DIY Instant Oatmeal
Making your own instant oatmeal is as easy as combining oats with your favorite nuts, dried fruit and spices. On these cold winter mornings a quick and easy warm breakfast can be a great start to your work day. By making your own you can customize the additions and make your chosen combination. Once you have made your mix, you can place single-serving amounts in jars (or other reusable containers) to take to work for a quick snack or even lunch.
Ingredients
8 cups oats
2 cups dried fruit (we used raisins and apricots), chopped
2 cups nuts (we used walnuts and pecans), chopped
½ cup brown sugar (can use 1/2 teaspoon stevia powder or no sweetener at all)
¼ cup flax seed meal
¼ cup toasted wheat germ*
¼ cup cinnamon
4 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spread chopped nuts in an even layer on a baking sheet.
2. Roast nuts for 10 minutes or until lightly roasted.
3.In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients including toasted nuts.
4.Scoop out 1 cup of the oatmeal mixture and place in a bowl. Add ½ cup boiling water or milk and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve warm.
5. Store remaining mixture in an air-tight container, or divide into 16 oz. jars/reusable containers with lids.
Tip: If you prefer a thicker and smoother bowl of oatmeal, make oatmeal powder with 1 cup of the oats by placing ¼ cup of oats at a time in a blender and blend for about ten seconds to make a powder. Add the powdered oats to the mix.
*Raw wheat germ can be toasted in a 350° oven for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned..
Recipe originally appeared in the Co-op News, January 2016