This oatmeal smells like apple pie. If you use unsweetened applesauce and don't add sugar or another kind of sweetener, it doesn't really taste like apple pie. I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet breakfasts so I like the unsweetened version but you might find you want to add sugar. Either way, it's a yummy hearty breakfast that's easy to make.
I use a wide mouth 500mL mason jar for the oatmeal if I'll be taking it places. When I make it at home, I put all the ingredients in a little pot and cook it on the stove. I like the jar because it can take extremes of temperature and doesn't leak if it turns upside down. Also, I often use it for re-heating the other meals instead of heating plastic.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup steel cut oats
1/8 cup applesauce*
1 Tbs raisins
1 Tbs pecan pieces
1 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
(optional) sweetener/sugar/syrup
Instructions: put all the ingredients in the jar and add boiling water to cover and fill about half the jar (I do this around 7am when I'm making coffee). Allow to sit at least an hour or until ready for breakfast (I've let this sit for about 24 hours a few times - the only drawback to that is the nuts get less crunchy).
Microwave: When ready, remove lid and cook in the microwave. In my microwave, it needs 00:04:30 at medium power. It leaves me with a delicious and slightly chewy bowl of oatmeal that smells like apple pie. It doesn't actually taste like apple pie. If you don't mind the extra calories and sugar, add: sugar or brown sugar or maple syrup. (Note: your microwave will differ from mine. Line the inside with a paper towel while you're figuring it out because oatmeal boils over very easily. I bought a ceramic bowl with a microwave safe vented lid to cook this in and it still sometimes boils up through the vent hole if I accidentally add more water than usual. If it boils over but isn't cooked yet, reduce power and try again) .
Stove: If you're making it at home, you can cook it on the stove. I still recommend soaking it for awhile before cooking but if you don't, just increase the cooking time and keep adding water a little at a time until it reaches the consistency you're happy with. Cook on low and stir regularly 10-15 minutes.
*Applesauce: I've been making my own lately. I tend to buy a lot of apples and I make the ones that go soft into applesauce (sometimes tossing in a pear or two that passed it's best before date). Store-bought is also good - I use unsweetened in both cases because of my no sugar thing. Either way, I can't use a whole batch or whole jar before it goes bad so I freeze half the jar/batch which makes it go further, means I don't waste any and ensures I don't have to go grocery shopping (that's the most important reason).
Calories per Serving: 255 calories, Fat 5.3g (Saturated 0.8g Polyunsaturated 1.8g Monounsaturated 2g) Sodium 3.1mg, Potassium 124mg, Carbs 47g (Dietary Fiber 7g, Sugars 17g) Protein 6g
