Tag Archives: oatmeal

How to Make Overnight Oats

Posted on June 17, 2011 | 7 Comments

Happy Friday! I got a few comments and emails yesterday about how to make Overnight Oats, so I figured it was a good time to do post a how-to. While I didn’t invent the concept, one of the best things about this breakfast food is that you can customize it to your own tastes. It’s the perfect do-ahead dish because all you do is mix the ingredients and let the mixture soak overnight (or even a few hours). I often make it in a pyrex to-go container.

It’s become one of my early-morning staples because it’s filling, delicious, and come on—how fabulous is it to have breakfast just waiting for you when you get out of the shower?

Below you’ll find two versions—one is a version that uses almond milk, to which I sometimes add (no-salt-added) cottage cheese in the morning for extra protein. The other uses yogurt. These are just the two types I’ve found myself going back to again and again but you might find you like something a little different. Have fun experimenting!

Almond Milk Version

Before

After

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 c- 1/3 c oats
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds (you can also use 1 tbsp each ground flax and chia seeds)
  • 1/2 banana, sliced (or 1 small banana)
  • cinnamon, vanilla to taste
  • optional: protein powder, cocoa powder, other spices, fruit, dried fruit, etc.
  • 1/2-3/4 c almond milk (any other milk works too)

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Cover and leave in fridge to soak overnight.
  2. In the morning, uncover and add any toppings you like. I usually go with fruit and a little cottage cheese for extra protein, but nut butter butters and coconut, and chocolate shavings are also fabulous additions. I’m sure granola would be great too!

Yogurt Version

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 c- 1/3 c oats
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds (you can also use 1 tbsp each ground flax and chia seeds)
  • 1/2 banana, sliced (or 1 small banana)
  • cinnamon, vanilla to taste
  • optional: protein powder, cocoa powder, other spices, fruit, dried fruit, etc.
  • 3/4 c – 1 c plain yogurt (flavored would be fine too)

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Cover and leave in fridge overnight.
  2. In the morning, take out, stir, and add toppings. I like adding any fruit but it’s hard to go wrong.

Enjoy!

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Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal

Posted on May 9, 2011 | 3 Comments

Do you ever buy something with a Best-By date a little closer than you’d like? I recently did that with some cottage cheese, which I really only use in oatmeal, of all things. The no-salt-added variety adds a lot of creaminess and protein without that weird “I’m eating cottage cheese in oatmeal” taste.

However, I prefer not to eat the exact same thing every day, so it usually takes me a couple weeks to get through a container. When I saw I had less than a week in which to use this one (I know you can use it for a few days after the use-by date, but I get skeeved out), I figured it would be a good chance to try something new. I had also just gotten some gorgeous raspberries (thanks, mom), so it was pretty clear what needed to happen—chocolate raspberry oats. Yes, I know I am way too into oatmeal, but trust me on this one.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 c oats
  • 1.5-1.75 cups water
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 banana, sliced
  • 1/4 cup raspberries
  • cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup cottage cheese
  • More berries for garnish (optional)

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a boil. Add oats and chia seeds and lower heat. Stir.
  2. Add cocoa, cinnamon and banana. Stir well. Keep stirring to break up banana pieces.
  3. When the oats have absorbed almost all the water, add vanilla. Stir and cook another few minutes
  4. Add raspberries and cottage cheese and stir for one more minute.
  5. Pour into a bowl and top with more berries, if desired. You can also add a dusting of cocoa powder and chocolate shavings, but I forgot to.

So far I’ve had this two days in a row. So much for not liking to eat the same thing each day.

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Chocolate Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Posted on March 8, 2011 | 1 Comment

This is a twist on an earlier recipe for carrot cake oatmeal. As someone who spends a lot of time helping people strategize ways to work more vegetables into their diet, I’m always looking for new options. This is rich and chocolatey (and packed with antioxidants) without being overly sweet, but you could add a little maple syrup or other sweetener to brighten it up a bit. On a day you want to cross a serving of vegetables off the list before you even head out the door in the morning, give this a shot.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 c oats
  • 1 1/2 c water
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • half a banana, sliced
  • 1 carrot, grated or processed in a food processor
  • cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • dash of salt (to bring out the sweetness)
  • 1 tbsp nut butter (I used Peanut Butter & Co’s Dark Chocolate Dreams)

Continue reading →

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Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Posted on February 23, 2011 | 2 Comments

This was one experiment gone right. I’ve been curious to see how carrots would taste in oatmeal, and after trying this, I can definitely say I’m a fan—their natural sweetness is a no-brainer in this context. It’s also a convenient way to work a little extra veggies into the day.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c steel-cut oats or 1/3 c rolled oats
  • 1/5 c water
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 a banana, sliced
  • 1 carrot, washed and grated or processed in food processor
  • cinnamon
  • ground ginger
  • ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp coconut oil or 1 tbsp coconut milk (optional but delicious)
  • 1/4 c cottage cheese (optional) Continue reading →

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Great Things

Posted on February 5, 2011 | 4 Comments

Happy Saturday, everyone! Hope you’ve got a great day planned. My class reading is done, no looming work deadlines, and I just had an awesome workout. Once I find my way to the bottom of this gigantic bowl of oatmeal (chia seeds + chopped apple + extra water= volume), I’m off to a bridesmaid dress fitting with some of my favorite girls. I can’t wait to see them.  What are you looking forward to most this weekend?

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c oats
  • 1.5 c water (more if needed)
  • 1 granny smith apple, chopped
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • cinnamon, ground cloves, ginger
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp-ish almond butter

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a boil. Add oats, chia seeds, apple.
  2. Reduce heat and add spices. Allow to cook until liquid is absorbed and apple pieces are soft. In the last two minutes, add vanilla.
  3. Pour into a giant bowl and stir in almond butter.

