Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Waffle Sticks

To me, the key to school morning breakfast is quick and easy. 

Everybody is grouchy.  No one is fully awake.  I just need to get food in front of them so that I don't have to listen to any whining or complaining.

To make that happen, I freeze a lot of stuff.  About once a month, I batch bake waffles, pancakes, muffins, french toast sticks, etc and then freeze them all.  That way all I have to do on a busy morning is pop something in the toaster, add fruit and a piece of turkey bacon and boom, easy, nutritious breakfast.

One of the kids favorites - Waffle Sticks.  Don't ask me why they have to be sticks, they just do.  They won't eat them as whole waffles.  There apparently, is novelty in packaging.  And it really doesn't make any difference to me, as long as they eat them. 

Ingredients (yes, there are a lot of them!)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup old fashioned oats

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 1/2 cups milk (may need more, I sorta add as I go to get proper texture)

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 to 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

In large mixing bowl, stir together flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; set aside.

In small mixing bowl, stir together eggs, milk, butter, and brown sugar.  Add to flour mixture.  Stir.  Add chocolate chips.

Spoon onto grid of well greased waffle maker.  Follow waffle maker directions - mine take anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes. 

These get a nice crunch to them.  These aren't just for the kids - the hubs and I love them too.  After I have finished the whole batch and they have cooled, I cut them into individual sticks and put them on a baking pan.

Place the pan in the freezer for a few hours.  Then put the frozen sticks into a ziplock bag.  To prepare in the mornings, I just pop into the toaster on the lightest cycle.  Usually takes two to three cycles.

Hallie