Strawberry Toasted Oat Yogurt Parfait

Dear Mother Nature,

I need a little spring in my life. Six months of winter is a little much even for a Northern-dwelling, frostbite-resistant me. I know you have a flair for creating frigid temperatures, snowflakes, and winds that rival a hurricane (which, don't get me wrong, I do appreciate so very much), but I could use a little break. A hiatus, if you will. Just a month or two (maybe three?) of a little sun and some non-snowy terrain. I don't think that's asking too much of you.

It's April. I want to see flowers. Green grass. Birds singing. I wouldn't say no to a bit of rain. Even thunderstorms, if you're not finished making enough of this fierce weather. Though, I must admit you were really clever with that thundersnow a week ago. I haven't seen that one before—a little bit of spring and winter at the same time.

I know you're busy wreaking havoc around the world and the desperate pleas of one of its inhabitants probably doesn't mean much to you. I think I've been pretty complacent until now—few complaints, fewer protests. I don't ask for much. I even forgave you for that freak snowstorm in the middle of May a couple years ago. You remember it, don't you? That day I was packing up and moving? You certainly made that day one to remember.

Now, I didn't want to come out and say this but you've left me no choice. I think you've gotten a bit callous and spiteful these past few years. Cold-hearted, even. You're supposed to be Mother Nature, not Tyrant Earth. Have you forgotten your gentle and nurturing instincts? Perhaps you are hanging out on the beaches of sunny Florida without a care in the world, but I'm knee deep in a snowbank and I'm not liking the weatherman's forecast. Another month of winter, Mother Nature? Really? What did I ever do to you?

Your disgruntled friend,
Kristin

This parfait will bring a bit of much needed spring into your kitchen. The parfait features layers of subtle vanilla yogurt, sweet strawberries, and toasted honey oats. Although this parfait is simple to make, the flavors are complex enough to keep you coming back. This is the perfect breakfast or afternoon snack.

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Banana Bread Oatmeal

It's no secret that I love banana bread. In my house, there always seem to be a few bananas that just don't get eaten in time. While freezing bananas for a later date is always an option, sometimes there are already one too many bananas hiding in there. I don't like to waste food if I can help it so bananas are frequently on the menu.

With my deep love of all baked banana goods, having a quick and easy way to make a dish that tastes like banana bread without the mixing and the baking (and the waiting) was ideal.

I am a sucker for overripe bananas. I don't start eating them until they are covered in brown spots. As long as it they can still keep their shape, I'm in banana love. My father would disagree. He likes to eat them when they are still a bit green, without a brown spot in sight. I think they lack that vital banana flavor so soon after ripening, but he argues otherwise. We may disagree about the best time to eat bananas, but we've never disagreed over a nice loaf of banana bread. And that's the truth.

How do you like your bananas?

This banana bread oatmeal tastes just like the real deal. The oatmeal is littered with tiny pieces of banana and spiced with the right amount of cinnamon and nutmeg. This oatmeal is naturally sweetened with the addition of bananas so you will need very little, if any, sugar to sweeten it up. It's healthy, it's delicious, it's banana bread in a bowl. What's not to love?

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Cherry Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

I find that the more I watch television, the more I continue to watch television. Once I start, I can't quite bring myself to stop. The advertisements for the next episode or a new show draw me in, whether I like it to or not.

I lived without a television for many years. Sure, I would keep up with a few of my tried and true shows through the internet, but I never went out of my way to find new shows or, god forbid, watch reality tv just for the sake of it. Going for walks, reading books, or just sitting in silence replaced the background noise of the glowing screen. I never missed the television—when you don't have one you simply find other (and often more productive) ways to spend your time.

Lately, my eyes have been glued to the screen. I find myself flipping through the channels looking for something, anything, to watch. It doesn't even have to be good, quality television. Bad TV and I have become close friends, whether I like to admit it or not. This weekend I saw a promo for the next episode of The Bachelor and actually tuned in. I've never watched an episode in my life! While I know many of you know and love it (we all have our guilty pleasures, don't we?), it is something that has never interested me. Since when have I become so lazy I'm willing to watch anything as long as it thinks for me? I feel a bit of shame.

But today, I shut off the television. I turned down the radio. Reveling in the silence of a snowy winter afternoon, I baked these cookies. And it felt good.

These cherry chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies have the qualities of a classic oatmeal cookie. Crispy at the edges and thick and chewy in the center, these cookies combine the best in cookie textures. The tart cherries and bittersweet chocolate contrast well against the lightly sweetened dough. These cookies are perfect for dunking in a glass of milk or curing the midnight munchies.

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