Tip #18 Oatmeal

The mornings are getting colder here in Seattle, and I find myself making more hot breakfasts.  This morning we had oatmeal.  It was way too hot to serve to the kids, so I went to the fridge for some milk.  Here is one thing I don't like about oatmeal- when it's runny with milk.  So I saw the plain lowfat yogurt and pulled that out instead.  Perfect.  One dallop made our bowls of oatmeal the right temp without adding a lot of moisture.  We had enough flavorings in there that the yogurt taste didn't show through at all, plus it was creamier (oohhh- imagine Greek yogurt- yum!).  I prefer brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon and sometimes some raisins in my oatmeal.  It's not good for you- but I put 1 tsp of butter in the girl's oatmeal- yum!
Oatmeal is so good for you, but I have a hard time with it.  If I have the time, I would rather make steel cut oats.  Growing up, I liked the cracked wheat my mom would make.  Not to be confused with cream of wheat.
Here is the BEST way to eat oatmeal.  My friend makes her kids a hot breakfast EVERY morning because her kids eat breakfast foods really well and they love this recipe- I got it from her.

Baked Oatmeal
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup brown sugar (ok, it calls for 1 cup, but you can totally use way less!!)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted (you could use canola oil)
3/4 cup chopped, peeled apple
1/3 cup fresh or frozen peaches
1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

(the fruit part is all up to you- put in whatever fresh, frozen and dried fruit you have on hand or want to try.  I saw another version of this that had 2 tsp vanilla extract and dried cranberries instead of the fruit listed here.  I would highly recommend the vanilla, it doesn't add calories and makes pretty much everything taste better!)

Combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.  Combine eggs, milk and butter (or oil)- add to dry ingredients.  Stir in fruit selections.  Bake in a 8 x 8 baking dish coated with cooking spray and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
I know my friend doubles this recipe and I am sure it re-heats very well.

PS- I am going to try making this recipe with rolled oats instead of quick cooking and I will let you know how it turns out.  My guess is just a little chewier- hopefully nuttier- yummm, just the way I like it.  Nuttier! (this is me having an epiphany)  You could add walnuts to this recipe- awesome.

PSS- If you make sure your oats are from a gluten free source, this would be a great gluten free breakfast.

~Here's to Healthy Eating