Oatmeal Breakfast Packets

Oatmeal packets are handy to take to work, or just to have at home for a quick breakfast.

For each packet: put 1/2 - 3/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal in a zip-lock bag (I use the snack size). Add flavoring ingredients below. You could also add wheat germ or bran, if you like. Note: you may need to adjust the amount of sweetener depending on the fruit you use. Some dried fruit is sweetened, although most is not.

Cooking the oatmeal in a microwave: The key to making good oatmeal is to add it to boiling, not cold, water. To cook, heat 3/4 - 1 cup water in the microwave (or on the stovetop, if you prefer). Stir in the packet ingredients and microwave or cook 1 minute more. Be careful because oatmeal tends to boil over in the microwave. If you want to cook it longer than 1 minute, check and stir every one minute. Stir and add milk.

My favorites are marked with an *. I did not try all of these recipes.

*Plain Oatmeal
1/2 c. old fashioned oatmeal
1/8 tsp. salt
- Serve with milk & brown sugar

Cinnamon Sugar
2 Tbsp. white or raw sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Apple Cinnamon
2 Tbsp. chopped dried apples
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Raisins & Spice (nice fall flavors)
2 Tbsp. raisins
1 - 2 Tbsp. white or raw sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
scant 1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Cranberries & Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. dried cranberries
2 Tbsp. brown sugar

Ginger Pear (or Peach)
2 Tbsp. chopped dried pear
2 Tbsp. candied ginger

Vanilla Pear
1 tsp. vanilla extract (imitation works fine)
2 Tbsp. chopped dried pear
1 - 2 Tbsp. white or raw sugar

*Blueberries & Cream
2 Tbsp. dried blueberries
2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer (or 1 Tbsp. of each)
1 Tbsp. white or raw sugar

*Strawberries & Cream
2 Tbsp. chopped dried strawberries
2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer (or 1 Tbsp. of each)
1 Tbsp. white or raw sugar

Peaches & Cream
2 Tbsp. chopped dried peaches
2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer (or 1 Tbsp. of each)
1 Tbsp. white or raw sugar

*Tropical Delight
1 Tbsp. chopped dried pineapple
1 Tbsp sweetened coconut
1 Tbsp. chopped dried banana
(needs no sweetener)

Tropical Fruit
1 Tbsp. chopped dried mango
1 Tbsp. chopped dried papaya
1 Tbsp. chopped dried banana
(needs no sweetener)

Banana Nut
1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped dried banana
1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped toasted walnuts or pecans (peanuts?)
1 Tbsp. brown sugar

*French Vanilla w/ Almonds
1 tsp. vanilla extract (imitation works fine)
1/8 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer
2 Tbsp. slivered toasted almonds
1 Tbsp. white or raw sugar

Cherry Almond (recipe modified since trying - added almond extract & milk/ coffee creamer)
1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped dried cherries
1/8 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer
1 1/2 Tbsp. slivered toasted almonds
1 Tbsp. white or raw sugar

Honey Nut
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. finely chopped toasted nuts

Maple Walnut
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 tsp. maple flavoring
2 Tbsp. finely chopped toasted walnuts

Butter Pecan
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. powdered milk or coffee creamer
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (imitation works fine)
1/16 tsp. butter flavoring
2 Tbsp. finely chopped toasted pecans
1/8 tsp. salt (omit if pecans are salted)

Other flavors to experiment with:

Vanilla Cinnamon (white or raw sugar)
Cinnamon Spice (white or raw sugar)
Honey Peach
Chocolate & Coconut
Chocolate Cherry

Dried Fruits: raisins, currants, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, dates, figs, bananas, pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut

Nuts: walnuts, pecans, almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, Hazel nuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts

Spices & Flavorings: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, mace, ginger, vanilla, maple

Sweeteners: white sugar, raw sugar, brown sugar, confectioner's sugar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, molasses, jams and jelllies