Monday, December 9, 2013

Overnight Oats

Anyone who has been on Pinterest or social media has probably seen  the oatmeal in mason jars craze.  I really liked the idea since I actually really like eating oatmeal for breakfast or morning snack, have been trying to reduce my sugar intake, and wanted something I could make ahead of time so I could just grab it and go.  I tried 5 different recipes for before I finally blended a few recipes and created my own "perfect" overnight oats.

The first batch was baked and they were okay.  They tasted better if I ate it as soon as it came of the oven and topped it with a huge glob of peanut butter.  Once they sat or were reheated they turned into a substance comparable to paste though.  The second recipe seriously lacked flavor and I don't care how healthy it is for me, if it tastes blah I am not eating it.  The third, forth, and fifth recipes all lacked luster, flavor, and an enjoyable texture.  There were little things I liked about each so after 5 failed attempts I started to experiment with my own recipe.

I start with 2 cups of old-fashioned oats, 1 cup of unsweetened organic applesauce, 1 1/2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg.  After I mix those ingredients together the recipe changes each week.  This week we added in dried cranberries and dark chocolate chips but some of our other favorites are blueberries and strawberries, blueberries and cranberries, and cranberries and pears.



After the first set of ingredients and add ins have been mixed together I portion it out into 1/2 cup mason jars for me and 1 cup mason jars for him, cover the jars, place in the fridge, and for the rest of the week we have breakfast or our morning snack ready to go.  I like to warm them up for 20-30 seconds in the microwave or in a pan of boiling water but he likes to eat them cold.  Either way though, they taste good, there is no added sugar, and they are quick and easy to make.


Overnight Oats

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Add ins of your preference

Mix all ingredients together and portion into individual cups.  Cover and store in the fridge overnight or until ready to eat. 

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