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Baked Banana Chocolate Oatmeal with Triple Berry Puree


Baked-Banana-Oatmeal-Triple-Berry-Puree-Pinterest

Oh how I love my oats.  I never tire of them, especially when they have chocolate in them and are drizzled with a triple berry puree!

This felt very decadent, like eating dessert for breakfast.  It reminded me of eating chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough, but doing it in a way that is grown up and sophisticated. The berry puree is the perfect accompaniment, and I just might have guzzled the left-overs!

Using berry puree as a topping in place of syrup, is a great way to get those antioxidants in to my kids, and saves money as they are less expensive than 100% maple syrup.  Making berry puree have saved me many times when making pancakes, waffles and oats that I would usually top with syrup.  Perfect for when you have run out of syrup and have a freezer full of berries.

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Baked Banana Chocolate Oatmeal

(inspired by this recipe at The Oatmeal Artist)

  • 2 bananas
  • 3/4 cup of milk of choice
  • 1/2 cup water, or more milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Berry Puree
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease 8×8 pan or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mash bananas, and then mix in milk, water, and vanilla extract.  Add oats, baking powder, and salt.  Stir.
  3. Add chocolate chips.
  4. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  5. Top with Berry Puree (recipe below)

TRIPLE-BERRY-PUREE

Triple Berry Puree

  • 1 12 oz bag frozen mixed berries (I used Trader Joes Frozen Mixed Berry Blend of Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, & Blueberries), thawed
  • 2 medjool dates (or more depending on sweetness desired), pitted
  1. Pour thawed berried into blender.
  2. Add pitted dates.
  3. Puree until smooth.

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A Little Bit About Blenders

My Very Favorite by far–Professional Grade High Speed Blender

Some of the best money I have ever spent!
Vitamix Professional Blender and accessories
This is the model I have.  I drooled over it for a couple of years!
It was a splurge, but worth EVERY penny.  I use it 2-3 times a day.
It makes crushed ice in seconds.  It takes almonds to almond butter in seconds.  It makes the best raspberry fruit puree for pancakes and ice cream–obliterates all those little seeds into smooth puree heaven! We are eating 3 times the amount of fruits and veggies since purchasing this amazing blender, which I know is keeping us out of the doctors’ office and away from those expensive co-pays, so in my mind it has paid itself off.
Ninja Mega Kitchen Blender and accessories.

Runner Up

I’ve never used one, but have heard good things about them.  They are not professional grade like the Vitamix, but the price is much easier to swallow and they are powerful.
Oster and New Vitamix blenders in kitchen.
{my old Oster on the left, my New Vitamix on the right}

Economy

I had one of these for years and it does the job.  You can’t beat the price, and for smoothies, it works, although you have to blend much longer. You will still have chia and raspberry seeds in your smoothies, but if you don’t mind the extra texture, this one will do.  If you have had a high-speed blender, you will not be happy with this one.  If you are looking for something to get by until you can get a high-speed blender, and to just get those smoothies in you, this will do just fine.
What about you?  Do you have a high-speed blender?  Do you desire to have one?

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  • Andrea
    July 21, 2014 at 10:32 am

    I love my nutribullet. I have a vitamix or as I call it the-worlds-mist-expensive-blender and I would never give it up. But I found it didn’t do so well for small amounts – like making salad dressing. It would just spin the seeds around. Do a friend bought me the nutribullet. I use it for smoothies when I don’t want a giant mason jar full of smoothie (like if I’m making a dessert smoothie) and it works well.

  • Thalia @ butter and brioche
    July 20, 2014 at 11:38 pm

    this looks delicious, love how relatively guilt free this recipe is too and that berry puree looks seriously GOOD. definitely craving a bowl of this right about now. thanks!

  • Earlene
    July 17, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    My husband bought me the Ninja blender set for our anniversary. It works for us and we make smoothies not all the time, but enough that I have become pretty good at it!

    • AmyNewNostalgia
      July 18, 2014 at 10:39 am

      I’m glad to hear that you are happy with the Ninja. Try fruit purees. It is how of the ways I use mine most often. Frozen fruit, a bit of water, and any sweetener. Use to top ice-cream, granola, waffles/pancakes, flavor smoothies, or just guzzle for a quick shot of antioxidants.

  • jan
    July 16, 2014 at 9:38 pm

    I’m slightly embarrassed to say that my bosses bought me the 750 for Christmas a year and a half ago (yes, they ARE the worlds bestest bosses on the planet!) and the kids use the darn thing MORE than I do … I’ve done a few things and have found it to be most effective for, ahem, adult beverages. I need to experiment more and try the almond butter, soup, etc. Just need to get over the foam factor … any tips?

    • AmyNewNostalgia
      July 18, 2014 at 10:37 am

      What a fun gift! They are wonderful for adult beverages 😉 and I love that your kids use it. If you check out my Pinterest boards, there is a Recipes:Smoothies Board and also a Recipes: Vitamix board. SO many great ideas. In the meantime, try this puree. If you don’t have dates, use honey or any other sweetener. Some fruit is so sweet that you don’t need any extra. Always taste first. Let me know what you try and love.

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