Oatmeal

Basic Recipe for one serving - 1 cup. See below for variations.

1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick oats or steel cut oats)
sprinkle of raisins or other dried fruit, optional*
1 cup water (or a little less)
pinch of salt
Milk, for serving
Brown sugar, or other sweetener, for serving

*Dried fruit, such as chopped dates, apricots, raisins, currants, cranberries, strawberries and blueberries, can be added to the water when bringing it to a boil to soften the fruit. Or use it as a topping after serving the oatmeal if you prefer not to soften the fruit.

If cooking on the stovetop, add the water and a pinch of salt to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the oatmeal and raisins or other dried fruit, if using. Turn the heat to low and cook a few minutes until the oatmeal has absorbed much of the water. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes to let the oatmeal absorb more liquid. If using steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oatmeal, the oatmeal needs to cook for 20 - 30 minutes.

Spoon into a bowl and add a splash of milk and brown sugar, or other sweetener.

If you prefer to microwave the oatmeal, be very careful as it tends to boil over. Put it in only a minute at a time and stir in between. Here also, use hot water, then add the oatmeal. If the water is not hot to begin with, the oatmeal tends to be gluey. To serve, pour milk over and sprinkle with brown sugar.

Leftover oatmeal can be reheated on the stovetop. Add a little water to the bottom of the pan, then add the oatmeal. The water will keep the oatmeal from burning. Heat over a low burner, stirring every so often. It will take 5 - 7 minutes to heat through.

One serving of cooked oatmeal (about 1 cup cooked) contains 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, 27 grams of carbs, around 6 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber.

Toppings & additions:

• Fresh fruit is particularly delicious on oatmeal. Try adding fresh strawberries (not as fond of this fresh fruit in oatmeal), blackberries, blueberries (excellent), raspberries, sliced bananas, peaches, pears, or pineapple. Instead of the brown sugar, honey goes well with fresh fruit. Or with all that natural fruit sweetness, you may not need to add any sweetener.
  If you would like to cook the fruit a bit, or are using frozen fruit, add when adding the oatmeal to the boiling water.
  - Apples, walnuts & sprinkle of cinnamon - bring the water or plant-based milk to a boil, add the oatmeal, chopped up fresh apple & 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, turn down the burner and cook uncovered about 10 minutes until the oatmeal is thick. Turn off the burner, cover and let sit for 5 - 10 minutes to let the oatmeal soak up all the liquid. Place in bowl, add a little milk and a sprinkle of brown sugar. Add toasted walnuts, if desired, Raisins would also be good. Add pecans and cranberries for fall flavors.
  - Bananas
• Dried fruit
  - Blueberries and Cream: adding a combination of 2 Tbsp. dried blueberries and 2 Tbsp. dried milk with the oatmeal to the Basic Recipe while cooking, then pouring on a little milk in your bowl as well as aa sprinkling of a little sugar or honey will give you a Blueberries and Cream oatmeal that is good. This is based on the Oatmeal Packets I used to make and take to work.
  - Strawberries and Cream: Follow instructions for Blueberries and Cream replacing with chopped dried strawberries.
• Toasted nuts are a nice protein addition and add some crunch. Walnuts, pecans, almonds, and coconut are all good options. For a different taste, try adding sugar- or cinnamon- glazed nuts.
  - My French Vanilla w/ Almonds Oatmeal I used to make as Oatmeal Packets to take to work had 2 Tbsp. powdered milk, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/8 tsp. almond extract, 2 Tbsp. slivered almonds, and was topped with milk, and white sugar.

