Thursday, February 25, 2010

Ode to Oatmeal

Hey pretty people! I swear, I haven't forgotten you all; I have just been outrageously busy, mixed with terrible weather that I'm pretty confident will never end. Anywhoozy, I have still been eating (and breathing, too! Like I said, very busy) and workin it out in da gym, so it's about time to get updated. But before you get a whole update, I would like to spend a post dedicated to my (an Anna's) favorite breakfast: oatmeal! especially BAKED oatmeal!! Here are some facts, first:
  • everybody loves oatmeal
  • oatmeal is da bomb
  • Oatmeal is good for your heart (full of vitamin B calcium, iron, and so much more!)
  • Oatmeal is good for weight loss, and is packed with fiber
  • It can help lower bad cholesterol
  • it is DELISH
Okay, so maybe only a few of those are factual, but all of them are true in my book. I don't understand how people can NOT love it, though!

Jezzy wants everybody to know her love of oatmeal...and everything....

So, without further adu, many of the oatmeals I enjoyed this week:

Cinnamon Bun-inspired Oatmeal:

cinnamon bun in a bowl!

This seemed like a natural flavor combination to me. I mean, cinnamon bun=good, oatmeal=good, cinnamon bun + oatmeal=great. See, everybody, I can do math! 
I used a cinnabun flavored yogurt and egg added to steal cut oats with extra cinnamon. I also threw in brown sugar and other cinnabun things that came to mind at the time (nuts!). I topped it with a mix of plain greek yogurt mixed with sugar-free syrup and cinnamon. This was delicious, but I would like to take some time one morning and make this into a baked oatmeal recipe, which will probably be even more awesome and easy! 

Baked Pumpky Oatmeal:

Pump(kin)alicious

This was a pretty traditional baked oatmeal, but instead of using just pumpkin pie filling or plain pumpkin, i used a bit of pumpkin mixed with pumpkin pie yogurt I found!! This made it super yummay and I threw cinnamon, flax, walnuts, and cranberries in for a fall throwback breakky. Topped with some PB makes it a perfect breakfast for cold days (AKA everyday in Boone!)

Cinnamon-Apple Oats:

Da Classic



When I'm feeling uninspired, I often fall back on this always superb oat combo: cinnamon, oats, apples, walnuts, and cranberries. YUM! I often microwave the apple before adding it so it has a 'baked apple' texture and flavor.

Berry Baked Oatmeal:

Just Could be like a berry muffin! (but healthier and cheaper)

This was good, and I felt good after I ate it because it was full of berries and fiber, but it needs some work. It could be like a berry muffin, but it wasn't very sweet and the texture is a tiddly-bit weird. I'm not sure if it needs some different liquids used (I used yogurt as usual, but I think applesauce could be better) or if there is another solution. Either way, I'm not ready to give up on it yet, because this has major potential!!

PB&J Baked Oatmeal:

A guaranteed crab-free start to every morning!



Oh yeah, baby!

This is my favorite baked oatmeal, and it is basically fool-proof. I make this rezzy at least a few days a week.  I throw in half a container of yogurt (any kind is okay, but for this I like vanilla), an egg (or egg white), loads of cinnamon, about 2/3 cup of oatmeal, walnuts, ground flax, cranberries and 1/4 tsp baking powder. Microwave for ~4 minutes (my microwave is s-l-o-w though). top with peanut butter and jelly and DEVOUR!!!  Sometimes I mix it all up, too and it is even more fun to eat! 

This one is topped with "Better 'n Peanut Butter" and pomegranate jelly!

I had this one today for breakfast (which was at about 12 for me since classes before that were cancelled...again! this is starting to get out of control) and it was yumalicious. I will be posting again soon, because I feel good and accomplished after I do, and it keeps me accountable for what I'm doing and eating.  I have just been so busy, and during my down time I just want to sit and do nothing...not really productive, but sometimes necessary.  Anywho, I'm off to class and then to the gym. Tonight, my step-sister, Kristen, and her roommate are coming over for a potluck dinner and chill session!! I'm very excited to hang out with them and eat up some yummy, gluten-free, and vegetarian eats (Erica, her roomie, is a veg). Hope everybody is having a great week so far; it's almost done, so don't let it go to waste!! -Claire

1 comment:

  1. NICE! Glad you found us, it's nice to find another two person blog. I'll come look around more tonight, when I'm not working :) -Katie @ twolivesonelifestyle.com

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