Out of the Mouths of Babes
The girls had some choice words this weekend. So did I, especially when Gigi took my dry body brush into the shower with her. It’s called a dry brush for a reason, kid.
I’ll let the girls speak for themselves:
Gigi, upon playing Starbucks barista:
“Mom, I’m making you decaf a soy latte.”
Lulu, upon finding the cardboard cutout that held our new toilet seat cover (jealous?):
“I’m an EGG head!”
Lulu, upon starring in this morning’s reenactment of Goldilocks and the Three Bears:
“This chair is JUST right.”
Gigi, upon taking over in her understudy/narrator capacity:
“This bed is JUST right…and then she went fast asleep.”
Gigi, upon viewing Pea Daddy’s sidewalk art:
“Draw Mommy doodling on her iPhone!”
Lulu, upon seeing my wardrobe choice for the day (I remind you she’s 2):
“Mommy, your top doesn’t match your bottom.”
Lulu, upon eating all of her Whole Foods pizza and spying Gigi’s piece:
“I’m a birdie…tweet tweet…feed me…”
Gigi, upon looking for Pea Daddy:
“Daddy, is that your special reading place?”
Lulu, upon seeing her breakfast Sunday:
“My oatmeal is a SQUARE!”
Indeed it is, Lulu. Indeed it is.
Baked Oatmeal Squares
Serves 6-8
- 2 c. old fashioned oats
- 1/4 c. -1/2 c. organic brown sugar (depending on how sweet you like your oatmeal)
- 2 t. ground cinnamon
- 2 t. baking powder
- 1 t. salt
- 1 c. non-dairy milk
- 1/2 block of silken tofu
- 1/2 c. applesauce
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. dried cranberries
- Toppings of your liking (i.e. non-dairy milk, sliced bananas, berries, nut butter, etc.)
Preheat oven to 350, if baking immediately. Mixture can be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight, to be baked in the morning (leftovers also make great snack bars, much like a chewy granola bar).
In a large bowl, combine oats, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and cranberries.
In a blender or food processor, combine remaining wet ingredients and process until smooth.
Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well.
Spread mixture into a 8×8 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and either bake immediately or refridgerate.
If baking immediately, bake for approximately 40 minutes. If baking the next day, the oats will have absorbed some of the moisture and will only need to bake for approximately 30 minutes.
Cut into squares and serve with desired toppings,
such as almond milk, banana slices and almond butter.
Gigi, upon tasting her breakfast:
“YUM! I’m going to take this into the shower with me.”
That baked oatmeal looks delicious! Pea Daddy is a great chalk artist.
You’re going to be so happy to have these adorable quotes written down. My mom was trying to tell me the other day about cute things I said as a kid but, of course, without having them written down she couldn’t think of many examples. Too sweet.
What a cute post! Kids say the cutest things sometimes. And those oatmeal squares look amazing, I will have to make them!
My favorite part of babysitting, and why I wanted to be a teacher for so long was simply because children are so damn smart…and they say the wittiest things. I’m actually really jealous that your girls will be able to read through your blog when they’re older and relive their childhood years. All I have is a couple home videos and ONE small photo album (I’m the second child so my brother has 50 albums and I have 1 haha).
mmmm….those oatmeal squares look awesome. I think I know what I’ll be doing tonight., i.e., wishing I had all the ingredients and less of a lazy streak so I could make those.
I bet Gigi and Lulu would be great contestants on that Bill Cosby show, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”
Once, when I was five or so, my mom took me to the grocery store with her, and when she put a six pack of beer in the cart, I said (quite loudly), “Mom, don’t do that. You’re just going to go home and get drunk.” My parents are not heavy drinkers…although I’m sure they started drinking more and more as the years passed.
So, you know, it could be worse
haha. your kiddos are just TOO smart. i love the hilarious things they say.
haha. your kiddos are just TOO smart. i love the hilarious things they say.
this post title reminded me of babes in toyland. so random. did you ever see that movie (if you can even call it that?).
As always, your baking looking INCREDIBLE. Definitely wishing I was enjoying it right now…
Sara
http://eatmanhattan.wordpress.com/
bahahaha your girls are such characters! love the baked oatmeal square idea too…
I don’t even think I knew what matching was when I was 2. I was still in the “I want to dress just like my mommy” phase. Or maybe MamaJ just made me dress like her. Oh well.
Oooh the oatmeal squares look like they might be a great on-the-go breakfast/snack option. Too bad I do not feel like dropping $ for a baking pan. (Despite having just spent $10 on magazines today. Oops.)
So cute! While visiting my friend over Easter, she told her daughter she could come out for a photo in the yard in her bare feet. Keira responded, “I don’t have bear feet so I’ll come out in my people feet!”
I love this! your girlies are adorable and remind me of my college years when I was a nanny for two around the same age. What little smarties you have! I definitely will be making these Baked Oatmeal Squares…for myself!
yayy! i love oatmeal squares. but i love your blog more. the girls are adorable and i cannot wait to be a mom!!! have a great monday with such a precious family!!
adorable, sweet and cute. there is seriously nothing better than the fabulous things kids say – especially your two darling lil’ punkins!
Hahaha…your children are adorable…as is your stylish hair : )
i love the comment about your outfit
not necessarily the nicest thing, but maybe there’s a future artist in her 
. great idea for baked oatmeal squares, as well. it reminds me of wheetabix but better!
have a lovely day!
xox
So funny…kids say the most random things. I especially love the clothing comments!
I wish i had two little comedians to entertain me all day
! I guess it is a fair price to pay to you for all of the crazy snacks and wisdom you throw at them daily! Pea Daddy is quite the ar-teest, i am really weird and find the noise of chalk on a sidewalk incredibly irritating… My dad used to do it all the time with my sister, probably just to get on my nerves or watch me squirm… 
And for the record, i love the color combo with your outfit, i love anything different!
