Power breakfast: TastyKate's Oatmeal

Have you noticed that single-serving commercial oatmeal is often excessively sweet and lacks the great texture of old-fashioned stovetop oats? This really frustrates me. Oatmeal should be nutritious and really satisfying (for more information on the health benefits of oatmeal you can look here). Determined to prepare my morning high-fiber, low-glycemic index breakfast led me to develop the following recipe that can be easily altered with your favorite fruits, nuts, and (non-)dairy preferences. Key ingredients that make this TastyKate's oatmeal are hearty rolled oats (the TJ's brand is much better than Quaker Oats in my opinion), cinnamon, and plain yogurt.

Note: I have prepared this in the microwave (2 minutes on high, stirring after about a minute and watching CAREFULLY), but it is better if you have time to do this on the stovetop.

TastyKate's Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1/2 C Old-fashioned rolled oats (I used Trader Joe's Organic) **not steel-cut/Irish oats**

1 C + 2 Tbl Water

A few walnut pieces (almond, cashews or pecans are also good)

small handful of fresh berries

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

sprinkle of nutmeg (optional)

1 Tbl raw honey, to taste

1/4 C low or non-fat plain yogurt

Preparation:

Combine the oats and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the nuts and spices. Simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes. If using fresh berries (raspberries shown in the picture above) add them after nearly all the water has been absorbed by the oats. Take off the heat and stir in honey. When the oatmeal has cooled a bit, stir in the yogurt.

Enjoy with a cup of organically grown tea or coffee!