I am quite sure that many of you know of the benefits of oatmeal towards a healthy heart. Did you also know that cinnamon helps lower cholesterol? Well, one thing that makes breakfasts easier in our home and a bit more frugal is eating oatmeal several times a week.
When I was growing up I HATED oatmeal. Every Wednesday we ate oatmeal. My mom tried to make it more appealing with butter and dark brown sugar. But I think my problem was the consistency. I would gag on it. And as the oatmeal sat and cooled off and I procrastinated the eating of it, it got to a gaggier consistency.
I am VERY fortunate that my kids will eat anything. Some things they like more than others of course. Oatmeal is one of those things.
Wednesdays and Fridays are guaranteed oatmeal days in our home. Oatmeal is far cheaper than cold cereal. I absolutely do not have a problem with putting dark brown sugar in their oatmeal either because I'm putting far less sugar in than cold cereal has per serving.
Pookieville usual oatmeal for 3+ hungry kids prepared in a 2 qt. glass
batter bowl the night before:
1 C. rolled oats
about 1 1/2 T of cinnamon
2/3 cup of nfd milk
In the morning I add 2 1/4 cups of water, stir it up, and microwave 5
minutes on high. I then add about 2 packed teaspoons of dark brown sugar and
stir until melted. Then I add cold milk and stir to a smoother consistency. Then
serve.
variations we enjoy:
1. adding raisins before cooking
2. omit the dark brown sugar and the cinnamon and dump in a small can of
peaches drained but not rinsed (leaving a little syrup for sweetness)
3. omit the dark brown sugar and the cinnamon and add a half a packet of
apple cider mix (you know the kind that you can find easily around the
holidays)-- fold down packet and save for next round of oatmeal
Okay, and something else I recently discovered that I would've previously thought gross, if they don't eat it all, I save the remainder from the serving dish in the fridge with the lid. Then later, I warm it up with a little milk and serve again. And they eat it! Weird, I know.
Oh, and what's up with all the milk instead of just water? My kids are extremely underweight.
5 comments:
You're brilliant! Who'd have ever thought of adding the apple cider mix?
Like you, I couldn't stand it as a kid, but love it now.
Gotta love the oatmeal, we do through it so fast!! My kids love to put in applesauce w/cinnamon, but Brown sugar is their favorite. Also for those that are lactose intolerant, like Jase....he uses water instead of milk when mixing after cooking. And surprisingly it's not too bad.
My son likes oatmeal, too. I'm usually too lazy to make it all that often, though. I really should. Thanks for a reminder.
I totally agree with you about the gagging part! I ALWAYS gag when I eat it, my mom used to tell us that oatmeal was so good for you because it stuck to your bones. I used to imagine it going down my throat and sticking to my spine...that image just grossed me out. LOL
I love oatmeal too. Have you tried cutting up a fresh peach into tiny bits and stirring into the cereal? Very Yummy!
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