A question for Lynn or Angie regarding oatmeal

[juliedianne]

I totally drool over all your oatmeal pics. Here is my problem....I need a course called "Oatmeal for dummies" whenever I cook it, it ends up mushy and gross.

Could you maybe give me a play by play on how you prepare yours? Pretty please?

[Linda @ Operation Stick To It!]

That's so true. My husband adds his ingredients including oatmeal and throws it in the microwave. I like to use the instant oatmeal for this reason...I can't stand the soft mush! I heat up my ingredients and then add in the oatmeal. It is so much better to me. It's all in the taste buds I suppose!

[★Lynn★]

Ewww, microwaved!!!

I cook mine on the stove top. For every 1/3c of raw oats I used 3/4c of liquid. Usually I make a batch for hubby & I in the morning so I will:

1. Bring 1.5 cups of liquid (usually a mix of water and almond breeze) to a boil.

2. Add oats, chopped banana, flax, vanilla extract, cinnamon etc. Tunr burner down to medium low and stir frequently.

3. Let cook for approx 3 mins (I use quick cook oats.)

4. Dish out and add a sthingyful of peanut butter/toppings etc.

[criztawl]

I find using quick oats works best ... I LOVE oatmeal. I put mine in the microwave and it's yummy to me.

[angielosingit]

I wanted to share an easy oatmeal recipe. It's called "Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding" modified slightly from "The Decadent Diet" cookbook.

1/2c quick oats
3/4c water
2 tbsp light hot chocolate mix

Whisk together and microwave for 2.5 minutes

Stir in 2 tsp light or natural peanut butter.

It's easy & yummy & filling & only about 300 calories!

[H-woman]

Check out the last Clean Eating magazine for Honey almond oats---mmmmm, my favourite!

[criztawl]

That chocolate peanut butter oatmeal sounds good ... I wonder if cocoa powder would work instead of the hot chocolate powder. I'll have to give it a try!

[anewnatalie]

i am so making that peanut butter oatmeal tomorrow morning!

[Angie All The Way]

Oh the wonderful world of oats!!! Here's how I make mine, much like Lynns:

1. Over medium heat, in a NON-STICK sauce pan, 1/3c oats, 1/2c unsweetened vanilla almond breeze, 1/2c water and 1/2 chopped banana. When it begins to bubble and boil, give it a stir and keep an eye on it adjusting the temp where necessary. If you've got time, let it simmer on a lower heat.

2. Once the liquid has absorbed to your desired consistency, add some flax meal, vanilla, PINCH OF SALT (it makes a world of a difference trust me), cinnamon, and if you want to add some sweetness, some splenda brown sugar or splenda starbucks syrup and give it a stir to incorporate everything.

3. Serve in your bowl and top with all kinds of good stuff - the possibilities are endless and that really is the SECRET! If you're adding nuts, toast them because that AGAIN enhances the flavour more and is delish. Try, real almond butter, almonds, break up a granola bar, trail mix, butterscotch chips etc. But beware of the extra calories you are adding at the same time.

I would suggest checking out www.katheats.com She is pretty much teh oatmeal queen and has some amazing oatmeal ideas!

Enjoy!!!

[chezjulie]

So now that we know the oatmeal preparation secrets, what's the deal with the Almond Breeze? I notice that both of you use it instead of milk.

[Angie All The Way]

Almond breeze is the best for making oatmeal :-) The unsweetened original or vanilla are only 40 cals for an entire cup as compared to the 90 cals of 1c of skim milk and it gives it all the creaminess oatmeal deserves :-) PLUS almond breeze has fibre and protein too. It's "almond milk" and can be found in the unrefrigerated section of boxed soy milks etc. Here's the link: www.bluediamond.com/shop/natural/almondBreeze32.cfm

I usually use about 1/2c and the rest water.

[boosplace]

I was curious to know what kind of oatmeal do you use?

[Angie All The Way]

boosplace: I use organic bulk oats and I use all sorts of different kinds. I sometimes use quick oats, sometimes use scottish oats and sometimes use largeflake oats. I'm off the instant oats though. I used to use the Nature's Path Optimum Power Blueberry flax oatmeal when I was started out with the instant, but haven't turned back to instant since I discovered stovetop is the best! I'm not a real fan of steel cut either.

[boosplace]

Thanks. I read your blog just about everyday through a reader on my Ipod Touch and your oatmeal looks yummy. Angie I have another Question??? Where does everyone get the PB2 AT I've seen alot of you eat it