COLUMN: A quick way to spice up a bowl of oatmeal
I may be wrong, but I always think that hot cereal is one of those polarizing things that you love if you grew up with it but hate if you didn’t. If you’re one of those people avoiding oatmeal please change your mind, because oatmeal is a warm, tasty, easy, inexpensive and healthy breakfast. What more could you ask for in a breakfast food?
First, how can you look out your window on a snowy winter morning and then reach for a bowl of cold cereal? Oatmeal will warm you up and give a reason to get out of bed.
Oatmeal is easy because all you do is “just add water” and let it cook for five minutes. Who doesn’t have five minutes for breakfast?
It’s definitely inexpensive, since the amount of oats it takes to make a serving of oatmeal will only cost you 11 cents.
And oatmeal is so good for you. Plain oatmeal can lower cholesterol and decrease risk of heart disease, and it helps reduce the risk for diabetes and cancer. It also helps you stay full longer, which is a good move if you’re trying to lose weight. Not to mention, oats are totally natural. Just look on the container, the only ingredient you should see listed is oats. Imagine what happens when you stir in some flax seeds and top your bowl off with fruit.
Finally, oatmeal tastes good, especially when you mix up the mix-ins and try a variety of flavor combos. Here are six ideas to get you started on making oatmeal a tasty — and warm and easy and healthy and cheap — part of your life.
1. Apple Caramel: If you want a strong apple flavor you can replace some of the water you cook the oats in with apple cider or apple juice. Core and cut an apple up into bite sized chunks. You can add it while the oatmeal is cooking if you want it to be soft, or put it on top of the oatmeal when it’s done, if you want it to be crisp and fresh. Drizzle your bowl with caramel ice cream topping or unwrap a few caramel candies and let them melt in your bowl.
2. Maple Pecan: This traditional oatmeal flavor is even better when you toast the pecans in the oven for a few minutes, before you add them to your bowl. Add a few tablespoons of maple syrup and a little brown sugar to make it sweet and flavorful.
3. Peach Cranberry: This time of year it can be hard to find fresh peaches, but you can use frozen peaches for a really tasty result. Just chop them into bite sized pieces and add them to the oatmeal while it’s cooking so they have time to thaw out. You can use fresh cranberries or craisins. This combination is also really delicious with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a handful of toasted nuts.
4. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip: I know you might be thinking this sounds weird in oatmeal, and you’re right. It does sound weird. But it doesn’t taste weird. It tastes delicious. When your oatmeal is done cooking add a tablespoon or two of peanut butter to your bowl and stir it in. Then sprinkle with your favorite kind of chocolate chips and let them melt a little before you dig in.
5. Pumpkin Spice: To make this oatmeal just stir a tablespoon or two of canned pure pumpkin puree into each serving of oatmeal along with a spoonful of brown sugar and a few dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Then top each bowl with a dollop of whipped cream and a few shakes of cinnamon. This oatmeal is so tasty you’ll feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast, but it’s actually just as healthy for you as the other kinds.
6. Banana Nut: To make this oatmeal, toast some walnuts in the oven until they are lightly browned and smell really good. Then add the nuts, some thin slices of banana and a scoop of brown sugar to a bowl of oatmeal and stir it all together.
Once you start experimenting with your oatmeal, the possibilities are endless. How do you like your morning oatmeal?
– Jennelle Clark is a senior psychology major who runs the online food blog foodislikeart.blogspot.com. She loves making, eating and sharing her food. Send comments to jenn.wilson@aggiemail.usu.edu.