I’ve decided to hang around Whole Foods and try Lulu’s method….”tweet tweet…I’m a bird…feed me!” Might save some cash
Definitely just added that recipe to my computer’s recipe file. Great idea to add silken tofu–pump up the protein, please!
oooh I am going to give this recipe a try for sure! Thanks for sharing
Hilarious those girls of yours! And “Pea Daddy”…..such a cute name and quite the chalk artist. YUM on the baked oatmeal!!
-emily
Looks like you have a fashionista and future spielburg in your hands
Saw you on Denise’s page. Glad I read your informative and well-written blog. Look forward to following you here. Cheers!
Baked oatmeal is the best for breakfast and snacks! I love it! I am also a fan of when my kids tell me what looks wrong on me. I was out of my hair product that tames the beast that is on my head and my youngest informed me that my hair was “crazy” in the back. Gotta love the honesty!
How funny….Ave asked me to tell the Goldilocks story before bed last night and then wanted to re-in-act it this morning while I told it again. Oatmeal looks awesome!!
Haha, well, at least LuLu is the observant little 2 year old!
I love how you can get away with saying just about anything at this age; although, I believe there are still many people who feel they are still 2 and can say just about whatever they want. No Filters!
Hope you are enjoying your week!
Oh the honesty of kids… love it or hate it, it never changes!
Great recipe, love that one! And the make ahead but bake as needed part…so lovely to get that one ready on a Sunday night for monday morning.
Btw your hair and your whole aura in that pic…you look just awesome! Matching or not
I’m with Gigi on the oatmeal squares – YUM! Your girls are so adorable!
hahaha “im a birdie tweet tweet feed me” made me CRACK UP! what cuties!
and those oatmeal squares-I love how they are so versitile…you said you can cook them right away or overnight them! love it!!
Yummy! Those baked oatmeal squares look so good!
Your girls are adorable .. bahaha.. I also love your outfit … the skirt is adorable
;)
I had no idea how important it was for PJ tops and bottoms to match until I started hanging out with children more.
They will spend unlimited amounts of time searching for THE pajamas they want to wear (nay, HAVE to wear that night)… inevitably the dirty pair in the laundry.
Mmm I haven’t had oatmeal squares in forever!! Can you adopt me? I swear..I’ll share MY pizza
Haha! I cracked up at the bathroom pic! Special reading place, indeed
Lulu is quite the fashionista (although I think you look lovely anyway). And, cute hair
I have to agree with the others that matching or not matching…who cares?! You are dressed with hair that appears washed! A serious accomplishment for moms everywhere.
Square oatmeal! I love it!!
I’ve been looking for a recipe like this! The baked oatmeal looks GREAT and I’m definitely going to be trying it!
Your hair looks so great in that picture! Love it.
I would totally take an oatmeal square in the shower with me too. it looks great~
Love that Gigi decided to shower with your dry brush! Creative interpretation.
I love that Lulu pretended to be a bird for more pizza.
I think I have a new hobby. I come to your blog each day wondering what I will be making next. This was another fun, easy one. I haven’t had it for breakfast yet, but I ate it for a snack yesterday, and again as I am typing this
) I made it as you wrote it with the addition of raisins and walnuts. I just spread some almond butter on my piece here, and it is oh so fabulous!
I love it!!! What are you making tomorrow?
Hi! The oatmeal squares look delicious! I was just wondering what other ingredient you would suggest besides the block of silken tofu. would anything else work?
Thanks!
Obviously if you aren’t vegan, you could use an egg or a couple of egg whites. The tofu has a binding effect. You might try using mashed banana or more applesauce and see if it holds together?
Beautiful family and Beautiful Blog!
You have a way with telling a story and a recipe.
Thanks so much for sharing with and connecting with us all in your space on the web.
I’m pretty sure I need to make those squares. They look so delicious, especially topped with nut butter. But really, what doesn’t look delicious when topped with nut butter
Can’t wait to make these!
I know this is way after the post… but I just made these bars, and I subbed dried pineapple for the cranberries, and apricot puree for the applesauce. If only I had shredded coconut on hand!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Made your oatmeal squares last weekend. Delish! I gave some to my parents and they liked them so much they served them to their overnight houseguests this week. THEY liked them so much they asked for the recipe. Yea Mama Pea!
I didn’t have tofu so I used 1 mashed banana instead and it turned out amazing. My 2 yr old loved it and so did I! Any recipe that’s mostly healthy yet taste like a dessert is fine by me! Thanks
Great substitution! Thanks for the feedback!
Just wanted to say that I made these oatmeal squares today
and they were so delicious! I served them warm with a splash of soy
milk, maple syrup, fresh bananas and walnuts… wow, wow, wow…
new favorite breakfast! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you loved them! It’s been too long since I’ve made a batch myself!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I made these and the “better nutrigrain bars” yesterday and they are both awesome. I posted links to your recipes/blog in my blog today. Thanks for sharing!
Great!!! Thanks for the feedback.
Ijust found your site and I have to say, I LOVE it! I’m just exploring your recipes, definitely wrote down the cinnamon toast squares as my hubby was looking at them yesterday (reminiscing). I would love to make up a healthy version like yours!
Glad you found me!
These are in my oven – few substitutions, no tofu, added banana and peanut butter, raisins instead of cranberries, extra oats, added walnut pieces and nutritional yeast. Thanks for the recipe (which I totally changed).
Already made these twice in the past week. They are phenomenal!! I have to use some serious self control to not eat the whole pan whenever I’m in the kitchen.
These look amazing! I can’t wait to make them. but I was wondering if I could use stevia in place of the brown sugar since I don’t have any.