Today I picked up the keys to my new apartment.
Oh, have I not mentioned that I am moving? Hmm. Let’s back up.
I’m moving! Not to a new town, just to a new apartment a few blocks away from where I currently live. The landlord just completely redid the kitchen for me – the old kitchen was severely outdated, so he put in all new cabinets, counters, and a new sink.
Now, I know this probably still doesn’t look very big, but I promise you: this kitchen is about 3 times the size of my current kitchen. I don’t necessarily have more counter space (I’ll actually be getting a little kitchen cart/island thing to give myself more work space), but I just quadrupled my floor space. No exaggeration, guys.
Also, for someone who tends to hoard dishes, that little built-in there on the left is going to be just wonderful. Now people can see my fun collection of crap blog props!
I will be packing things up (um…shoot me) and gradually moving small things over the next week and a half and making the big move on July 20, but I will still try to keep posts comin’ atcha regularly during the next couple of weeks. Throw in attending BlogHer ’13 here in Chicago at the end of July (anyone else going??) and I will be glad to see things slow down a bit in August.
When I’m crazy busy (hey, look at that segue), I like to try to prepare some foods that I can eat on for a few days. Baked oatmeal is one of my favorite options for this – I can make a pan of baked oatmeal and have breakfast (or even lunch, I’m not picky) ready to go for a solid 4-5 days. This version full of strawberries and blueberries is especially summery and wonderful, and perfect for a family (or single person!) on the go. To borrow the tag line from a popular breakfast cereal: Keeps ’em full, keeps ’em focused.
Strawberry-Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups almond milk you could use dairy milk or soy milk here as well, but the almond gives it a nice flavor
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup quartered strawberries
- 3/4 cup blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together almond milk, agave, applesauce, egg, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Stir in fruit. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until oatmeal is golden brown and set.
Dang it. All I have for breakfast is my corn flake mixture. At least I do have some blueberries, but gosh dang it, I sure wish I had a bowl of this instead. Sounds like I need to buy some strawberries and have it this weekend.
Duhhhh.
I just made baked oatmeal a few days ago and wondered if I was the only one baking oatmeal in July. Haha glad I’m not alone! 🙂 Congrats on your new place, and I know I already told you, but it’s so pretty! I love the color of the cabinets.
Girl, you know I’m baking oatmeal year-round!
If I close my eyes and breathe deeply, I think I can smell this!! Yummy 🙂 Looks like a great kitchen.
Thanks, Carol! I’m excited that my new kitchen is actually big enough for two people to work in, now! 😉
Ooooh, pretty kitchen! So much room for the kittehs! 🙂
Also, I need to get on the baked oatmeal bandwagon because I’m getting REAL bored of this peanut butter toast business.
I bet you a million dollars that Cora still parks herself right under my feet, even with all that room.
Yay! A two butt kitchen so we can cook together at your place now!!! I think I need to get on this baked oatmeal. I am getting so bored with eggs for breakfast.
Yes!! We must have a blog play date as soon as I get settled in. 😀
I’m such an oatmeal fiend. Love how quickly this can be ready, and I’m all about leftovers!
PS. Eating for breakfast and lunch for sure. How about dinner?
I may or may not have had this for dinner before… 😉
My favorite breakfast ever. Yours looks spectacular!
Thanks, Nora! It’s one of my favorites, too!
Wahoooo, gorgeous kitchen! It’s so important to have an open kitchen with lots of cupboard and counter space…definitely brings an element of relaxation to cooking! SO happy for ya lady, and wish I were seeing you at BlogHer 🙁 Your oatmeal looks fantastic…I’m starving, feeeeeed me!!
made this last night to enjoy this morning. Yummy! I added flax & chai seeds and chopped walnuts on the top before baking for added texture, fiber and nutrition. keep the scrumptious recipes coming!
Doc just told hubby he needs to lower his cholesterol and drop a few pounds (60ish) so I’m looking for heart healthy oatmeal recipes! He doesn’t like plain oatmeal and he doesn’t like the same thing over and over… unlike me who once I find something I like I could live on it! haha… Entire gang here is working on a healthier lifestyle…
I sure hope this recipe helps!