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Monday, March 14, 2011

Banana Nut Bread Oatmeal

Oatmeal... how do I love thee!

I'm sure that you will find my blog is not short on the oatmeal recipes. I love having a steaming bowl of delicious oats for breakfast. They're so filling and good for you, as well as quick to make and cheaper than buying boxed cereal, that I just never get tired of them. Since us vegans seem to lurve our oatmeal, I'm sure that there's isn't a shortage of oatmeal combo recipes in the vegan blogosphere, but sometimes it's a good idea to see a few new combinations to get you out of your oatmeal rut (if there is such a thing!).

Also, I'm trying really hard to quit refined sugar and junk food (day two... this is hard!), so sometimes I put stevia extract in my oatmeal. This particular recipe doesn't really need any sweetener, but feel free to add some if you would like. Brown sugar or a touch of pure maple syrup would be good. I was also tempted to open up a can of coconut milk so I could have some cream on my oatmeal, but I decided to let that go for now. If you haven't ever put coconut cream (from the separated cream in a can of full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk) on your oatmeal, you should try it. It's glorious! I just need to have something to do with the rest of the milk before I open one.

Note: I don't use the whole cup of almond milk because it tends to get a little foamier in the microwave and I don't have a big enough bowl to keep it from going all over the place. Also, my microwave is older than I am (literally) and yours could probably cook this oatmeal in half the time, so adjust the cooking time to your liking.  

Banana Nut Bread Oatmeal:
1/2 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 c. unsweetened almond milk
1/4 c. water
1 Tb. sultanas (raisins)
3 small dates (mine are like baby dates, so you can probably use one big one), chopped
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
1/2 a banana, sliced
1/8 c. walnuts, chopped and toasted
1 Tb. coconut cream, optional

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the oats, almond milk, water, raisins, dates, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir to combine. Then microwave 4 minutes or until the oats are done. It thickens after cooling, so if it seems a tad liquidy, it should be alright. Top the cooked oatmeal with the sliced banana, walnuts, and coconut cream. Enjoy!

This oatmeal has 415 calories, but I tell you what, I am insanely full! This is health food at it's finest! Next time I think I'll reduce the oatmeal to 1/3 cup, cause when you got all that stuff on it, it fills you up fast!

Also, I'M FINALLY ON SPRING BREAK!! Of course, I'll be working double-time, but that still leaves me with more time to cook (and sleep in, and be with my boyfriend, and watch Netflix...). Stay tuned. Oh, and I have a question for you guys...

How do you all like to enjoy your morning (or dinner!) oatmeal?

7 comments:

mindrunningwild said...

oatmeal for dinner? never had it. I like mine with cinnamon, pumpkin and yogurt! mmmmmm

Jess of Midwest Vegan said...

Ohh! That sounds good!

GreenCaller said...

Hey, look! It's my breakfast for all of next week right there!

Lol!

Hi, lady! That looks so delicious and just the sort of thing a desert-weary soul (duh-duh-duh-dramatic!) needs to keep her going through the day!

Jess, you would weep for joy if you saw this farmer's ranch market down here in Apache Junction. Old fashioned hard candies? Giant granny smith apples for $0.50/lb, acorn squash for $0.19/lb, baby acocados 5 for a buck! PUMKIN BUTTER IS AMAZING, BTW!

*ahem* Sorry, got away with myself again, lol!

I'm going to try out several of your recipes now that I have a chance and a nearby farmer's market and health food store! YAY!!!

;-P

*HUGS!*

GreenCaller said...

Almost forgot to tell you that we have a more-or-less-traditional Big Scottish Breakfast every Friday morning here in the camp. The guy that makes the oats uses traditional stell-cut Irish oats (that take FOREVER to cook) and cooks them up with a bit of salt and pepper, a few hard-poached eggs and some kind of breakfast meat like sausage or peppered bacon. It's a savory dish and it is excellent and very, very filling!

Jess of Midwest Vegan said...

Savory oats does sound kind of good! I should try that sometime, although, I thinking fried onions and veggie sausage might make the cut instead. :)

Oh how I wish I could find me some cheap produce! I'm growing me a garden this year to save money. Just yesterday I started my seedlings. I got kale, basil, spinach, heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers (hopefully) growing. I also planted some marigolds, since they're natural bug keepers-awayers.

I miss you girl! I hope you get to feeling better! I've been reading your blog every time you post!

The Health Sensei said...

if you're quitting refined sugar and junk food, you should consider tossing that microwave out too. i have scads of documentation on the harm of eating microwaved food. something to consider...

Jess of Midwest Vegan said...

Yes, I'm well aware of the radiation from microwaves. In fact, I rarely use it... except for my oatmeal. Lol.