{VeganMoFo} The Perfect Bowl of Oatmeal

Blueberry, Walnut, Cinnamon Oatmeal

I'm a sucker for a good bowl of oatmeal.  Always have been, always will be.

And although I do have a bit of nostalgia for the old days - when making "oatmeal" meant tearing open a packet of instant Quaker Oats (maple 'n' brown sugar, represent!) - I'm quite enamored with the weekend ritual of preparing oatmeal from scratch.  The slow-cooking, don't-walk-away-or-the-pan-will-overflow cadence of breakfast preparation kinda feels good.  In my soul.

For me, the perfect bowl of oatmeal begins with a can of quick-cooking steel cut oats from Trader Joe's.  Now, I know I said "from scratch" only two seconds ago, but quick steel cut oats exemplify the perfect balance of both speed and nutrition.  Yes, it's noble to spend 45 minutes cooking oatmeal in the morning, but the 'New York Times' and Union Square Greenmarket are waiting, people!

Raspberry Oatmeal

Recipe: The Perfect Bowl of Oatmeal
Serves: 2

1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. Trader Joe's quick cook steel cut oats*
Toppings:
Fresh raspberries + a few glugs of vanilla soymilk
Fresh blueberries + walnuts + cinnamon + plain soymilk
Raisins + walnuts + cinnamon + a bit of plain soymilk
Bananas + pecans/walnuts + cinnamon + a splash of plain soymilk

1) In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil.
2) Add quick-cooking steel cut oats to pan, stir, & reduce heat to low.  Cover & cook for 5-7 mins., stirring regularly.
3) When done cooking, remove oatmeal from heat & allow to stand for 1 min. before serving/topping.
4) Serve oatmeal, adding selected toppings to the top of each bowl.
Optional: For added sweetness, stir in a bit of brown sugar, or drizzle some agave or maple syrup on top.

*Not all oats are the same (there's instant, quick-cooking, quick-cooking steel cut, steel cut, etc.), so be sure to check the directions for the oats you've got!

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Recipe: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Oatmeal
Serves: 2

1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. Trader Joe's quick cook steel cut oats*
1/4 c. raisins
1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pinch nutmeg
1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar (or to taste)
1/4 c. walnuts
2 pinches ground cinnamon
1/4 c. vanilla soymilk

1) In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil.
2) Add quick-cooking steel cut oats & raisins to pan, stir, & reduce heat to low.  Cover & cook for 5-7 mins., stirring regularly.
2) When done cooking, remove pan from heat & add vanilla, nutmeg, & brown sugar to oatmeal.  Stir to combine.
3) Serve oatmeal, topping with soymilk, & sprinkling walnuts & cinnamon on top of each bowl.

*Not all oats are the same (there's instant, quick-cooking, quick-cooking steel cut, steel cut, etc.), so be sure to check the directions for the oats you've got!

(Print, Email, or Text this Recipe)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Oatmeal