Strawberry Banana Cream Baked Oatmeal Squares

Ever since I got married, I have been making breakfasts most mornings, which I never used to do. So far I've made French toast, omelets, waffles, red velvet waffles, pancakes, chunky monkey pancakes, rice pudding, oatmeal, granola, crepes and baked oatmeal. Lile, who eats oatmeal every morning, was floored by the oatmeal recipe, so I think it's a keeper!

Ingredients
- 2 C old fashioned oats
- 1/3 C loosely packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 large egg
- 1 C milk
- 1/4 C half and half
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 medium ripe banana, mashed
- 3/4 C chopped strawberries (about 4 large berries)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray--10x7, 8x8, 9x9, round cake pan or another size close to that will work.

2. In a large bowl, combine oats, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, mixing until combined. Measure out the cup of milk, then whisk in egg and vanilla extract. Add half and half to the milk mixture, then stir it into the dry oats. Mix in mashed banana and melted butter, then chopped strawberries, then scoop the batter into the baking dish.

3. Bake for 30-33 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the top is set. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Top with strawberries, bananas and milk or half and half infused with vanilla extract.

Note: If served immediately, squares may not hold together perfectly. If they are left to cool, they should hold together find and be able to be eaten with your hands.

We usually just pour milk over the warm oatmeal. Mmm.

The Best Alfredo Sauce

This is so good and really so quick and easy, but it's the real deal y'all - for real!  The best alfredo sauce eva, and foreva eva!! :)

1 stick of butter (I use salted butter)

1 cup of Parmesan cheese (grated or shredded is fine)

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. ground pepper

pint of heavy cream 

Melt butter. Add cheese and make a rue (it will still be separated). Add spices. Slowly add cream. Simmer for a few minutes. Add corn starch/water (or flour/water) mix if you want it to thicken up faster. 

Here come the detailed instructions for you, Kates!  ;)  

I've never added the corn starch because I usually cook the noodles while the sauce is simmering so it has plenty of time to simmer and thicken.  So really, I put the butter on to melt and then put the pasta water on to boil - then I continue making the sauce.  By the time I've made the sauce and it's ready to simmer, the pasta water is boiling so I add the noodles. The noodles cook for 7-9 minutes, which means the sauce can simmer pretty low that whole time.  

Oh and if you're going to make some broccoli to go with it, here's a trick to save you time.  Just use a slotted spoon to scoop out the noodles (draining the water back in to the pot), and return the water to a boil.  Throw the broccoli in there for a minute and drain.  Voila!

And for some reason, we have never really liked homemade alfredo sauce with the typical fettucini noodles.  It just doesn't work.  I think the best way to serve it is over egg noodles. So yummy!