Oatmeal Flavors

I've been eating a lot of oatmeal and other hot cereal lately.  I thought I would document some of my favorite flavors and sweetening methods.

Sweetening Methods:

• Mashed bananas
• Dates, chopped (approximately one per serving)
• Fruit juice concentrate (apple or orange)

Of course, you can always use honey, maple syrup or brown sugar.  Over time I have tried to reduce the amount of sugar, especially refined sugar.  You can also gain quite a bit of sweet flavor by spicing your cereal well. In the falling "recipes" be sure to use enough spice!

Favorite Flavors:

• Orange Walnut: Replace 1/4 of water with orange juice concentrate.  Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Serve with walnuts.
• Apple Pecan: Add 1/2c peeled, chopped (sweet) apples per serving.  Reduce water by 1/4.  Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Serve with pecans.
• Cinnamon Raisin:  Add healthy amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Add chopped dates at a rate of 1 per serving.  Stir in raisins after cooking (scant 1/4c per serving).
• Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter: Mash bananas (1/2 per serving) with cocoa powder (1T per serving).  Add after cooking.  Serve with a spoon of crunchy peanut butter.
• Pumpkin Walnut:  Reduce water by 1/4.  Add twice as much pumpkin.  When in season, add 1/4c  (fresh) cranberries per serving.  Add chopped dates at a rate of 1-2 per serving.  Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Serve with walnuts and craisins (if no fresh are available).
• Strawberries and cream:  Replace 1/4 of water with coconut milk.  Add chopped dates at a rate of 1-2 per serving. Stir in 1/4-1/2c chopped strawberries per serving after cooking.

I have to be honest.  Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter is my FAVORITE, but it makes my man gag.  You can't win them all.  More for me.