Going Bananas

Today's recipe is another breakfast treat.  Do you know how important breakfast is, Grainiacs?  If you are not eating breakfast by now, why not?  Even a stick of low-fat cheese will get your engines running!  Studies have found that skipping a meal to go exercise is counter-productive.  The body needs fuel.  Eat your wheaties!!!!  Or your oatmeal!

Your HG recipe is "choco-monkey oatmeal" from her cookbook 200 under 200.  I must admit, I could only eat half of it.  It is ch-o-c-l-a-tee!!!  Now I'm a huge fan of chocolate, but did not really dig bananas and chocolate....until now!!!  Let me just say, if you LOVE and I mean really love chocolate, this is the recipe for you.  It is so yummy and chocolatey and may I say....too chocolatey for this strawberry?  While I was making it, visions of those no-bake chocolate cookies were swimming in my head.

look at all that chocolate and oatmeal.  Mmmmm....no bake chocolate cookies

Before I get to the recipe, total WW PPT: 5  (so rich you can only eat 1/2 of it: 2.5 PPT)

Finished product:

recipe calls for 1/2 banana. A whole banana is 0 ppts so I cut up the other 1/2

Even with the added banana, this baby was still super duper chocolatey!  I think it would make a great dessert: chocolate oatmeal mixture on the bottom of a parfait glass, a layer of bananas, topped with fat-free Whip Cream.  Oh, I know what I'm having for dessert tonight!  The second half of my breakfast.

Simple ingredients AND aren't you proud?  I had the hot cocoa mix on hand!!!

Oh So Sweet and Chocolatey Oatmeal

Serves 1 (or in Strawberry's case: 2)

1/3 cup regular oats (not instant)
One 25-calorie packet diet hot cocoa mix (I think I'll use only 1/2 a packet next time!)
1/2 banana, mashed.  (Save the other 1/2 to make the dessert!)
1/8 tsp cinnamon (I didn't measure; just shake some into that bowl)
1 no-calorie sweetener packet
dash of salt

Pour cocoa mix into a glass with a shake of cinnamon (or you can measure it--- your choice), sweetener, and salt.  Add 1/4 cup hot water and stir thoroughly.  Once cocoa mix has dissolved, add 1/4 cup cold water and stir.

In a large microwaveable bowl, combine cocoa mix with mashed banana and oats and mix well.  Nuke it for 2 minutes.  Give it a stir and smell that delicious chocolatey creation.  Oh, allow it to cool and thicken.  I added the second half of the banana, but I'm also thinking about adding whipped cream.  It is that good!!!

Make it and tell me what you think.

P. S. For those Grainiacs attending a WW meeting, would you please write me and tell me any helpful hints or what you learned at your meeting?  Let's share what we learn so we can all achieve our goals.

P.S.S.  I did add whipped topping to it and it cuts some of the chocolate AND makes a wonderful snack.  Go bananas, Grainiacs!