Taking Your Oats from Ordinary to Extradorinary

For such an ordinary breakfast food, oatmeal offers extraordinary health benefits!  A whole grain, oatmeal’s biggest claim to fame is that the soluble fiber it contains may help to lower cholesterol levels.  This fiber also helps to support regular bowel movements and helps to satisfy your morning hunger.  Oatmeal is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, providing magnesium, some iron, selenium, zinc and thiamin.                  

Eat oatmeal most days of the week if you can, but don’t let your morning bowl of hot oatmeal get boring before winter’s end!  Start with a ½ cup of plain dry oats and cook according to the directions on your oats package.  Then, rotate through these quick and easy oatmeal additions to keep your taste buds happy all winter long!

1. Eat a morning bowl of hot cocoa!  Add 1 tablespoon of hot cocoa mix (any brand) and 1 tablespoon of mini marshmallows.  This bowl of oatmeal will contain about 210 calories.
2. Add more appeal to your oatmeal with apples!  Add chopped apple (about ½ of an apple), 1 tablespoon of slivered almonds, and ¼ teaspoon of apple pie spice.  This bowl of oatmeal will contain about 235 calories.
3. Pump up the flavor with pumpkin!  Add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin “butter” and ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.  This bowl of oatmeal will contain about 185 calories.
4. Put a Mexican twist on your breakfast!  Add 3 Tablespoons salsa (mild, medium or hot…your choice!) and 2 tablespoons of part-skim shredded cheddar cheese.  This bowl of oatmeal will contain about 200 calories.
5. Mix things up by adding 1 Tablespoons of dried cranberries, 1 tablespoon of mixed nuts and 1 teaspoon of sunflower seeds.  This bowl of oatmeal will contain about 247 calories.

To make your mornings smoother, try making oatmeal in your crock-pot overnight and then use the “Oatmeal Additions” for a tasty, quick breakfast.

Overnight Crock-Pot Oatmeal

Ingredients:
8 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats

• Combine all ingredients in a 5 quart crock-pot and set on low heat for 8 hours.

• For best results, try to use steel-cut oats, not instant or quick-cooking oats. 

• The first time you try this recipe, you may want to cook it during the day when you are home to monitor how your crock pot and this recipe work together.

• If you prefer a thicker oatmeal, adjust the water content until you find what works for you.
  

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