Popular Porridges
Tag Archives: blueberries
Loaded Banana Oatmeal
Do you ever have trouble deciding which kind of oatmeal to make in the morning because you kind of just want everything??
If so, this one’s for YOU. It’s like an Everything Bagel, without the garlic.
Normally, when we hear the word “loaded,” we think of heart attacks like loaded chili or loaded baked potatoes, which usually feature bacon, sour cream, and junk food like “Funyuns.” No, thanks.
THIS loaded concoction can be as healthy (or unhealthy) as you like. For a healthier route, look for toppings like fresh fruit, dried fruit, peanut butter, puffed rice, any type of yogurt, nuts, raw chia or hemp seed, banana butter, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, granola, or more sliced banana. You could also add maple syrup or honey on top.
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POSTED IN: almond, apples, berries, blueberries, chocolate, coconut, dried fruit, jams and jellies, kiwi, nuts, PB and J, peanut butter, pears, pineapple, strawberries
POSTED IN: almond, apples, berries, blueberries, chocolate, coconut, dried fruit, jams and jellies, kiwi, nuts, PB and J, peanut butter, pears, pineapple, strawberries
Blueberry Banana Oatmeal
Tomorrow is my final day of student teaching. For three months, I have devoted my time to the middle school and these students; it will feel incredibly strange waking up Thursday morning as simply another college student, and not a student teacher.
Anyway, it’s also amusing that I went three months eating oatmeal for breakfast every. single. day. I can only think of two occasions that I didn’t. One time, it was because I had run out of oats. The other time, it was because I was recovering from a kidney stone and felt too nauseated to stand over the stove to cook (so I reheated my banana oat waffles).
To be honest, most days my oatmeal was pretty simple. I stuck to apple cinnamon or grapefruit (thanks to the ginormous box of grapefruit my mom bought me!). For these final three days of student teaching, I’ve been in a more “celebratory” mood, and my oatmeal has reflected that. Having fresh blueberries on hand was truly a treat! In addition to my super awesome baked blueberry muffin oatmeal (which I’m incredibly proud of), I also made this blueberry banana combination. I just love pairing berries with bananas–such a great duo!
Blueberry Banana Oatmeal
What you'll need:
- 1 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- handful of fresh blueberries*
- sliced almonds for topping
How to make it:
- Bring milk (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. I also add a spoonful of milled flax at the same time as my oats.
- Mash up a ripe banana and add to the oatmeal. Stir.
- Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add vanilla extract, a tiny pinch of salt, and cinnamon. Stir.
- If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, raisins, sunflower seeds), do so now. When the oatmeal is close to finished, add a handful of fresh blueberries and stir gently. You could also wait and add the blueberries as a topping at the very end, but I prefer cooked berries to raw ones.
- When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Serve with another splash of your milk of choice, sliced almonds, and any other additional toppings (shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).
Just an FYI:
*You could use frozen blueberries, but you'll need to add them much sooner, like when you add the banana.
Blueberry Muffin Baked Oatmeal
I don’t bake my oatmeal very frequently. The time spent staring at the ramekin sunbathing in the oven is too much for me to bare. I prefer the faster, more intimate process of preparing my porridge on the stove top.
However, as I considered what to do with the lovely tub of blueberries I bought on Friday, I decided to replicate the flavors of a blueberry muffin. And, let’s be honest, a baked version would seem much more authentic.
Ahh, blueberry muffins–cue the nostalgia! My family rarely had “special” breakfasts. We stuck to our sugary cold cereals, even on the weekends. However, occasionally I would wake up on a Saturday morning to the smell of cinnamony french toast, scrambled eggs, or (my favorite) my mother’s incredible caramel pull-apart rolls. Yet, one of the “special” breakfasts I looked forward to the most was Betty Crocker blueberry muffins.
