Ode To Oatmeal! My Favorite Comfort Food!

This is my Project 365 photo for Tuesday.

I went to lunch at Paradise Bakery with my pals, Kristy Banks and Kerri Bradford. The menu at this restaurant is amazing--sandwiches, salads, pastas, baked items, etc. But the only thing I really wanted was oatmeal which unfortunately they stopped serving at 11:00 a.m. (it was 1:00 p.m.). At that moment I realized that I really, really LOVE oatmeal. Not just for breakfast in a bowl with raisins, brown sugar and milk. I love it in so many recipes. It truly is comfort food for me. And guess what--January is national oatmeal month!

One thing that most people don't know about my family is we have a year's supply of food and water stored in our home. We've had this for years and rotate through the food. This is just incase there is a rainy day. Yesterday there was a killer deal on oatmeal at the local super market so just couldn't resist taking a picture of me hauling it in. (It really is heavy.)

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. There are 101 breakfast recipes including some fun ones for oatmeal.

This is one of the quickest, easiest ways to make oatmeal. I just put it in a crock pot the night before and wake up to really great oatmeal. It's a creamier consistency than regular oatmeal but I really love it.

Yikes--Please note that I goofed on the first recipe. I doubled the water but didn't double the rest of the ingredients. I changed it below. So sorry if you made it and had way too much water!

Creamy Slow Cooker Oatmeal

9 cups water

3 cups oats

3 cups half and half

2 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

1 cup brown sugar

Just before going to bed, combine the water 

and the oats in a slow cooker. Set to low, cover, and let cook overnight. In the morning, stir in the half and half, vanilla, and salt. Scoop into bowls. Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Here are some of my other favorite oatmeal recipes:

Pancake Mix

(from the kitchen of Kristy Banks)

9 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or you can use 4 cups of white flour and 4 cups of regular wheat flour)

2 cups whole wheat flour (regular)

1/2 cup corn meal

1 1 /2 cups oatmeal (blended in blender until powdered)

2 cups buttermilk powder

5 T. baking powder

2 T. baking soda

1 cup sugar

2 T. salt

Mix all ingredients together in a very large bowl. This recipe makes four quarts of pancake mix. Divide mix into gallon-sized freezer storage bags. Write the recipe for the pancakes and the date on the bag with a Sharpie or Slick Writer pen and store in freezer.

To make pancakes or waffles:

1 cup pancake mix

1/2 c. to 2/3 cup water

1 egg

2 T. oil

Mix ingredients with a wire wisk and cook on griddle.

Granola

(from the kitchen of Marci Leishman)

7 cups oats

2 cups coconut

1 cup oil

1 t. salt

2 cups nuts (optional--I use sliced almonds)

1 T. vanilla

1 cup honey

1 cup sunflower seeds (optional)

Mix all ingredients and spread on cookie sheet (make sure you put plenty of Pam on cookie sheet). Bake at 250 degrees for one hour. Stir and bake one half hour longer. 

Mom's Oatmeal Cake

1 cup oatmeal

1 1/2 cup boiling water

1 cube butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

Soak oatmeal in boiling water while preparing other ingredients. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, flour, cinnamon, salt and soda. Mix well, then add oatmeal. Bake for 35 minutes on 350 degrees.

Frosting:

1 cube butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 t. vanilla

1/2 cup nuts (pecans are good)

1 cup shredded coconut

Boil together butter, brown sugar and milk. Remove from heat. Add vanilla, nuts and coconut. Stir well. Pour over cake. 

Homemade Granola Bars

(My sister, Becky, gave me this recipe years ago and it's my family's favorite)

4 cups Rice Krispies

4 cups oats

16 oz. large marshmellows

1 cube butter

1 T. peanut butter (optional)

1 cup miniature M & Ms (found with the chocolate chips) or 1 cup miniature chocolate chips

Combine cereal, oats, chocolate and/or M & Ms in a large bowl. In a microwave-safe dish (I use a large glass bowl), microwave marshmellows, butter and peanut butter. Cook one minute; stir; cook one more minute; stir. Pour over cereal mixture, stir, then press into 9 x 13 buttered pan. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Okay--so here are some of my favorite recipes using oats. Please let me know some of yours. I love new recipes!

Have a great weekend. And don't forget to eat oatmeal!

Sincerely,

Lisa

P.S. Wow--My birthday is already starting! Look what my friend, Carrie, sent me from Montana. A homemade bag, smoothie book, plus white cheddar chocolate popcorn (to die for) and some yummy bubble bath. Thanks, Carrie!