Banana Walnut Oatmeal

To continue the celebration of the start of my blog, I feel it's only appropriate to share another great start to my day: Banana Walnut Oatmeal!   This recipe may not have won over my anti-oatmeal husband, who finds oatmeal "too mushy," but this is one of my favorite variations.  It almost reminds me of the Jiffy-brand banana walnut muffins my mom used to make for us on special occasion mornings. I can remember as a child getting ready in the morning and smelling the wonderful just-baked muffin smell wafting upstairs to my bedroom and knowing it was going to be a good start to my day!  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have!


Banana Walnut Oatmeal
Serves 2

3/4 cup Water
3/4 cup Light Vanilla Soy Milk
3/4 cup Quick Oats
1 Medium Banana, diced
1 tsp Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Nutmeg
Dash salt
2 tsp Chopped Walnuts
Drizzle of Maple/Pancake syrup

Add water and milk to a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat. Heat for a minute or two.   Do not let the milk boil.  Once it seems like it's getting pretty warm (you will see steam), add oats, diced banana, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and a dash of salt.  Reduce heat to medium-low and stir frequently for 2-3 minutes or until oatmeal has reached desired consistency.  I know some people like their oatmeal stiffer, some like more liquid.  I also try to mash up the bananas a bit while stirring so the banana pieces are smaller in the final dish.

Spoon into two bowls.  Sprinkle1 tsp of chopped walnuts on each serving. Drizzle with a little maple or pancake syrup, if desired.  After your first bite, you will not regret making this one!  Enjoy not only a healthy (in my opinion), but also a delicious and filling breakfast!

xoxo Melissa

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Nutritional Info per serving*:
Calories: 227
Fat: 4.3 grams
Fiber: 5.1 grams

* I have manually calculated this information, based on the ingredients I used. Your own recipe's nutritional information may vary, depending on the specific ingredients you use

Apple Pie Oatmeal

As my first recipe post, I thought it might be appropriate to start with the first meal of the day... breakfast!   I don't know about the rest of you, but I wake up hungry and my first thought is "hooray, time to eat!"  I often go through food kicks and my current breakfast kick is oatmeal.  I know, I know, oatmeal may not be the most glamorous food, but boy are there a lot of ways to pep it up and make it pretty darn delicious!  Today I will share with you my apple pie oatmeal.


Apple Pie Oatmeal
Serves: 2

3/4 cup Water
3/4 cup Light Vanilla Soy Milk*
3/4 cup Quick Oats
1 Apple, peeled, cored and diced
2 tsp. Light Brown Sugar, divided
1 tsp. Cinnamon, divided
dash of Salt
drizzle of Pancake or Maple Syrup

To make the "apple pie" portion, put the diced apple, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp of brown sugar in a microwave safe bowl.

Microwave apples in 30-second intervals, until apples are slightly softened.  I microwaved mine for 2 minutes total.  Stir at each 30-second interval.  Let cool while you make the oatmeal.

To make the oatmeal, add the water and milk to a medium sized saucepan. Heat for a minute or two over medium-high heat.  Do not let it boil. Once it seems like it's getting pretty warm (you will see steam), add the oats, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon,1 tsp of brown sugar and a dash (or two) of salt.  Turn the heat down to medium and stir for 2-3 minutes, until oatmeal reaches desired consistency.  Once this happens, add the apples and stir to incorporate throughout.

Spoon into two serving bowls.  Drizzle with a little syrup.  When you take that first bite, incorporating the comforting oatmeal, a piece of cinnamon-y apple and sweet maple syrup, boy is it good!  You might actually forget for a moment that you're actually eating oatmeal!  Enjoy!

xoxo Melissa

*Recipe hasn't been tested with anything besides light vanilla soy milk. I would assume it'd taste just as good with another type such as skim, 2%, etc. I happen to have a lot of extra light vanilla soy milk around the house right now because hubby got on a soy milk kick and I bought a new 1/2 gallon while grocery shopping without him... got home and he's now off soy! Gotta find someway to use it up! After this soy milk is gone, I will probably substitute either skim or 2%.

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Nutritional Info per serving*:
Calories: 207.3
Fat: 3 grams
Fiber: 4.1 grams


* I have manually calculated this information, based on the ingredients I used.  Your own recipe's nutritional information may vary, depending on the specific ingredients you use

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog!  Since getting married last fall, I needed a new hobby to take up the time I used to spend wedding planning and I thought a blog would fit the bill!  I love to cook, bake, try new foods and restaurants in Columbus.  I am pleased to share my new food adventures here with you.  I hope you enjoy all I have to write about! 

Kevin & I at our October 2011 wedding