Don’t we all have a few shameful food secrets?
Things we hide from our culinary friends for fear they’d judge our embarrassing penchant for a somewhat disgusting food item… Most of mine have carried over from childhood, and I’m slowly attempting to rid them from my pantry (and my brain).
I shared one of mine here, when I talked about my unhealthy obsession with frozen pizza rolls. (By the way, I haven’t had any more of the frozen kind since my post.)
Now I’m tackling one I’ve loved as long as I can remember: Apple and Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal packets. I use these as a perfect quick anytime meal – and I’m sure they are probably not very good for me.
So, when I saw this “make the night before” and bake in the morning version, I had to give it a try.
The Recipe:
Overnight Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal, adapted from SimpleBites
2 large eggs
1/4 c maple syrup
1 t baking powder
1 t vanilla
1 t cinnamon
1/4 c salted butter, melted
1/2 c applesauce
1 small apple, grated
1 1/4 c milk
3 c old-fashioned oats
Butter a 2 quart baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients, except the oats. Fold in oats and combine well. Transfer mixture into the buttered baking dish and spread evenly around. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic directly on top of the oat mixture. Refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, preheat oven to 375°F. Unwrap oatmeal and place in oven. Bake for about 30 minutes until oatmeal is set and browned on top.
Serve hot with more milk or cream.
The Results:
Well, to me, it really wasn’t the best.
Maybe because I’m used to the super sweet and flavorful packets, this just seemed kind of blah.
Now, that being said, I’m sure there would be many ways to spice this up a bit. More apple/applesauce for sure – and more cinnamon. I think it also was desperately seeking salt.
I have to admit, too, that my toddler (who is in that annoying ‘I never eat unless it’s on my terms’ food stage) loved it and ate a ton. So, it wasn’t a total disaster.
Plus there’s something about a pre-prepped breakfast that you can pop in the oven that’s worth a little more time and experiment. (And there’s that whole replacing the processed, boxed food thing, too.)
Too funny, I just posted a baked oatmeal recipe on my blog – I use Heidi Swanson’s version. I may need to try yours if it can be prepped the night before!!
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I love oatmeal. I’m actually eating one of those instant packets as I read this post haha. Yours look so good though. I’m definitely going to have to try this.
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I still eat my instant packet oatmeal. I buy the extra fiber kind – makes me feel a little better about it. 😉
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You want to hear something funny.. I’m trying to get into oatmeal more because I know it’s healthy. I just can’t make myself eat it (just like yogurt lol). But I may try this recipe.. I have to start somewhere.. so why not with your wonderful recipe
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Ha, well Katherine broke me of my Chips Ahoy habit. You read that right!
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Why would she do that?! Who doesn’t love a good Chips Ahoy once in awhile? 😉
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I’ve read about the slow cooker steel cut oats you put in before you go to bed and wake up to breakfast made. I know “Not Rachel Ray” has a pumpkin one that sounds yummy. Link is on my blogroll. Well, at least your little guy loved it. There’s always that. My secret food like is pop n fresh biscuits. Seriously how CAN I like them and still call myself a baker?
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Oh.. I made little jars of this a while back, it was one of my first recipes that I adapted, I think from Heidi Swanson or someone else (lol). I liked that they were little jars that could have a lid popped on and grabbed out of the fridge in the morning. I added tapioca (I shouldn’t have, it was too thick) and blueberries (made everything moist). Maybe try again with a moister fruit?? Anyway, I think this looks delicious and good for you giving up those packets! You’re a far better person than I:)
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I’ve seen a few baked oatmeal recipes on various blogs, and I’ve always been tempted. I’m sorry you didn’t care for this recipe, but don’t give up on it!
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Baked oatmeal is definitely in, and as my Mum says: with stuff you make at home, you know exactly what goes in it, even if it takes you 2 hours to make instead of 2 minutes, it is worth it!
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