But I don't live very close to a Starbucks. The closest sends me right through town (lots of traffic for a small town!) and takes about fifteen minutes or longer to get there. Plus, it's inside Target, so I can't drive through. So I decided to make my own for when I'm having a craving and don't want to go out.
Ingredients:
Quick cook oats
Dried cranberries
Milk (your choice)--I use unsweetened almond
Chopped nuts (I usually use walnuts but was out and used pecans.)
Sweetener (your choice)--I use Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
Cook one serving of oatmeal according to package directions. About halfway through cook time (I do it in the microwave), add in the cranberries so they'll plump up a bit during the last minute.
When finished cooking, top with the nuts and brown sugar. (You see how much brown sugar I use!! I love mine really sweet.)
Enjoy!! Easy and healthy (if you don't use as much sugar/sweetener as I use.) :)
I also recently discovered McDonald's Fruit and Maple oatmeal. It's fantastic, too! And much closer to my house. :) I plan to try chopping up fresh apple in my homemade version soon.
Are you an oatmeal lover? Care to join me for some this morning? Or maybe for an afternoon snack?
Missy! Starbucks has oatmeal???? One more reason to love them, love them, love them!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Mickey-D's too????
I live in a box, obviously. Or a closet. I know nothing, but I'm very excited to know this!!!
Yay you for telling us!
I didn't know Starbucks had oatmeal now! I know Tim Horton's does. Nice to see some healthier alternatives in fast food places. I am an oatmeal fanatic. I cook it up every single morning,winter or summer. It can be 90 degrees out but I still can't start my day without my oatmeal. Hmmmmmm. I never thought of adding dried cranberries though! I toss in raisins sometimes -- and fresh fruit. Nothing like cheery blueberries hidden beneath that glistening goodness. Oh -- and a dollop of maple syrup. And if I have it on hand...a wee bit of cream. Blissful sigh. I think I need to do breakfast again!
ReplyDeleteRuthy, come on out of that box and live the good life! ;)
ReplyDeleteKav, they've had oatmeal for a year or two. I used to head there to work sometimes just because I was craving it. :)
I love it with fresh blueberries as well! I cook them with the oatmeal, so my oatmeal turns out looking purplish gray. LOL
Speaking of cream... I don't know if I made it clear that I actually make my oatmeal with the milk instead of water. It's so much better.
ReplyDeleteI love oatmeal! It's the best comfort food, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been known to order Mickey D's oatmeal for lunch...while the rest of the family is scarfing their burgers and fries...
Missy, I make my Cream of Wheat with milk, but I've never tried making oatmeal that way - I'll have to try it.
Jan, it makes it nice and creamy. I don't have to add any milk after it's cooked, which makes it stay warmer.
ReplyDeleteI've ordered the oatmeal, too, while the kids ordered burgers. :) Mine was for a late dinner.
I've never made it with milk, Missy. I think I'll try that tomorrow morning. Yum. I'm drooling just thinking about it. I have such simple tastes. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter who works at Starbucks absolutely loves their oatmeal. Always good when the employees endorse it, right?
ReplyDeleteWhen I make mine at home, I always use the Irish Steel Cut Oats. I find they keep me full longer. Regular oatmeal gives me that carb crash.
I love apples or blueberries or dried cranberries and nuts in mine. Lately I've taken to adding a drizzle of real maple syrup.
Mary, I've often considered buying the steel cut. I should do it, because I'm bad about getting carb crashes. Can hardly stay awake. Thanks for the suggestion! I'll just have to learn to be more patient in cooking it. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the old fashioned ones( though I do them in the microwave and at 50% NOT full power - sheesh what a mess) last time I added cranberries and golden raisins(left over from that bread recipe posted here a while back - had them in the freezer) I cooked them in with the oatmeal and added stevia sweetener packets - 2 or 3 I think. I dont eat oatmeal as often as I probably should - usually do some kind of breakfast taco with egg but occasionally I want oatmeal. I can't say I'd drive for the stuff though I have driven for breakfast tacos and the occasional craving for a micky d's sausage biscuit with egg/hashbrowns/orange juice...man wish they had that now :-(
ReplyDeleteSusanna
Missy, I get the McCann's quick cooking Irish Steel Cut - only takes 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteSusanna, I'll have to try the 50% power trick. I have to stand there and watch to make sure it doesn't bubble over. And yes, it has before. You're right. What a mess! Like cleaning glue out of the microwave.
ReplyDeleteMary, I'll look for that! I've only seen one steel cut, and it has to cook like 20 minutes. But that's in the middle of the Quaker stuff. I'll be sure to look at other brands. Thanks!
I still had to cover it (and put a paper towel under LOL but the work microwave is the more powerful and that's the one that does the trick(no choice but to clean that one or replace it!)now the one here at home I'd probably have replaced except it's mounted above the stove and more work to take it down than replace :-( I'm wanting to try a crockpot oatmeal someone posted about on a blog I follow - she has steel cut, flaxseed I think, apples, milk and probably some other stuff and lets it go in the microwave then has her breakfasts for the week to heat up. I got the old fashioned once to see if I could tell a difference - they were like big pieces instead of sawdust like the instant ones I'd been eating! I could actually pick up a single piece(only did it once to see if I could - not a total nutjob!)
ReplyDeleteSusanna
LOL, Susanna. I'm glad you didn't eat it with your fingers. :)
ReplyDeleteLOl nope it was dry when I picked it up!
ReplyDeleteSusanna