Can I just say that I'm totally addicted to Lost? We started watching in January and we are now into season 4 and the addiction is epic. We will probably need an intervention soon as our lives have been : eat, sleep, work, lost and not much else. help! It's so good!
Now onto oatmeal...
I'll admit I've hated oatmeal most of my life, but I didn't realize that what I was hating was the wrong sort of oatmeal. Dry and instant is not as good as the real thing cooked with milk, water and vanilla extract. Woah, it's amazing. I started loving oatmeal after having the "loaded oatmeal" at our local diner. Old fashioned oats, butter, brown sugar, pecans and raisins. There are many healthier ways to eat oatmeal, I'm aware, they could throw in some protein powder or a banana, but this is Floyd and as far as I'm concerned loaded oatmeal is an amazing path to travel down.
Behold:
Sometimes with or without the butter, and always cranberries and pecans. I love it because I am full for hours after eating it and is about 400 calories. Are you guys eating oatmeal? I am really late with the oatmeal love.
I finally got around to using some of the spices that the fine folks at Swanson Vitamins sent me. They have a full range of organic spices at really good prices. Their organic cinnamon is $2.62 which is considerably lower than the $4+ prices I've seen at the store.
I've been following the "No s" plan (no snacks, sweets or seconds except for s days or special occasions) for almost two weeks now and my morning oatmeal is so helpful.
I want to like oatmeal, friend. I really do. But I think it’s a consistency thing for me. Maybe I’ll try it your way…
My inner nancy drew is waiting for a couple of clues more before Lent guessing, but I wanted to say that steel cut oats have a much different and equally delicious texture and flavorabilities than the old fashioned oats. They’re almost like little nuts. I <3 oatmeal with honey nut crunchy peanut butter and brown sugar. Oh the deliciousity. The steel cut oats take forever but if you do it well they are worth it and I like them with peanut butter and nuts (pecaaaaans) and maybe some jam. Mmmm. Breakfast. It’s like a little Christmas every day.
I use the steel cut oats recipe that Alton Brown has on the food network site. I have changed it a bit, but using less butter and using soy milk instead of buttermilk/milk. I make it once a week and the keep it portioned in the fridge. It is so yummy.
O I love oatmeal
I buy the quick oats, boil some water and mix it all together. Then I usually add in raisins, brown sugar, and milk mmmm
Love your blog
Your oatmeal looks so good!
My husband and I addicted to Lost too! That, and 24!
Lovin’ oatmeal also, thanks to KERF who inspires me with her oatmeal love! It keeps me full all morning, especially if you add some PB for protein. In fact i get hungry much faster if i don’t add PB.
One thing i really like to do is to cook up half a banana in the pot first, before adding the oatmeal and water (or milk, if you use that). That way the banana break down to a nice stirable mush but also kind of caramelizes and you don’t need to add any other sugar. It is d-lish, i assure you.
Steel cut oats are the best(!!)-have you tried them yet? Lower GI than rolled oats and a totally different flavour.
Also firmer and less slimy so solves the consistency thing.
I’ve also used the following guidance to make quinoa (white) and stored it in the fridge, portioning out a bit each day with milk, nuts and flax seed (and agave nectar and pumpkin pie spice). A good option for folks on the go.
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/warm-and-nutty-cinnamon-quinoa-recipe.html
My hubby and I are behind on watching this season’s Lost… so thanks for no spoilers:) I love oatmeal and steel cut oats. But right now I am focusing on more protein in the mornings. I miss my warm, comforting hot cereal.
That oatmeal looks amazing. Please fed-ex me some?
That looks divine! And by the way, I am a LOST addict too! I’ve been watching since Day 1 and the hubby and I are so looking forward to the series finale. Every episode has us on the edge of our seats!
My second guess- you are trying something new and healthy each day. I can’t stand oatmeal, but yours actually looks pretty good.
Yuuuuum! I’m stealing this one.
Hmm with all those addition I may be able to eat oatmeal again. About 6 months ago I went on an oatmeal binge. I ate oatmeal every morning for about 4 months. Then I just got sick of it and haven’t eaten any since.
Seeing your pics made me want to try it again with all those additions. It looks yummy.
Oatmeal is terrific! Glad you discovered it. Not only is it good for breakfast, it’s great when you want a light dinner too. Loved the photo…makes me want to go and eat some oatmeal!
Hi, Lorrie. I was just blog hopping when I happened across your site. I blog about cellulite, so I’m immediately drawn to anything with the word ‘fat’ in the title.
I eat loaded oatmeal all the time, with plenty of butter (grass-fed, organic) or coconut oil and raw honey. Lots of shredded coconut and wild blueberries, too. Delicious!
