"I'm Running Late For Work And Don't Have Time For Breakfast" Oatmeal Muffins

Being a working mom is HARD. How many times have we spent the morning running around making sure everyone else was ready, only to forget about ourselves? We have to remember the lunches, the bags, the daycare stuff, the pump parts... our brains are so overwhelmed often times we realize "I didn't eat this morning!" These oatmeal cupcakes (i say cupcake but really they are more like a muffin!) are PERFECT for those busy mornings! You can make a batch ahead on the weekend and freeze, so you can grab and go! They are filled with healthy ingredients like bananas, oatmeal, and flaxseed!

Ingredients: 

3 cups rolled oats

2 large overripe bananas

2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

1 cup mini chocolate chips, optional

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

2 eggs at room temperature

1 cup milk at room temperature (Use regular or your favorite dairy free option!)

1/2 cup flaxseed meal

2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 Tbsp coconut sugar 

1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350F and line 24 muffin cups with liners. 

2) In a large bowl mash the bananas until they are in a smooth consistency (like baby food). Add the milk, coconut oil, vanilla and maple syrup. Mix well! 

3) In a large bowl mix together the rolled oats, chocolate chips, flaxseed, coconut sugar, and baking soda. 

4) Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix well. 

5) Fill muffin cups with mixture. Note: This does not rise, so you can fill it all the way to the top!

6) Bake the muffins for 25 - 30 minutes, or until they are firm and turning brown on top. Let cool for 5 minutes in the muffin trays before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. 

7) Store in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!! 

NOTE: If you are egg free, you can replace the eggs with your favorite egg replacement. 

5 Minute "Oh Crap Company Is Coming" No Bake Granola Bars

We've all had that moment. We are running around like crazy, trying to take care of kids and keep the house clean, and suddenly we remember: SOMEONE IS COMING OVER. You have no time to go to the store and only have about 10 minutes before the baby wakes up from the 20 minute power nap she decided to take. Well, we've got you covered! These granola bars can be made in 5 minutes using one bowl. YEP. They really are that simple. And kids and adults alike will love these! No one will suspect that you threw them together at the last second!

Ingredients:
1 cup Shredded Coconut
1 cup Chocolate Chips (use your preferred brand)
1/3 cup Coconut Oil
1/2 cup Flaxseed Meal
1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup
2 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal
1/2 cup Raisins
1 cup Peanut Butter (or alternative nut butter or sunbutter)

Directions:
1) Place peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, and chocolate chips into a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 45 - 60 seconds on HIGH. Stir together.
2) Add all dry ingredients to the bowl and stir until well mixed.
3) Pour mixture into a glass or ceramic 13 x 9 baking dish and use a spoon to spread evenly.
4) Place in the fridge (or freezer if you are really running out of time!!) to cool!
5) After the mixture is completely solid, use a knife to cut into squares. ENJOY!

The beauty of this recipe is that you can adapt it to use anything you have on hand!! Don't like coconut? Add some extra oats or flaxseed! No raisins? Add other dried fruit and nuts! You can truly make this using whatever you have on hand, and it will come out amazing every time!

Mother Nature vs Nursing Mother: Preparing For A Hurricane

Hurricanes can be scary. I know. I've lived most of my life on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Here are a few ways you can prepare yourself to weather the storm. 

Power outages are a common concern. Especially for pumping moms. All that liquid gold in the freezer! A full freezer can hold its temp for 24-48 hours if you leave it shut. So you'll want to freeze large containers of ice to fill the empty spaces in your freezer. I also recommend freezing a cup of water and after it's frozen, place a coin on top. This will help you evaluate the contents of your freezer if you leave and return after power has been restored. If the coin is still on top of the cup, then the contents of your freezer are likely fine. If the coin is at the bottom of the cup, you know that the everything completely defrosted and needs to be thrown away. If the coin is in the middle, then you'll need to evaluate each item and determine whether you can save it or not. 
A quick note about dry ice: dry ice needs to be properly ventilated. If you're using dry ice make sure you're using it in approved containers. It is not safe to fill your freezer with dry ice and shut the door.
Pumping during a power outage also requires advance planning. This is especially important if you're exclusively pumping. You'll want a battery back up for your pump, a car adapter, or a manual pump. Hand expression can also be a valuable tool if you don't have access to a pump. Freshly pumped milk can be safely kept in a cooler with ice for 24 hours. 

If you're evacuating and taking frozen milk with you, pack your cooler as tightly as possible. When you arrive at your destination, any milk with ice crystals can definitely be refrozen. And while many sources recommend using thawed milk within 24 hours, newer research indicates that milk that has completely thawed *may* be marked as thawed and refrozen. Smell upon defrosting and use at your discretion.

Stress and supply is another common concern of nursing moms. And anyone who's lived through a storm knows that your stress level can skyrocket during a disaster. Do your best to stay hydrated. Continue to eat. Get sleep when you can. This means you'll need to stock up ahead of time on essentials. Don't wait until the last minute. And don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Many concerned mommas in unaffected areas want to donate milk to mommas in disaster areas. While this is incredibly generous, there are a few key things to remember: availability of power and access to shipping are sketchy at best after a storm. And most shelters are not equipped to store and dispense breastmilk. If you want to contribute to relief efforts, there are more helpful ways to spend your money than on shipping breastmilk. 

The DQ Admin Team hopes you all stay safe this hurricane season! Nurse on! 

https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/frozen-milk-power-outage/

https://med.stanford.edu/.../hand-expressing-milk.html

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/