Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Apple Pie Oatmeal

It's a new year, the holiday's and all the non-stop eating that goes along with them have past. Fresh starts and resolutions abound. Eat more veggies, get more exercise, lose a few pounds ...Sound familiar? While all of those sound like perfectly wonderful things to strive for, I can't help craving comfort food when it's cold outside. On these wintry days, I crave hearty, stick to your ribs, kinds of foods. Rich hearty comfort foods and eating healthy don't usually have much in common. This apple pie oatmeal has the best of both worlds. It's a hearty, warm, comforting meal that's packed with all the goodness of oatmeal and apples. Isn't it great when you can have your cake (or apple pie) and eat it too!

Apple Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients:
2 large tart apples
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar (or substitute Stevia or Stevia in the Raw)
2 tablespoons maple syrup (or use honey, or just more brown sugar)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch ground nutmeg
Pinch of ground ginger
a large squeeze of fresh lemon juice, about a teaspoon or so
1/8 cup water

Cooked oatmeal. (I use steel cut oatmeal because I like the flavor and texture but  use whatever oatmeal you prefer.)

Method:
Core the apples and chop into small 1/2 inch pieces. In a skillet over medium heat, add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon, apples and water. Let cook for about 5-10 minutes or until all the apples are soft and tender. 
The apples can be made in advance and stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
 
To serve: I like to stir a spoonful or two (depending on how many servings of oatmeal I'm making) of the apples into the oatmeal when it's finished cooking then I divide oatmeal into bowls and serve with a dopple of apples on top. 

I suggest making a double recipe of the apples and keeping them in the fridge. This way on those busy mornings, you'll still have time for a bowl of apple pie oatmeal.
The apples are also delicious mixed into yogurt, on top of pancakes, baked into puff pastry for a quick dessert, or even served along with pork.

9 comments:

*Just Fran* said...

This sounds delicious. My mother always used to slice the tart little crab apples from a tree in our back yard and fry them up with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Fab beside pork or poultry as a quick side dish. Adding them to oatmeal is like dessert for breakfast. Yum.

Anonymous said...

since you mentioned steel cut oats i thought i would ask a more general question about them - do you use them in baking? if so, how do they work? does the recipe need to be modified at all? i like the "heartiness" of them but i'm just not sure they would work in something like a cookie....

thanks.

grace said...

as a rule, the very thought of oatmeal makes me turn up my nose. oddly enough, by sticking the words 'apple pie' in front of its name make it infinitely more appealing--nice one! :)
and holy smokes--my word verification is FIBER!!!

Half Baked said...

too funny grace! It must be a sign to eat more oatmeal in the New Year!!

@anonymous, I have never tried baking with steel cut oats. I don't think they'd work in cookies because they have to cook much longer than rolled oats before the soften. I think they would be crunchy little rocks in cookies. If you find a way to use them in baking let me know!!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Such a simple addition but what an upgrade to my usual oatmeal. This is breakfast tomorrow.

Stephanie said...

This is literally making me anxious for today to be over... because I am making this tomorrow morning! We eat a lot of porridge so I'm always looking for ways to doctor it up.

Sue McPeak said...

This is my first visit to your very informative and up to date blog. Visiting from Fuel My Blog Food List. Being Gluten Intolerant, I'm always looking for recipes that are adaptable to a GF diet. This one is perfect using Gluten Free Oats. Can't wait to try it.

I share my Gluten Free Cooking and Baking on my blog...CollectInTexas Gal. I'll be adding your Blog to my Food Bloggers List, and CollectInTexas Gal to your Followers...Sue

luray caverns bed and breakfast said...

Your blog is updated and informative. This is really a nice and easy recipe and it is also good for health.

Alexandra said...

This sounds absolutely yummy! I love apple pie AND oatmeal. :)

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