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Cottage Cheese in Oatmeal?

Posted on September 7, 2010 | 4 Comments

This morning I woke up early to get some extra work done before this afternoon’s Biochem class, and figured I’d take advantage of the slower pace and cook something I rarely have time for.

Enter steel-cut oats, which take a good 20 minutes on the stove. I also threw in a small diced pear. I love finding smaller pieces of fruit at the market—you can buy more for the same price as a couple of giant pieces and the serving size is much more realistic.

I also tried something new—cottage cheese. I’d spooned some on top once and not been too jazzed, but when I stirred some in for the last few minutes of cooking, I ended up with something that tasted kind of like cheesecake. Whole grain cheesecake that happens to have lots of protein, fiber and omega 3′s (from flax)…I’ll definitely be making this again.

Cheesecake Oatmeal Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 c water
  • 1/4 c steel-cut oats
  • 1 small diced pear
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp ground flax meal
  • 1/2 c no-salt-added cottage cheese (stirred in near end)

This photo isn’t exactly sellin’ it, I know. It wasn’t until I was about almost halfway through the bowl that I realized other people might actually like this concoction. Let me know if you try it and what you think!

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Overtime Oats

Posted on August 12, 2010 | 4 Comments

An experiment. I’ve seen other bloggers raving about Overnight Oats, but I’d been putting off making them, despite my curiosity. I’ll try almost anything for lunch or dinner, but I tend to stick to reliable breakfasts that I know will keep me full until lunch. So I decided to do a test-drive version by making what I’ll call “Overtime Oats.”

I had jury duty today (and I have to go tomorrow too), but luckily we got let out really early, so I was able to come home to eat lunch. I had a lot of work ahead of me plus a little gym time (I needed an excuse to read Glamour), so I figured a good snack would be needed later in the day. I was right! It was good to have this at the ready when my stomach started growling a few hours later. It’s ugly, but really good. I’m a fan.

Into a bowl went:

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 2/3 cup kefir
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 a medium banana
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

I covered the bowl and let it sick* for a few hours in the fridge. I have to admit, I was dubious, but I can totally see the appeal now! The oats and chia seeds soaked up the moisture wonderfully and the banana added a lot of sweetness. Were I to make this for breakfast (aka—legit overnight oats), I’d probably use a little less kefir and sub in a bit of milk. I’d also add some nut butter and more sliced fruit on top before serving in the a.m.

*”sick” meaning “sit,” of course—did I mention I picked the wrong week to cut back on caffeine?

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Obligatory Oats in a Jar

Posted on March 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

I’ve seen other bloggers rave about “oats in a jar.” Basically, when your jar of nut butter is down to a tablespoon or so, pour some hot oatmeal in, mix, and eat.

I tried it this morning, and I have to admit, it really didn’t do anything for me. I don’t get it—is the appeal the taste? Texture? Or is it the thrill of eating out of a jar (near the top of the unspoken list of things women are “forbidden” to do)?

But hey, oatmeal is oatmeal, and I love oatmeal, especially with apples and cinnamon, so I was happy to call it breakfast.

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Back to Winter

Posted on January 28, 2010 | Leave a comment


It’s snowing in New York this morning. I guess it’s back to the winter weather.

One good thing about being in grad school and working mostly from home is lazy weekday mornings. Or sort of lazy. I’ll go to the gym in a little while once it’s less crowded and then finish up some notes for class before I have to leave, but for now, I’m just hanging out in my bathrobe, playing around on the ukulele and just enjoying being able to take the morning at my own pace. It’s so rare I get to do that, and I know a lot of people who would agree.

Sometimes when I have an article due or something it’s different, but today I’m enjoying a short respite between writing assignments. Of course, even slow mornings require fuel. Today, I made a bowl of oatmeal with banana cooked in and added a tablespoon of almond butter. If you’ve never tried it, you have to! I got the idea from the lovely Jade Sylvan, who blogs over at Boston Massage Therapy’s Boston Healing Blog. All you do is stir the almond butter into the oatmeal until it melts in. Sooo good. Even better, it actually keeps me full until lunchtime!

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$1 Oatmeal

Posted on January 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Some of you know how obsessed I am with oatmeal, so you can bet I get excited whenever Jamba Juice starts offering their steel-cut oats for a dollar. Now through February 2nd (far as I know), on Wednesdays you can get ‘em for a buck.

What’s pretty funny is that I’ve never actually gotten around to trying their oatmeal. I usually eat breakfast at home, and though oatmeal makes a good snack as well, it’s not usually something I think of grabbing. Why pay for something I can make at home for practically nothing, you know?

Once in a while, though, it’s fun to try new things. The different flavors (Plain with brown sugar, Fresh Banana, Blueberry & Blackberry, Apple Cinnamon, and Berry Cherry Pecan) range in calories from 220-340 and are cooked in soy milk. Supposedly the fruit is fresh, even though you’d think with fresh fruit you’d see more vitamin C on the nutrition information label. While I’m not the hugest fan of pre-sweetened stuff, it’s fine once in a while. And anyway, if sugar in your oatmeal is your idea of a treat, then you’re probably not someone who has to worry about consuming too many added sugars.

All the same though, it sure beats the standard apple and almonds I usually carry around on busy days. It kind of makes me wish it was Wednesday…

Still, I think Starbucks gets it right by offering customers a selection of things they can add themselves. Mix in your topping(s) of choice, slice a little over-priced Starbucks banana in there along with some milk if that’s your thing, and you’re golden. Add a latte and the awesomeness is off the charts. Sigh. I wish it was breakfast. And that I hadn’t gotten up at 7 a.m. to go to lab.

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