stop the cooking process sooner.

Optional Toppings for Pumpkin Oatmeal:

Granola
Honey
Maple Syrup
Vanilla Yogurt
Pecans
Walnuts

Health Benefits of Pumpkin:

There are many different health benefits to consuming pumpkin. Pumpkin is rich in potassium which can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Pumpkin also contains vitamin C which can elevate your body's immune response. The fiber contained in pumpkin is also great for digestion as well.

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Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Friday, August 5, 2022

This chocolate quinoa breakfast bowl is the perfect punch of sweetness meets protein to get your morning off the the right foot and help you feel satisfied until lunchtime. If you need something new to add to your breakfast rotation, this recipe won't disappoint.

I've gone through several phases in my life where I've tried to be vegan and it's just never worked out for me. Those phases have led me to some amazing recipes that I still keep in rotation to this day, although it's definitely not something I strive for anymore when looking for recipes. This chocolate quinoa breakfast bowl was a recipe I initially tried almost 4 years ago. It can be a bit shocking at first... chocolate and quinoa together? But it really does taste amazing. Life is too short to eat bad food, so know this recipe is legit.

Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowl:

This chocolate quinoa breakfast bowl is super easy to make. All you need to do is rinse your quinoa in a mesh strainer, and the cook on the stove in a dairy free milk of choice. Once the quinoa has cooked for 15 minutes it should absorb most of the liquid. Fluff the quinoa with a fork, and then you mix in cocoa powder and maple syrup to give it that sweet chocolate flavor. You can also add salt if necessary.

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl Toppings:

The fun part about these bowls is that you can then go on to top them with a lot of different toppings you may enjoy. I topped mine with strawberries, bananas, blueberries, chia seeds, and some chocolate chunks, but the sky is really the limit as to what you what to put on top! You could also try hemp hearts, raspberries, ground flax, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, or diced apples.

Health Benefits of Quinoa:

Quinoa is a great food to incorporate into your diet because it is a complete protein. Proteins can be made up of several different amino acids that all do different things for our bodies. Some foods are referred to as a complete protein because they contain all nine of these amino acids. Other complete protein foods are fish, eggs, dairy, and red meat. While these animal sources aren't by any means bad, it is cool that quinoa is a plant-based complete protein when a majority of the other options are not. Quinoa is also rich in:

folate
iron
thiamine
copper
magnesium
manganese
phosphorus
potassium
zinc

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A Recipe for Salmon in the Oven

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

This is the best recipe for salmon in the oven. It's my go-to method whenever we cook salmon in our home and it turns out perfectly every single time.

Salmon is one of the very few foods that I can count on one of my children eating on a very regular basis, so we typically eat it about once a week. I almost always opt for baking it in the oven because cooking in a pan on on the grill leaves too many variables for something to go wrong (I am notorious for ruining fish when cooking on the stove top and having it get stuck to the pan!).

A Recipe for Salmon in the Oven:

Salmon is easiest to cook in the oven if you're new to cooking on your own. If you follow these easy and simple steps you'll be well on your way to cooking perfect salmon each and every time. I always line a sheet pan with tin foil and then spray it with non-stick cooking spray. Then I preheat the oven to 400º.

Next I take the salmon out of the packaging and pat it dry with some paper towels to remove any of the fish juice (yes that is the most disgusting sentence I ever wrote). At this point you can season it in a lot of different combinations. I typically just squeeze some lemon juice on top, season with salt and pepper, and call it a day.

How Long to Cook Salmon in the Oven:

Salmon typically takes about 5 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness to bake. You want your salmon to reach 145º internally before serving, as that is the recommended internal temperature by the USDA. It is very important to have a meat thermometer when cooking meat so that you easily know when your fish/meat is ready to serve.

Kitchen Tools to Make Salmon:

To make salmon you will need, a sheet pan for the oven. I love these ones from Nordic Ware. You will also need as previously mentioned, a meat thermometer. You can also use a silicone baking mat instead of lining your pan with tinfoil if you like the ability to reuse and have less waste.

Ways to flavor Salmon:

There are so many different ways you can season or marinate your salmon to give it extra flavor in the oven! Some of my favorites are:

Lemon juice with salt and pepper
Blacken seasoning sprinkled all over the top
Marinated in the fridge in Italian dressing for 30 minutes before putting in the oven
Spreading honey and teriyaki sauce on top before baking
Spreading pesto on top before baking
Spreading honey and garlic on top
Sweet chili sauce spread on top

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Berry Station Kaysville + Grateful Donut Company

Sunday, July 24, 2022

The Berry Station and Grateful Donut Company in Kaysville, UT is a 2-for-1 eating experience with two great dessert restaurants in one. If you're in the mood for frozen yogurt, or mini donuts, this is the place for you.

