Breastfeeding Friday

No, you don't have to actually be breastfeeding to participate, but here's a recipe that is reputed to help boost milk production in lactating moms. Oatmeal does it for me and this "Lactation Bar" is awesome!

Oatmeal Lactation Breakfast Bars

2 c. butter, Crisco, or margarine (can mix and match to equal 2 c.)
1 c. granulated sugar
2 c. packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast powder
1/4 c. flax meal (or whole flaxseed milled fine in a coffee grinder)
4 c. oatmeal (old fashioned, or as thick-cut as you can find)
1 bag mini semi sweet chocolate chips
1 c. nuts (optional)


Cream butter and sugars well, then add eggs and vanilla and beat until well incorporated.

Mix all dry ingredients except for oats in separate bowl, then add all at once and stir in as well as possible by hand before mixing with beaters until smooth. Add oats and chips (and nuts, if desired), and stir until well blended.

Divide dough into five parts and line a 10 x 7 cookie sheet (with shallow sides, like a jellyroll pan) with foil, then spray foil with nonstick spray. Spread 1/5 of the dough into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

When done, simply lift out the bars by the foil and place another piece of foil into the pan and spray for the next batch. Allow to cool at least slightly before cutting each pan of bars into eighths.

Makes 40 bars.

Do you have any tried and true ideas for helping a breastfeeding mom? As a La Leche League Leader, I'm always interested in the experiences of new moms. So come on, open up, break it out, share with ME!