Weekend Morning Oatmeal

When I decided to get processed carbs out of my pantry, that meant giving up my beloved boxes of cereal… Cereal has been a comfort in my life for as long as I can remember. Rough spelling test, Lucky Charms can fix that. Boyfriend dumped you, Peanut Butter Captain Crunch to the rescue. Finally get the tiny tyrant children to bed after a long day of parenting, enjoy a bowl of Frosted Flakes with that Chardonnay.

Sadly, those delicious varieties of colorful childhood memories are chocked full of sugar, artificial flavorings and empty calories. So, I cut them out of my life like a toxic ex boyfriend! But that left a Toucan Sam sized hole in my heart and stomach for something delicious and indulgent on weekend mornings.

Enter oatmeal! Yes, oatmeal, that wallpaper paste your grandparents used to eat can actually be really delicious and pretty healthy! Now, this recipe is pretty indulgent, probably a little high in carbs for every day, but a really good alternative to those other sugary processed options. It’s packed full of nutrients and protein, and will keep you full all morning long. Add some sausage patties or bacon, and a mimosa on the side and its a full brunch!

Weekend Oatmeal

1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 cups water
pinch of salt
1 3/4 cups old fashion oats (not quick oats)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
1/2 cup dried fruit (I like Craisins or Raisins)
1/2 banana sliced
Peanut or almond butter
Real Maple Syrup

First the oats, they need to be old fashion oats that look like they just came out of a grain bin, remember, the less processed the better. I haven’t tried this recipe with steel cut oats, but I bet it would work great.

Bring the milk and water to a simmer, over medium heat, until you start to see little bubbles on your spoon and the sides of the pan.

Add the oats and salt. It will look like way too much liquid, but don’t worry, it thickens up!

Stir continuously on medium heat while the mixture comes to a boil and bubbles away, then reduce heat to medium-low and continue to stir until it is pretty thick and about half the liquid is absorbed.

This is the stage when I like to add my dry fruit and nuts. It gives the fruit a minute or two in the warm liquid to plump up a bit and infuses the while batch of oatmeal with delicious nutty flavor.

Now for the toppings!!!! The best part. I love mine with a few slices of banana for sweetness, a big spoonful of peanut butter and a tablespoon of Real maple syrup. (None of that processed sugary crap your kids put on waffles). You can add a scoop of high quality protein powder for extra oomph, pumpkin puree and spices for chilly fall mornings, apples and cinnamon for a Christmas treat, or whatever else your heart desires!