The Berry Station Kaysville:

The Berry Station started off as a frozen yogurt shop several years ago in Kaysville. They have since added to their menu and business with The Grateful Donut Company which is located in the same shop, but with a seprate menu.

The Berry Station is different that most frozen yogurt companies in that they get to handpick all of their suppliers. With most franchise frozen yogurt shops they get all their flavors from one company, meaning some flavors are better than others. The Berry Station hand picks their favorite flavors from their favorite suppliers. This means they're able to get the best flavors across all brands, which makes for a better experience for the consumer.

The Grateful Donut Company:

We admittedly did not try the froyo when we went to The Berry Station, and were there specifically checking out the Grateful Donut Company. They specifically sell only mini cake donuts, and they have them prepped in a wide variety of fun flavors. We ordered a dozen mini donuts for the two kids and I and we each had three mini donuts and brought the rest home for leftovers.

We basically picked one of each flavor available. The kids loved the donuts with the Oreo and the Froot Loops (true kids at heart here!), and my personal favorites were the more fruity flavors like the key lime pie and the blueberry. They were all delicious though, and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the flavors!

The Grateful Donut Company also gives every customer one free cinnamon sugar donut to share with a friend in a small little box. I definitely love that business model and it was a great way to talk to the kids about showing gratitude towards others and being a kind friend.

The Berry Station + Grateful Donut Company Location:

The Berry Station and Grateful Donut Company are located on 200 N in Kaysville near the Smith's Market Place. Their official address is:

238 N Flint St.

Kaysville, UT 84037

They're open daily from 11am-10pm and are closed on Sundays.

Overall Rating for The Berry Station and Grateful Donut Company:

I would give this small shop a 10/10 rating. The donuts were delicious, I love their business model, and it's an easy and accessible place to get to if you live in Davis County. It would be a fun family weeknight outing with the kids, or a great place to gather with girl friends after bedtime. We will definitely be back in the future!

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Small Batch Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe for small batch oatmeal chocolate chip cookies is the perfect recipe to make for a quick afternoon snack for kids or yourself. The recipe is simple to make with basic pantry ingredients everyone will love!

Derek loves oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. A lot. Strangely, it went unmentioned for the first nine years of our marriage and then all of a sudden it comes out that they're a childhood favorite that he ate all the time. At that point I set out to make the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe. These cookies are all the things you want in a cookie. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and full of delicious chocolate goodness.

Small Batch Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:

This small batch recipe makes about eight cookies. If you're single you'll have a handful of cookies you can eat throughout the week. If you have a family with small children, it's the perfect amount to make without having a ton left overs for dessert one night. I love making small batch recipes because it means that for my small family of four we typically don't have food waste which is something I try to keep at the forefront of my mind when cooking and preparing meals for my family.

Ingredients for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies truly use all pantry ingredients that most people have on hand in their home. For this small batch recipe you will need:

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup white sugar
1/2 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Baking Tools for Cookies:

To make excellent cookies there are a few things you absolutely need. Some of my must haves are a cookie scoop for scooping dough, a thick durable sheet pan, a great hand mixer (I NEVER use a stand mixer!), and nonstick baking mats. These are all great items to invest in that will last for years to come, and will help create the best cookies time and time again.

How to Store Cookies:

Cookies should be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3-5 days. The length of time depends on where you live and what the humidity is like in your area. In Utah, we have a very dry climate so our food typically doesn't go bad like other states in the USA. If you live in the south where it's very hot and humid, you might notice your food goes stale much more quickly.

My all time favorite containers are these light blue ones from the Chris Loves Julia Rubbermaid Collection. They're beautiful and durable. The best when it comes to form and function.

The Best Flour For Cookies:

There are definitely going to be people out there that have strong opinions about flours, brands, health benefits, etc... Whenever I'm baking I always use white all purpose flour. Sometimes I buy organic, sometimes I purchase the generic brands at the store, but it's always white all purpose flour. I find it's the most consistent to work with and yields the same results each time I bake.

Clearly if you have a gluten allergy this isn't going to be the option for you but this blog is also likely not for you either since I don't specialize in gluten free baking. I have had success with the Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 flour when baking for friends who are gluten free. That might be a great starting point if you need a gluten free flour option.

