I have been having some serious fun with our morning bowls of oatmeal. I am not a fan of plain boring old oatmeal--yuk! But, add some spices, milk, berries, fruit, toasted nuts..the possiblilites are endless...and you have a heavenly, healthy breakfast for a cold winter morning! Here are some of our favorites lately...
This, my friends will get your bowl of oatmeal off to a good start--
Our Basic "Amped Up Oatmeal" recipe
Submitted by Melanie - The Sisters Cafe
Adapted from an idea on Enlightened Cooking
Makes 2 servings. I usually double it for my family.
1 cup 1% lowfat milk
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 and 1/2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (power packed stuff; grind it in a coffee grinder and keep in freezer!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I am LOVING my mexican vanilla from our trip!)
1 mashed banana (Sometimes I leave this out but it does add a lot of flavor--be careful of the overripe ones--too sweet in my opinion!)
In a small saucepan, bring milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a simmer (watch carefully); stir in oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 5 minutes for old fashioned oats, or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.Remove oatmeal from heat. Stir in flaxseed and vanilla.
Now to this wonderful oatmeal you can add some fun:
* Stir in a sprinkling of your favorite frozen berries. The hot oatmeal will deforst them quickly! Finish with a splash of milk, and/or a dollop of vanilla yogurt (I have added a bit of lemon curd before-delish) and a sprinkling of your favorite toasted nuts!
*Stir in a spoonful of peanut butter-- and finish off with a sprinkling of mini chocolate chips and a splash of milk! My boys love this one---chocolate at breakfast?!! Cool!
*Make a pear compote to serve on top--(I had oatmeal served this way at a cute 'Bed and Breakfast' at the base of Zions Park) I am sure there is a real recipe from pear compote--but this what I do--Slice up a couple of fresh ripe pears, and saute them in a pan with a tablespoon of butter, sprinkle of brown sugar and a little nutmeg over top. Cook them for a few minutes and then spoon over your oatmeal. I always add a splash of milk and sometimes toasted pecans! Mmmmm...Oh--and this works great with apples!
I love oatmeal. Isn't that funny, because I hated it growing up. But it smells like home, and it fills you up. Yesterday I had it with fresh strawberries, a little cream, and sprinkled brown sugar on top. Yummy! I'll have to try your version this week. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE OATMEAL! I can't wait to try these out, Mel. Yummmmmm...
ReplyDeleteI love oatmeal too...although we always have the boring old plain stuff with brown sugar - just like growing up! These ideas sound a thousand times better though - I've been waiting for you to post these! yum
ReplyDeleteI found your blog tonight while surfing Food Buzz, I think it was a link within a link - but LOVE your site! Will bookmark and be back! Your recipes sound like they are right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteOh and here's a "naughty" version of oatmeal that your kids will LOVE you for. 1 bowl of hot oatmeal, topped with a Tblsp of butter, Tblsp of brown sugar and a scoop of ice cream!! It is TO DIE for!
Can you imagine? Ice cream for breakfast! You'll be their favorite person all day! haha
Throw a tablespoon of whole fat plain yogurt in the sauce pan with water and the oats and let it sit on the counter overnight. The yummiest oatmeal ever!
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