Savory Oatmeal: Sausage, Tomato, & Parmesan

Let's admit it: oatmeal is bland.

Unlike some other grains, which may have nutty or wheaty flavors, oatmeal tastes, well, like nothing. An oatmeal pessimist tastes bland. An oatmeal optimist? Aaaaaah, they taste a blank canvas.

Since I eat oatmeal just about every day for breakfast, I'm working hard on my optimism. It occurred to me that oatmeal doesn't have to be tied to sweet - cinnamon, fruit, sugar, etc. Why not try something savory? I mean, rice can be sweet and savory, right? Quinoa can be sweet and savory, too. Why not oatmeal?

Breakfast: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

It's nothing special...just what I had for breakfast. And it made me happy.


Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

1/3 cup quick cooking oats
2 tsps cocoa powder
2 tsps peanut butter
2/3 cup water
2 tsps sugar or 1 Splenda packet


Mix the oats and cocoa powder in a medium sized microwave safe bowl (large enough so the oatmeal doesn't runneth over).

Drop in peanut butter and pour on water.

Microwave for one minute and thirty seconds or until oatmeal is done.

Stir in sugar and top with banana.

Eat.

And be happy.

Happy Monday!

Elvis Oatmeal Is In The House!

A few years ago, breakfast wasn't even on my radar screen. I didn't like it, it took too much effort, and I wasn't hungry. Why eat if I'm not hungry?? Um...hello...calories saved for something better! At least that was my philosophy. Then I decided to start training for a 5K, so in January of last year, I made a change. I decided to start eating breakfast to help fuel my system. It took some getting used to. I actually felt sick after eating breakfast, so I would just have a piece of fruit. Eventually, my body began craving breakfast. REAL breakfast. Whole grains, protein, fresh fruit...the real stuff. Now, over a year later, I'm still doing breakfast, and it's helped me eat better throughout the day, and I FEEL better.

One of my staples has been oatmeal. It's cheap, it's easy to make, it's filling, but it's boring. Who wants to eat food that looks boring or ugly? Not me!

Creamy Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

I've become a pumpkin fanatic.

I don't know what's come over me.

I was at The WalMarts (that's what we call it here in Arbutus) on Saturday and saw the cans of Libby's Pumpkin stacked so artfully on a display that I couldn't help myself.

I put one in the cart.

It looked at me.

It was whispering, "Just me? Jussssst me? Why not get another? Two is better than one righttttt?"

Please tell me I'm not the only one that has food talking to them.