Easy Baked Oatmeal

Need a really simple breakfast that can feed a hungry crowd, can be prepared far ahead of time, requires no attention while baking, is completely satisfying, and fills the house with the most wonderful aroma of cinnamon? Look no further than this baked oatmeal recipe.

I know it doesn't look very appetizing, but don't confuse this wonderful stuff with the mushy instant prepackaged variety - this oatmeal is lightly sweetened, has a wonderful almost chewy texture, and the flavor is buttery and Cinnamony. I serve it with just a splash of cold milk, but you can add dried fruits or nuts if you like. For a slightly healthier version, you can reduce the butter by half and sprinkle in a little wheat germ or flaxseed, but for company I make the recipe as is.

You'll be asked for this recipe again and again!

Hope you'll give it a try.

Easy Baked Oatmeal

serves 4-6 (recipe can easily be multiplied - see note below)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups quick oats

• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup butter, melted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together and pour into a greased 9" square baking dish (or an 11x7 dish, or a deep dish pie plate).

2. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes. Be careful to not crowd your baking dish, this oatmeal puffs up a bit while baking.

Notes

• Double recipe fits in a 9x13 dish - bake 35-40 minutes.

• Triple recipe fits in an 11x14 dish - bake 45-50 minutes.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

It has been raining non-stop for days... very gloomy out. I can't think of a better way to chase the rainy gloom blues away than to make a summery Strawberry Banana Smoothie. This is more of an "orange julius-like" version, but feel free to substitute yogurt for the milk if you like your smoothies a bit thicker.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Makes 2 generous portions

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk

• 1 banana

• strawberries (as many as you like - frozen berries are great)

• 1 tbsp. sugar (or more to taste)

• a splash of pure vanilla extract (use the good stuff)

• ice (optional)

Directions

1. Put all the ingredients into a blender and froth it up. Delish!

Now for a few rainy day photos.

You just never know what you're going to come across in the country... I think this is an Emu, but this city girl isn't completely sure. Whatever it is, it's nice to see I'm not the only one who had a bad hair day with all this rain!

Got this shot while sitting in a parking lot waiting for the kids.

Thanks for visiting.