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Hello friends, it has simply been one of those crazy seasons where you go, go, go and then fall into bed each night wondering where the day went… Except that most of my “going” is here at home. It’s been a busy couple of weeks on the home front, working on character issues, developing diligent habits {sure wish it was as easy as speaking that into existence} and such. Can anyone relate?
But I haven’t been totally neglecting the blog, really… What you don’t see is that I’ve been working up with OhAmanda {you follow her blog, right?} to bring you a wonderful mission to do as a family this next month that will reap eternal rewards. I can’t wait to share it with you next week! Oh and I’m hoping to have something special to share next week as well, provided all the details come together… Again, another amazing way to draw our kids closer to Jesus and have fun in the process!
In the craziness that I think is just life with four children, I forgot to tell you about our #1 favorite oatmeal recipe that I shared over at The Busy Mom last week. If chocolate and peanut-butter are among your favorite food items, head on over to see how we pair that for a nutritious power-packed breakfast. And I lament a bit about the voracious appetites we have over here a bit too.
Speaking of oatmeal, I was talking to my sister this week and she asked about ideas for spicing up morning oatmeal. We’ve been on a tight budget this winter, so our kids have been eating oatmeal nearly every morning. So today, I thought I’d share some of our favorite combinations that we use to spice things up and keep oatmeal from getting to blah.
Oatmeal Options for Breakfast
- Apple Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + apples + cinnamon + shake of cloves + sweeten to taste (If you want your apples cooked more, chop and add at the beginning, if you prefer crunchy, add at the end.)
- Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + raisins + cinnamon + sweeten to taste
- Cinnamon-Cranberry Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + dried cranberries + cinnamon + sweeten to taste
- Peachy-Vanilla Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + peaches (fresh, canned or dried) + milk (regular, almond, coconut or rice) + splash of vanilla extract + honey or sugar to taste
- Strawberry Cream Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + strawberries + milk (regular, almond, coconut or rice) + splash of vanilla extract + honey or sugar to taste
- Blackberry Cream Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + blackberries + milk (regular, almond, coconut or rice) + splash of vanilla extract + cinnamon + honey or sugar to taste
- Cinnamon Blueberry Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + blueberries + slivered almonds (opt) + splash of vanilla + sweeten to taste
- Almond-Vanilla Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + slivered almonds + splash of vanilla + sweeten to taste
- Pear Crisp Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + pears (cook together) + pinch nutmeg + cinnamon + raisins/cranberries
- Butter Toasted Pecan Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + toasted pecans (for 1 serving: 1 tsp butter, 1 TBS brown sugar, 1 TBS chopped pecans – toasted in butter until butter browns)
- Banana, Honey and Walnut Oatmeal ~ Oatmeal + banana – half mashed/mixed in and half sliced and added at the end + chopped walnuts.
- Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal ~My kids favorite. Power-packed with protein, iron and of course CHOCOLATE!
Do any of you have any tried and true oatmeal recipe variations? I’d love to hear them. Another way we mix things up is rotating through using old-fashioned oats and steel-cut oats! It’s amazing how new and interesting it can make the same ‘ol combinations appear!
I buy rolled oats by the 22 lb bag…so economical! I like the sounds of some of your ideas. What a blessing you are to your family my friend. Hugs, Camille
My kids would eat oatmeal every day if I let them. Their fave is when I cook blueberries separately–kinda into a syrup. Then pour that on the oatmeal and top with crushed almonds. YUM.
I’m gonna try the rest of these soon!
a
oh my. My kids would think something had happened to me if they saw something syrupy on their oatmeal. I’m totally going to try this! 🙂
We have an electric one. Looks like this one:
http://www.hawos.de/index.php/de/produkte-de/flocker-de/el-flocko-el-flocko-grande-de
I’ve seen something similar before. It is supposed to be so much better for you that way… I’m going to have to look into this!
My kids love oatmeal in all forms! If oatmeal isn’t on the menu for breakfast they feel like they haven’t eaten. Your peach version sounds yummy! I’ll have to add some of your recipes into our oatmeal schedule 🙂
forgot to mention that we squash (or however one says that in English) our own oats… which in itself is fun for the kids 😉
How do you all do that? I think my boys might enjoy that!
Thank you for sharing your oatmeal favs Heather. We call it our ‘power breakfast’ over here and it’s just cooked oatmeal mixed with whatever smoothie is at hand ( tomorrow morning it’s going to be banana, apple and mango). The girls LOVE it and ask for their ‘power’ input every morning. Thanks also for all your Olympic Games posts and booklist. Always love getting inspired by your posts! 🙂
Chowing down on oatmeal right now! It contains fresh sprouted buckwheat (live enzymes help digestion and nourish like a vegetable), bee pollen and raw cacao nibs (superfoods with tons of nutrients!), coconut manna spread and dried coconut (nourishing fat/protein/fiber, antibacterial/fungal), ground chia seed (for omega 3’s), cinnamon (helps with glycemic reaction), thawed frozen berries (antioxidants), and a drizzle of raw unfiltered maple syrup (good minerals in that but we also use local raw honey for its allergy-fighting properties). The one child who can’t have any sweeteners or fruit is able to use stevia to sweeten hers (she has candida overgrowth in the gut).
We’re a family of 7 who’s fought cancer and other chronic disease so we don’t mess around with food….everything is purposeful AND tasty 🙂 God gave us so many healthy foods to enjoy! We also presoak our oats overnight with a Tablespoon of whey or lemon juice to decrease the antinutrients/phytic acid and make it more digestible.
This is so inspiring. With my biology background, I always love making the connection with what we eat and the effects on the body. I have a whole bunch of chia seeds. For some reason, I had never thought to add them to oatmeal! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
Not everyone gets to eat breakfast with Spiderman & Batman.
We love “the melted banana trick” by Chocolate-covered Katie. I chop (quarter)
frozen cherries and add them to the banana that is “melting” in my non-stick skillet
& we mix that with oatmeal – needs no other sweetener!
Also, if you start whole oat groats in the crock-pot the night before, it is oatmeal
in time for breakfast!
Yum. I love it when we can naturally sweeten things. I’ve sometimes blended berries to accomplish the same thing.
LOVE the super heroes!!! And your recipes have made me hungry! They all look so yummy!!! I can totally relate to the craziness of life. I keep saying next month I’ll have free time, it will calm down. It never happens!! If anything, I get busier! All is good though…. Our girls won’t be young for long!