Want a Warm Breakfast Treat?

I don't know about you, but I don't get enough oats in my diet. I have always hated runny oatmeal since I was a small child. I hated it even more when I was on a pioneer trek and that is all that was served for breakfast. I lost over 10lbs in 5 days because I refused to eat oatmeal and with all the walking and trekking in the sunny weather it just came off. Needless to say, now I have had an opportunity to refine my tastes and fix the oatmeal the way I want.

Oatmeal is a great natural food to enjoy at breakfast or any other time for warmth and comfort. The health benefits are numerous, but top of the list is the high fiber content. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, thiamine, iron, beta-glucan and antioxidants know to help your skin stay young. Even some life threatening conditions like cancer and coronary heart disease can be caused by a diet low in fiber. Oatmeal can help lower cholesterol and assists with diabetes and obesity.

All oats whether in flake or groat form have gone through a heat process which gives them their rich nutty flavor. There are many different levels of processed oatmeal. the larger the "seed" or "groat" the less processed it will be; the more nutrients it will retain and the slower it will be to digest. It's a good thing that it takes long to digest, because it will keep you fuller longer. Oats are lower on the glycemic index which helps to stabilize blood sugars.

Here are a couple of handy tips that might help you in your kitchen when working with oatmeal.
1. Oatmeal is a great way to optimize your intake of soluble fiber. One bowl can give you half of your daily requirement. If you add fruit you will have your full serving all in one meal.
2. Oatmeal makes you full which helps if you have a weight problem.
3. Instead of wasting money on baking soda for your fridge stink, put a bowl of oats in the fridge instead and it will absorb odors even faster.
4. If you have an upset stomach, or have a mouth that is out of balance and seems sour, chew on a few rolled oats and the stomach ache will subside and the balance will be restored in your mouth.
5. Chicken Pox? Poison Ivy? Dry Skin? Itchy Skin? Put 2 cups of oats with a tablespoon of honey in your bath. (great for pets too)
6. Just eat it and enjoy it!

Baked Oatmeal
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk

Mix together and pour in to a 9 inch square greased pan. Bake at 350o for 40 minutes. Serve warm with milk or make it even more special with whipped cream mixed with a little bit of vanilla. I put blackberries, peaches, pecans and sprinkle a little extra brown sugar on it to make it extra sweet. 

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