While I don't have any one particular favorite breakfast, I do enjoy a nice hot bowl of oatmeal. When I was younger, one way I liked to eat my oatmeal was to take a handful of chocolate chips and stir them into the oatmeal. The heat from the oatmeal melted the chocolate chips, turning the cereal chocolate. (Come to think of it, I
still enjoy eating oatmeal this way.)
Not too long ago, I was in the mood for some chocolate oatmeal. There was just one little problem -- I didn't have any chocolate chips. Fortunately, I did have some cocoa in the pantry, so I started using my ability to mentally visualize recipes to create a new version of my chocolate oatmeal.
If you take a look at most cartons of oats (whether Quaker or a store brand), you'll notice that, for a single serving, it calls for a half cup of oats, and one cup of either water or milk. Most of the time, I make my oatmeal with water, but this time, I decided to use milk, thinking it would give a better taste to the final product. (At some point, I will have to try this with water to see if there is any difference in how it tastes.)
I also found myself deciding what cocoa to use. I had containers of both Hershey's original cocoa, and their Special Dark cocoa. I finally decided to try three different variations on three different days. (Hey, I like oatmeal, but there is a limit to how much one can eat at one sitting.) The first day, I tried the Special Dark cocoa. The second day, I used the original cocoa. And on the third day, I used half of each. I would say that using the Special Dark cocoa comes closest to matching using chocolate chips, but all three versions taste good.
And without any further ado, here is the recipe:
CHOCOLATE OATMEALIngredients:1/2 cup rolled oats
1 T. cocoa powder
1 cup milk or water
Procedure:1. In a microwave-safe bowl, stir together the oats and cocoa powder. Add the milk or water, and stir until blended.
2. Microwave on high power for 90 seconds.
3. Stir, then microwave on high for another 90 seconds. Stir again before serving.
NOTE: You will need to add some sort of sweetener before eating. If you ever bit into a chunk of unsweetened baking chocolate when you were younger, this will taste quite a bit like that if you don’t add some honey, or sugar, or whatever other sweetener strikes your fancy. Trust me, I suspected this would be the case, and I tried a taste before adding some honey to confirm my suspicions.
Add whatever you normally like on your oatmeal, and enjoy.
YIELD: One serving
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Comments (19)
I do this on a regular basis because I cant handle plain oatmeal.
It tastes so so good, and makes it sweeter without sugar.
Oh, good idea! Thanks for the post :)
Mmmmmm! I toss in a handful of dark chocolate chips in mine.
I add chocolate chips or hershey kisses to mine sometimes... and some crushed red pepper! Love it! :)
I have pretty much the same thing for breakfast at least a couple times a week, but I make it on the stovetop and add half a mashed banana, vanilla, and cinnamon. I like to throw a gob of peanut butter on it right before I eat it too. Soooo good!
@Katja88@xanga - I do that most of the time myself, but as I said, this was an improvisation because I didn't have any chocolate chips on hand at the time.
@shpadoinkle12@xanga - That sounds sinfully good...
Interesting, I eat oatmeal at least 5 times a week, I'll have to give this a try one of these days.
I normally just toss some nutmeg and or a banana in it.
This sounds soo good !!!
I dunno.. I think the cocoa powder wouldn't be sweet enough for me. I started to like the maple brown sugar oatmeal but than out of the blue it just got disgusting. Guess I don't like oatmeal! shrugs.
Oh yum good idea!!
@coraleave@xanga - it depends on if its sweetened or unsweetened.
Have you tried Cocoa Wheat hot cereal? Pretty similar and quick and easy to prepare. My kids love it!
OMG we're on the same wavelength. I just ate this 2 nights ago for dinner. I saw this in a health magazine (Shape or Self). And I also added the banana and PB. I also wanted the chocolate chips, but used cocoa powder instead. I also added some slivered almonds and used almond milk. Protein packed, energy packed, fiber genius food of the gods.
Mmmm. Definitely trying this one! :)
look up champorado...a spanish chocolate oatmeal mix...its amazing!!!
I am so going to try this! It looks fantastic! Thanks for the idea!
My husband puts protein powder and/or oatmeal in his oatmeal. It's pretty good too. I'm a bit more plainer, with just banana and cinnamon.
@Ktothetin@xanga - Crushed red pepper? Interesting! I'm trying that out tomorrow! :)
One thing Dad used to cook for breakfast was chocolate oats. Always chocolate. He used original cocoa. He made it with milk - it is better! Once it was in our bowls, we'd add a little more milk to cool it down, and then add sugar. You gotta have it with buttered toast, though. Use it to scoop out the oatmeal and eat it together. Delish!
@coraleave@xanga - Use cocoa powder and sugar. Or try it with a chocolate milk powder or syrup (they're mostly sugar and cocoa powder anyway).