I really really love oatmeal. In all forms, with all sorts of things added into it. This page is my ode-to-oatmeal. Whenever I make a new sort of oatmeal, I'll post it here. Since making oatmeal is not exactly a groundbreaking culinary endeavor, I'll just share the add-ins in case they provide some yummy inspiration . Oatmeal is a blank slate... a great vehicle for add-ins. Anyone who has ever gone out for an ice cream sundae with me knows that I am a total sucker for add-ins, mix-ins, whatever you want to call them. I say the more the merrier, go wild, do what you like. In this case, oatmeal is the start to a new day... what a great excuse to get powered up with some seriously yummy ingredients!
Cranberry Apple Oatmeal:
Tart and sweet with a slight crunch from the almonds. Taste buds wake up with mouth-puckering cranberries!
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1 apple, diced
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 t. slivered almonds
Blueberry Walnut Vanilla Oatmeal:
Mango Maple Oatmeal:
1/2 cup whole rolled oats, 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 cup chopped frozen mango, 1 T. cinnamon, 2 T. maple syrup.
Bring the oats and salt to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. After 2 minutes, add the frozen mango. Cook another 2 minutes. Pour into a bowl and top with cinnamon and maple syrup.
Cranberry Apple Oatmeal:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1 apple, diced
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 t. slivered almonds
Blueberry Walnut Vanilla Oatmeal:
Tart blueberries, toasty walnuts, and sweet vanilla make this sunny Saturday morning even more delicious.
Simply add 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup water, and 1/2 cup whole rolled oats to a big microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, take 1/4 cup of walnut halves and toast them over medium heat in a pan, taking care not to burn them. When the oatmeal is ready, stir in 1 t. of cinnamon, 1 t. vanilla extract, 1 t. maple syrup, and stir. Then top the oatmeal with the toasted walnuts and a couple generous handfuls of blueberries. Return the bowl to the microwave and heat everything through for 1 minute.
Mango Maple Oatmeal:
1/2 cup whole rolled oats, 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 cup chopped frozen mango, 1 T. cinnamon, 2 T. maple syrup.
Bring the oats and salt to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. After 2 minutes, add the frozen mango. Cook another 2 minutes. Pour into a bowl and top with cinnamon and maple syrup.
Banana Oatmeal with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chips:
1/2 cup minute oats, 2 t. cinnamon, 1 large sliced banana, semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips. Microwave the first 3 ingredients on high for 1.5 minutes, then top with the chips.
I am a creature of habit: this banana, cinnamon & flax oatmeal is my daily oatmeal combination.
To make it quickly, I use one-minute oats. One-minute oats are not instant oats, which leave me feeling sad and empty, nor are they whole rolled oats, which take a bit too long to cook in a time-crunch and in the microwave at work. I find that one-minute oats have a great, cohesive consistency, sticking together nicely while still resembling well-enough the oats they came from. By adding an over-ripe banana, which becomes even sweeter when hot, and a big dash of cinnamon, it feels like a dessert!
To make it quickly, I use one-minute oats. One-minute oats are not instant oats, which leave me feeling sad and empty, nor are they whole rolled oats, which take a bit too long to cook in a time-crunch and in the microwave at work. I find that one-minute oats have a great, cohesive consistency, sticking together nicely while still resembling well-enough the oats they came from. By adding an over-ripe banana, which becomes even sweeter when hot, and a big dash of cinnamon, it feels like a dessert!
Banana Oatmeal:
1/2 cup one-minute oats
1 large, over-ripe sliced banana
1 cup hot water
2 T flax seeds, ground or whole
1 T cinnamon (less if you don't like as much as I do)
Microwave in a large bowl on high for two minutes, stirring at one minute and taking care that it does not bubble over.
And Strawberry Banana Oatmeal:
Add 1/2 a cup of quick cooking oats and hot water, plus a ripe, sliced banana. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then add sliced strawberries that are tossed in 1 T of granulated sugar. Microwave on high for another 30 seconds - 1 minute, watching closely as it will bubble over. Add cinnamon and enjoy!
And Raisin Walnut Cinnamon Oatmeal:
Add 1/8 cup of chopped walnuts and 1/8 cup of Organic Raisins to your dry oatmeal. Add water and microwave on high for 1.5 minutes. Stir in 1 T cinnamon and 1 T ground flax seed.
Peanut Butter & Raisin Oatmeal:
Tastes like a peanut butter raisin oatmeal cookie!
1/2 cup dry oatmeal, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup raisins, 2 T creamy peanut butter, 1 T cinnamon.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes, stir well!