I just finished grad school in Scotland. An older Scottish friend taught me the traditional way to prepare oats. She said her grandmother would soak them overnight in half water, half milk (instead of milk, I use a few tablespoons of yogurt). It makes them more digestible and nutritious. I’d love to know what you think if you try it!
I’m a big fan of oatmeal! Healthy and filling! I especially love it with brown sugar!
Your blog is great, you write well and it is very inspiring!
I really wish I could like oatmeal, but the consistency is odd to me. I can only eat it if it’s more raisins then oats. I do like incorporating the fruits and such.
Hello Lorrie - I invite you and all of your readers to join the “Virtual March on Washington” for health care reform on February 24th (that’s next Wednesday.) We can still get a public option and real health care reform if we push for it.
Blue Cross just raised their rates 39% even though they made over $4.7 BILLION in profits last year. That’s only the beginning of what the insurance companies will do to us if we do not get real health care reform.
To anyone who believes the Republican lies about health care reform: GET INFORMED. They are working for the health insurance industry. They do not care about you. At all.
JOIN THE MARCH: http://pol.moveon.org/virtualmarch10/
I’m totally on the oatmeal train. It all started after I began reading http://www.katheats.com she is the oatmeal queen!
Also, I’m following your no “s” plan–with a few modifications. I have hypoglycemia, so sometimes I NEED a snack, but it’s helped me cut out the times when I stick my hand in the chip bag while making dinner.
I’d probably swap out the sugar for stevia, (I don’t see a point in sugar calories) but otherwise it looks like a great start to the day. I was reading about the health properties of cinnamon even! I know that with me, the handful of pecans and cranberries would start overpowering the bowl and that 400 calories would be 800, LOL.
That sounds absolutely yummy. It always takes me a while to add new foods to my oatmeal. I’m always suspicious. But that looks and sounds great.
I love real oatmeal too!
Hi, I’ve been reading your blog for the past month or so but now I feel compelled to post b/c this totally reminds me of when I was little…my grandma would make old fashioned oats, serve it with milk and then my grandpa would sprinkle sugar on top and sing “It’s snowing, it’s snowing!” Delicious…just how yours looks!
I usually have oatmeal in the morning but let it soak in apple juice before eating it….Mmmmmmmm yummy!!!
Yum! I love the pic of your oat accessories!
Also, I’m totally addicted to Lost! I’m totally not a sci fi girl, but I love the suspense, the symbolism and how well connected the storyline is. It’s so sad the last season is airing now.
I LOVE LOST!
Also that oatmeal looks to die for
I’ve been eating this oatmeal for a couple of years (minus the butter and using Splenda™) and never knew it was called “loaded”. I switched this year to steele cut oats. They take a full 30 minutes to cook (must get up earlier) but they retain texture even as they thicken so you don’t have so much mush — I hate mush. I also like it with dried cherries instead of raisins when I’m really craving sweet — but only use about 8 or you end up with too much sweet.
Thanks for the organic cinnamon tip. I’m off to their site now because I’m using so many spices these days that I’m breaking my budget.
Man, that oatmeal looks so yummy! I buy instant and heat it up at work. I try to make it fancy by adding a banana or other mixings in but it doesnt compare to your yummy bowl. I wonder which instant oatmeal is best for me? Anyways I think that your lent promise is to eat breakfast every morning!
I LOVE my oatmeal too! I eat steel-cut oatmeal probably 3-4 times a week for b-fast and my fave is to mix in some unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon, diced apple or pear and sometimes some chopped pecans. OOOooooh so yums!
I’ve been thinking about trying loaded oatmeal for a few days now and I’ve always hated prepared oatmeal, the consistency of it is just so…gooey! Maybe I’ll try and make it abit drier, i would love to have a healthy breakfast that is quick and easy to make and keeps me full for hours..
Hi, OMG!!! I just started reading your blog..this is my first post to read here and I love it already!!! Your loaded oatmeal makes me look forward to breakfast tomorrow because I’m so making some..wow
I do loaded oatmeal as well but I haven’t tried the vanilla extract w cinnamon sprinkle but tomorrow I will go find the 2 and load up my oatmeal 
I usually put a lil milk and water in my (non-instant) oatmeal, brown sugar, raisins, cranberries, and just enough lemon juice and it’s yum!!! I’m trying very hard to lose weight. I’ve been running each day this week or/and power-walking and I can already tell it’s paying off, which is so motivating.
I just read here about the “No s” and I will do it and strive at doing it everyday with an exception of the s days and special occasions