Oatmeal

I make a big batch every weekend that includes 4 servings of oats, unsweetened almond milk, water, lots of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger (don't measure, just shake until there's a layer of each on top) along with 2 diced Granny Smith apples (cored but skin left on), a sweet potato (par cooked, peeled and diced) and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.

I weigh out a serving at night, add some wheat germ and/or wheat bran and a heavy dash of cinnamon into a microwave safe bowl, add a generous 1 1/2 cup water and microwave for 2 minutes, stir (it will be somewhat watery) then cover and refrigerate overnight (most of the water will be soaked into the oats by then). When it is time for lunch, I reheat for 2-3 minutes. Depending on what I want, I add applesauce, chopped walnuts, &/or chopped apple before putting in the refrigerator or cut a banana into my oatmeal at lunchtime.

Also, there are tons of other ways you can use oats than just a regular bowl of oatmeal.

There are overnight oats, as well as baked oatmeal. katheats.com has a good recipe for baked oatmeal, which I loosely follow. Both the pumpkin and banana versions are good. I also like to put the baked oatmeal in mini muffin tins for snacks. I store them in the freezer and just microwave for a quick warm snack.

I have revised this recipe: http://jacquelinebanks.com/uncategorized/awesome-coconut-breakfast-bars/ by cutting the sugar out completely, switching the flour out for oats and adding an extra egg. It was good as is, but I prefer it with my modifications. I bake them in an 8x8 pan and cut into 6 bars. With my ingredients are 252 calories each with 4.6 g protein. They are not very thick but are fairly filling and are very portable for a breakfast or snack on the run. I am still working on perfecting it for my tastes and trying to add more protein.

There are alot of recipes that use oats as a main ingredients in granola, granola bars, dessert crusts, muffins, cookies, smoothies, etc.

Hope that helps give some ideas! :flowerforyou:

I go really plain. I take 1/2 cup oats and 1 cup water, zap in the microwave for 2 minutes on high and top with a little artificial sweetener.

ETA: if you ever get sunburned or heat rash, or even poison ivy, take 1/2 cup oats and tie into the toe (with room to expand) of an old knee-high stocking or cut a length including the toe from a pair of pantyhose. Take a bath and let the oatmeal soak a little, then squeeze the milky water over the effected area, letting the bathwater get milkier. Soak in the bathwater, Very soothing.

1/2 cup dry oatmeal (will make 1 cup when cooked), 1/2 cup milk (whatever your preference, skim, 1%, etc), microwave 2 minutes. Stir in 1 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter, and one Splenda if you want sweetness. YUM.

ETA: I usually cut this recipe in half because I eat smaller portions.

Make oat flour for baking. Turn it to dust in a food processor, then use it instead of regular flour. Use about 15-20% less oat flour than you would white flour.

I simply add some cinnamon sugar or something to give it a bit of flavor.

check this lady out, she makes her own instant oatmeal packets, you might be able to get some ideas from this:

http://www.theyummylife.com/Instant_Oatmeal_Packets

I like the crock pot oatmeal. It makes a large amount and it cooks over night. I use 2 cups oats (usually steel cut) and 4 cups of water and Blue diamond unsweetened almond milk (combined). I add cinnamon, nutmeg, honey or agave nector. I use either apples or pears and cook on low over night. It makes a weeks worth of breakfast and sometimes I top it with fresh blue berrries or raspberries.

I always just put hot water from the break room, packet of splenda and scarf them down, haha, been doing for years but it's getting unbearable at times.. I really like the pre-made granny smith, sweet potato, pecan thing someone mentioned, I'm going to try it and if I can add more protein in there possibly from egg whites or greek yogurt it will be an entire mid-morning meal for me. Nice!

I do a lot of variations, but my favorites include adding in bananas and nutella, and another one is cocoa powder, sugar (or other sweetener of choice) and peanut butter.

Make oat flour for baking. Turn it to dust in a food processor, then use it instead of regular flour. Use about 15-20% less oat flour than you would white flour.

That's kinda what I do.. I grind them and mix the oat flower into my liquid egg white and make, basically a pancake. A decent ratio is 1/2 a cup of egg white to 1/3 of a cup of pre ground flakes.

Funny, flakes are always cheaper than oat flower.

I make overnight oats - but I'm not sure if they work as well if you use something other than quick oats...

my go to is:
1/3 cup of oats
1/3 cup vanilla almond or soy milkl
1/3 vanilla fat free greek yogurt
1 tbs nut butter of choice (been chocolate dreams pb co lately)
1 tbs mini chocolate chips
1/2 banana sliced

I mix it up in a mason jar and let it sit over night... usually make 2 or 3 at a time and then its just grab and go in the morning. Just have to make sure you mix it up well... delish and keeps me full for 4-5 hours easy...

there's a ton of other recipes for overnight oats online if you do a google search... kath eats blog alone had enough for a month!

Make oat flour for baking. Turn it to dust in a food processor, then use it instead of regular flour. Use about 15-20% less oat flour than you would white flour.

I do this, also I'll throw in some frozen berries than cook it up and add a hefty amount of cinnamon, some raw unsalted pumpkin/sun flower seeds, walnuts and half a cup of unsweetened almond milk!

tagging.