Sunday, 01 April 2012

• Dress Up Your Oatmeal

  
  Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast items, it is quick, easy, and filling, but it can get boring to always simply top it with milk and sugar.
  
  Here are a few ideas to dress up your oatmeal to shake up your breakfast routine.
  
  
  1. Apple Pie Oatmeal
  
  Adapted from Family Feedbag
  
  1 apple, cored and chopped (skins on)
  1 cup water
  1/2 cup quick cooking oats
  1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  
  Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Then add the oats, apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The heat gets adjusted to low and the oatmeal is simmered for 2-3 minutes. Serve it with a splash of milk and a little or a lot of brown sugar sprinkled on top.
  
  2. Pumpkin Oatmeal
  
  Adapted from Sweet Pea's Kitchen
  
  2 c milk
  1/8 t of salt
  1 c old-fashioned oats
  1 t cinnamon
  1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
  1/8 t cloves
  1/2 c canned pumpkin
  2 T dried cranberries
  2 T chopped walnuts
  2 T brown sugar
  1 T butter
  
  In a medium sauce pan, bring milk and salt to a boil. Stir in the oats reduce heat to low and cook for 3 minutes. Add the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, and pumpkin, cook 2 to 3 minutes or until desired consistency.
  
  Divide oatmeal into two bowls. Top each bowl of oatmeal with dried cranberries, walnuts, brown sugar, and 1/2 tablespoon butter.
  
  3. Overnight Berry Oatmeal
  
  Adapted from Busy Mommy
  

  3 c Old Fashioned Oats
  2 c Vanilla Yogurt (I prefer vanilla, but you could use any flavor)
  1-2 c frozen mixed berries
  1/2 c apple juice (apple juice is more subtle, but you can use any juice you like)

  Optional mix-ins: 1/2 t cinnamon, 1 T ground flaxseed.

  Mix all ingredients in medium sized tupperware container with lid. Keep in the fridge overnight. Top oatmeal with a drizzle of honey, cinnamon, granola, roasted nuts, or coconut. Serve cold.

  4. Chocolate Oatmeal
  
  Adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie
  
  1 serving rolled oats (40g)
  3/4c nondairy milk
  1 banana
  1 1/2 T cocoa powder
  1/8 tsp salt
  1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
  extra sweetener if desired

  Combine all ingredients and cook, uncovered, over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes. When it starts to bubble, stir occasionally. When I make this for others, I stir in 1 T sugar (or 1 packet nunaturals stevia).

  5. Carrot Cake Oatmeal
  
  Adapted from Oh She Glows
  
  1 c finely grated carrot (about 1 large)
  1 c almond milk
  2 T full-fat coconut milk cream (or use more almond milk)
  1 t ground cinnamon, to taste
  1/4 t ground ginger
  1/8th t ground nutmeg
  pinch of salt
  1/2 c regular oats
  1 t pure vanilla extract
  1/2 t lemon juice (optional)
  2 T chopped walnuts, divided
  2 T raisins, divided
  2 T pure maple syrup
  1 T sweetened shredded coconut, for garnish
  1 T coconut milk cream + 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup, to garnish (optional)

  In a medium sized pot over medium heat, whisk together the almond milk, optional coconut milk cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a pinch of salt.

  Stir in the grated carrots and oats. Adjust heat if necessary or bring heat to low if it starts to boil. Cook for about 8-9 minutes, stirring frequently. When the mixture has thickened up, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, 1 tbsp walnuts, 1 tbsp raisins, and 2 tbsp of maple syrup. Remove from heat and portion into bowls.

  Top the oatmeal with the remaining walnuts, raisins, and shredded coconut. If you are using coconut cream, you can mix a bit of the cream with maple syrup and drizzle on top of the oatmeal, as shown in the photo. Sprinkle with cinnamon for garnish.

  Do you have any favorite oatmeal toppers?
  

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