Raspberry Cheesecake Oatmeal

Ingredients
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup water, unsweetened almond milk, or skim milk
1/2 mashed medium banana
Splash of vanilla
2 tablespoons cream cheese (softened for 5 second in microwave)
1 teaspoon powdered sugar (more or less to taste)
Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
1 tablespoon raspberry preserves

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine oats, water or milk, banana, and vanilla and pour into nonstick sprayed baking dish.
2. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice. Put into plastic bag, snip off one end and squeeze into two horizontal lines on top of oatmeal. Put raspberry preserves in another plastic bag and squeeze two horizontal lines in between the cream cheese.
3. Drag knife up and down through lines to create a swirl. Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

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Chocolate Latte Oatmeal

Ingredients
One packet instant oatmeal
1 tablespoon chocolate granola
1 teaspoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon toasted almonds
1 teaspoon coconut flakes
2 tablespoons brewed coffee

Directions
1. Prepare oatmeal as directed.
2. Stir in granola, peanut butter, almonds, and coconut flakes.
3. Add coffee and enjoy.

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Pumpkin Oats with Maple Syrup & Granola

Ingredients
2/3 cup water 
1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 
1/3 cup oats
2 teaspoons chia seeds 
Dash of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1/2 mashed banana 
1/3 cup pumpkin
2 tablespoons granola
1 teaspoon maple syrup

Directions
1. Bring water, milk, oats, chia seeds, spices, and vanilla extract to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, add banana and whip into oats. Cover and simmer on low, about 4-5 minutes. 
3. Stir in pumpkin. Top with granola and maple syrup.

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Blueberry Banana Oat Cakes

Ingredients
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup dry oats 
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
Dash of vanilla extract (optional)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon coconut flakes (optional) 
2 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional, for a chocolate banana cake)

Directions
1. Mash the banana.
2. Add everything else except the blueberries and stir.
3. Gently fold in the blueberries.
4. Spray a clean bowl with cooking spray and put the batter in it.
5. Microwave for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 minutes.
6. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

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Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 
1/2 cup skim milk 
1 ripe banana, sliced 
2 dashes cinnamon 
1/4 cup pureed canned pumpkin 
1 dash ground cloves
1 dash ground nutmeg 
Handful frozen blueberries (optional)

Directions
1. Put the oats, milk, sliced banana, and cinnamon into a small pot on the stove.
2. Stir continuously over medium high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture gets thick and creamy (and starts bubbling). Stir in the frozen blueberries now, if you like. 
3. Turn down heat to medium low and add the canned pumpkin and a dash each of ground cloves and ground nutmeg.
4. Serve hot and enjoy!

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PBJ Protein Oats

Ingredients
1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup water
1 serving vanilla protein powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon natural jam or jelly

Directions
1. Combine oats and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and let oatmeal simmer until 90% of the water is absorbed.
3. Remove from heat and whisk in protein powder and vanilla.
4. Pour oatmeal into a bowl and top with peanut butter and jelly/jam.

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oatmeal

I eat oatmeal almost every morning now. There are SO MANY variations.... the possibilities are endless!! So honestly speaking, I find oatmeal to be one of the most versatile foods in our Western diet. Seriously, few foods can offer such a variety of texture and flavor in conjunction with the level of simplicity involved in preparing it.

I still don't understand how a Chinese-American girl who, throughout her childhood either skipped breakfast or drowned her pancakes in boatloads of syrup and whipped cream, has now been blessed with an obsession for oatmeal. This was mentioned in an earlier post, but oatmeal is one of my favorite comfort foods of all time. I find that if I start my day with a really good bowl of oatmeal, I'm a happier person overall. Now, I don't know how to prove that in a scientific study, but what does that matter anyway? ;)

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS: Although a bit more time consuming than quick oats, old-fashioned oatmeal is a rather simple dish to make. Best of all, you can customize with as many add-ins as you'd like! If you don't know how to make oatmeal, all you have to do is combine the basic ingredients in pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally (cooking time appx. 10 mins). Once it boils, take it off the heat and add all the other ingredients, to taste. Serve in a cute bowl or just eat directly out of the pot! :P Be careful not to burn yourself....

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