Baked Oatmeal (Toddler Approved!)

This recipe is fantastic for hiding healthy ingredients into something that tastes like it should be dessert.  My toddler approves wholeheartedly (at least she has for the last few weeks....check again tomorrow, that could change...).

Preheat oven to 375

Butter 8" square baking dish

2 c oats
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/3 c sugar
1 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
dash salt
2 c whole milk
1 egg, beaten

1 t vanilla
1 or 2 bananas, sliced lengthwise
1 carrot, finely shredded

3 T butter, melted 

Place bananas on bottom of baking dish to cover the entire bottom.  Combine all dry ingredients and pour into baking dish on top of bananas.  In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients thoroughly (except butter), then pour over top of dry ingredients in baking dish.  Blend slightly with a fork, then shake the dish to smooth out all cracks & crevices around bananas.  Bake in preheated oven 35-40 minutes.  Test center for doneness before removing from oven - will be moist & dense when done.  Drizzle  the melted butter over top after baked.

Note:  banana can be omitted; carrot can be increased; can use lighter milk instead of whole.