Oats for Oatmeal Cookies:

When doing any baking that involves oats, I always use old fashioned oats, or rolled oats. This is the best when baking since the oatmeal hasn't been processed and typically still has the whole large flakes. Quick cooking oats have been further processed than old fashioned oats, which really just means they've been grounded into a finer consistency so that they cook faster. All my recipes always use rolled oats or old fashioned oats. The bake times are for those particular oats, and if you use a different type of oat, I can not guarantee your results.

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Small Batch Chili

Monday, July 18, 2022

This small batch chili recipe makes about 2-4 servings of chili and is the perfect recipe to make it you live on your own or with one other person. There will be enough for leftovers, but not so much that you'll have to eat it for the rest of your life.

Small Batch Chili:

This recipe is a perfect base chili recipe that you can adapt depending on your preferences. If you like your chili to be more spicy, feel free to add jalapeños or more chili powder. If you don't like it spicy, feel free to add less spices to the recipe.

This recipe can be made in either a slow cooker or on the stove. If you are cooking in a slow cooker brown the meat in a pan on the stove, and then throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on low all day long. If you're cooking in a pot on the stove follow the recipe card below.

Ingredients for Chili:

For this chili recipe you will need quite a few ingredients, all of them are easily accessible at your regualr grocery store. You will need:

1/2lb Ground beef
1/4 cup Onion
1/2 cup Canned Diced Tomatoes
1 8oz can Tomato Sauce
1 can Mild Chili Beans, don't drain/rinse
1/2 cup Canned Dark Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup Frozen Corn
1/2 tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Shredded cheese, sour cream, and chips for optional garnish

Tips for Small Batch Cooking:

With this recipe you use a lot of small quantities of ingredients, that may involve opening a lot of cans and not using all of the contents. If you're frequently making small batch recipes, it is a good practice to store excess ingredients in plastic bags and store them in the freezer until the next time you need them. I do this by sealing them in the bag, writing what it is on the bag, along with the date. Ingredients can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

This recipe uses a 1/2 pound of ground beef. You can either buy a pound at the grocery store and freeze half of it, or you can go to the butcher counter at the store and ask them to give you 1/2 a pound of ground beef. The latter option will help save money on food expenses.

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Small Batch Buttermilk Biscuits

Sunday, July 17, 2022

This recipe for small batch buttermilk biscuits is super easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and turns out perfect every single time. If you want an easy beginner biscuit recipe, this is for you.

When Derek and I got married I had probably never eaten a homemade biscuit in my entire life. I then decided that was absolutely the moment I needed to learn how to make a biscuit. This recipe was the very first biscuit recipe I ever made, and it's the only one I've ever baked since. There are a lot of complicated ways to make biscuits online, but these turn out great every time with minimal effort.

Small Batch Buttermilk Biscuits:

These small batch buttermilk biscuits are perfect for a quick family meal. The recipe yields six biscuits and you could use them as a side with dinner, for biscuits and gravy, or to make breakfast sandwiches. The possibilities really are endless.

I like this recipe because it uses shortening instead of butter. The benefit to shortening is that it's always at room temperature so you don't have to pull butter from the fridge and wait for it to soften before baking. To make these biscuits you sift all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Next add in the shortening by mixing it in with two forks. Keep mixing until it resembles coarse meal. Slowly stir in the milk until a dough forms and all the flour pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Don't over mix the dough, and turn it out of the bowl on a floured surface. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. Brush some melted butter on the tops and bottoms of the biscuits, and bake in a dish so that they're all touching each other on the sides. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes until golden brown.

Tips for Making the Perfect Biscuits:

Use a real biscuit cutter and not the mouth of a glass. A biscuit cutter is specifically sharp enough to cut through the dough. Using a glass will compress and seal the edges so your biscuits don't get a high enough rise in the oven.
Buttering the top and bottom of the biscuits helps them to have the perfect slight crisp when baked in the oven on high heat.
Do not knead the dough. At all. This will over mix and overwork the dough. Once it's mixed pat it flat (about 1 inch thick) with your hands on a floured counter and simply cut them out.

Kitchen Tools for Small Batch Buttermilk Biscuits:

Biscuits definitely require a few key tools to ensure you get perfect biscuits every time. To make the perfect small batch buttermilk biscuits you will need:

Stainless Steel Biscuit Cutters
A Metal Sifter
Mixing Bowls (this is the set I own and love)

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