Flavoring and topping ideas:

• Take a tip from from my Oatmeal Packets recipes and add 2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer for each 1/2 cup oatmeal used in the Basic Recipe. This adds a creamier flavor for Blueberries & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, Peaches & Cream, French Vanilla w/ Almonds, and Cherry Almond flavored oatmeal.
• Jams, jellies, applesauce, apple butter: Sweeten your oatmeal with jams and jellies. Or add a bit of applesauce or apple butter for added fruit flavor. The antioxidants found in the fruits will give your breakfast additional health value.
• Maple syrup and honey: Sweeten your oatmeal with a bit of maple syrup or honey in place of brown sugar.
• Diced apple: Instead of using sugar, boil your water with diced apple for sweetness before adding the oats.
• Oatmeal w/ Applesauce: Use just 1/2 water. Heat, then add 1/2 cup applesauce, 1/2 cup oatmeal and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon. Allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Yogurt, or yogurt and granola: Why not stir a few spoonfuls of your favorite yogurt into your oatmeal for extra creaminess? Not only will it taste delicious, you'll benefit from the added vitamins and calcium. Top it off with a sprinkle of granola.
• Granola, Bran Flakes, Grape Nuts cereals: Experiment with the many breakfast cereals on the market by adding them to your bowl of oatmeal. Granola is an obvious choice but why not increase the health value of your breakfast by adding Bran Flakes or Grape Nuts? With all the cereal brands available, you can design endless oatmeal variations.
• Flaxseed and wheat germ: For added health benefits, add a few teaspoons of flaxseed or wheat germ to your daily oatmeal.
• Nut butters: Add nut butters for creaminess, sweetness, and plenty of good protein. Crunchy peanut butter adds texture, also almond butter, cashew butter, and even tahini.
• Spices: Don't forget the spices. A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg can really add additional flavor.

Flavor Combinations:

• Tropical Delight: Stir in 1 teaspoon agave syrup, 1/3 fresh banana (mashed up), and 1/4 cup fresh pineapple (or jarred). Top with 2 tablespoons of toasted coconut, and 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds.
• Chocolate Banana Nut Butter: Slice half of a large banana. Mash half the slices and stir them into your oatmeal, along with 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of your favorite nut butter. Top with the remaining banana slices and 1 tablespoon of shaved dark chocolate or chocolate chips.
• Banana Bread Oatmeal: Throw a chopped banana and a smudge of vanilla paste into stovetop oats for creamy, delicious.
• Peaches and Cream Oatmeal - Top oatmeal with 1/2 cup canned diced peaches, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1/8 cup half & half
• Apple Cinnamon - chop up a green apple with walnuts and pecans over a bowl of oatmeal spiced with cinnamon
• Pecans, Cranberries, and Apples - fall flavors
• Oatmeal Cookie Oatmeal - 1 handful of raisins, 8 to 10 walnuts, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 medium ripe banana - thinly sliced (optional)
• Caramelized Pear Oatmeal - For 2 servings: Heat 2 tsp. coconut oil and 2 Tbsp. maple syrup. Stir in 1 chopped pear and 1 tsp. cinnamon and cover with a lid for about 10 minutes to steam and soften pears. Remove lid and cook for a few more minutes to caramelize pears. Divide oatmeal into two bowls and top with pears and any additional toppings like toasted pecans or nut butter.
• Almond Joy Oatmeal - Bring 1 c. coconut milk to a boil in 1 cup water, add 1/2 c. oatmeal, mash 1 ripe banana and add to the pot. Add 1/4 tsp almond extract, 4 tsp cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. Cook to desired thickness. Tranfer to a bowl. Add a splash of coconut milk and sprinkle shredded coconut and sliced almonds on top.
• Peanut Butter and Jelly - Top bowl of oatmeal with 2 Tbsp peanut butter and 1 Tbsp. your favorite jelly
• Oatmeal with Warm Berry Compote - Melt 1 tsp. butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp. honey, 2 tsp. lemon juice, a dash of ground cinnamon, and 12 oz. frozen mixed berries; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Spoon 1/3 cup compote over prepared oatmeal. Refrigerate remaining compote; reheat as needed.
• Sautéed Apples + Cinnamon Butter + Toasted Walnuts To make cinnamon butter, just mix in 1/4 cup room-temperature butter, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch salt, and 1 teaspoon maple syrup.

Making Your Own Oatmeal Packets

For convenience, make these packets of oatmeal and take to work. They cook up quite nicely in the microwave. Remember to add the oatmeal to hot water, then microwave. This list will also give you some good ideas for making oatmeal at home where you don't need the convenience. For instance, instead of the dried fruits, use fresh. Add powdered milk to the water to make the oatmeal creamier. Add vanilla or almond extract to create different flavor combinations.