Apple Spiced Oatmeal

Apple Spiced Oatmeal

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

With all the chilly winds biting our noses lately, I have been feeling the need to have heartier breakfasts. The fruit, cheese, toast and occasional yogurt with granola that I am used to just is not cutting it.  Cue this oatmeal. It's hearty, healthy, warms you down to your bones, and you can make it while getting ready for work, though admittedly it will be easier to have everything ready for when you awake. Prep the spice mixture the night before, have your oatmeal measured and ready to go, and set your apples on the cutting board with the knife waiting to greet you in the early hours. Just make sure to time the apples to prevent burning while you are getting dressed.

Speaking of apples, I used what I had on hand: one gala and one macintosh. Most apples will be sweet enough, but if you use something more tart, like a Granny Smith, be sure to taste and adjust the molasses as needed. In fact, I find this to be very much a taste-as-you-go recipe. While I originally made this recipe for 6 servings (let's be honest, one person needs 2 servings of oatmeal and there are 3 adults in my apartment), it is easily adjustable by tasting as needed. For a single serving, try half an apple and eat the other half as a side or simply have oatmeal with your apples and cook the whole thing. You can also cook up a batch of apples ready for microwaving the next day!

Whichever method you prefer remember to adjust to your own preferences. Experiment. Find just the right spice combination for yourself. Leave home with a fire in your belly, ready to face the day.


Ingredients:

• 6 servings of oatmeal, cooked per package
• 2 Apples, diced
• 1/2 stick butter
• 3 tablespoons of molasses, to taste
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for the apples)
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• additional cinnamon to taste
• additional molasses to taste

Begin by chopping your apples into bite sized pieces. Melt butter in a frying pan and add apples, cooking until soft, about 5 minutes or more. Once the apples are soft, add your molasses and stir well, coating each piece of apple. Add cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring every few minutes for about 10 minutes or until desired consistency. Add apples to cooked oatmeal, adding additional cinnamon, nutmeg, molasses or anything else you might like to add to oatmeal. Butter and cream are always welcome additions to oatmeal. Enjoy!

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Friday DO: Eat Something Fresh

Friday DO: Eat Something Fresh

Friday, October 17, 2014

Most of the time when we think of fresh, clean eating, we think of running out to the local farmer's market or Whole Foods. While these are both wonderful choices that always give my meals an extra special touch, nothing compares to picking something fresh off the plant from which it came. Not only is eating something within a few hours of picking the best way to get the most nutrients possible, there is something so... clean about eating an apple fresh off the tree or making pesto from basil leaves just pulled from the plant. And the taste! Oh, the taste of freshly picked anything is enough for me to crave returning to an apple orchard soon....

This weekend, I hope to pick more fall apples, or maybe even some pie pumpkins to make something unique and new. What fresh eating options do you have lined up for the weekend?

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That Which Could Have Been

That Which Could Have Been

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Remember me mentioning my pretty failure on Sunday? I was trying to make an apple dutch baby, but not only do I not have a cast iron pan, I thought surely I could use Trader Joe's white whole wheat flour to make the recipe a little less unhealthy. Wrong. I am not sure what caused the mess, but although my end result tasted fine, it did not have nearly the right texture. Whatever, I am human y'all.

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Apple Spice Pancakes

Apple Spice Pancakes

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Ok guys, here is the deal. I was going to create a new apple recipe, and that kinda turned into a fail. I managed to take some beautiful photos, but the end product was just.... so so. But I promised an apple recipe, and I always keep my word. I may have made and photographed these pancakes last fall, but let me tell you, we have been craving them ever since the first crisp scent wandered into our domicile.

Fried apples have always been a part of fall dinners in my family. In fact, I remember as a little girl my mom would fry up apples in butter with cinnamon and brown sugar till they were just the perfect color, and we would anxiously hang around the kitchen waiting for our favorite supper.  It was this memory that gave birth to a heavenly breakfast for dinner luxury. The butter adds the perfect amount of tenderness, and using brown sugar and cinnamon marries the nutmeg to deliver a wonderful fall flavor.  I ate these with some chai tea and smother in Trader Joe’s Butter Pecan syrup.  They were so good, my husband asked if we could have them again the next day, too.

The type of apple used is not of particular importance. I used golden delicious in the original recipe, but I cannot wait to try it with some Granny Smiths or Ruby Johns. If you are an apple fan, I guarantee this will be a family pleaser within the first delectable bite.

Apple Spice Pancakes

• 2 apples grated
• 2 apples, cored and chopped
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 stick butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup unfiltered apple juice

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a frying pan, and gently saute the grated apples over low heat until very tender.

Repeat with chopped apple bits until they are also soft. Adding a handful of brown sugar is nice, but not necessary.  Place in an oven safe dish and place in an oven on the lowest setting to keep warm.

Mix all dry and wet ingredients. Add grated apples. Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly oil the griddle and drop heaping spoonfuls of batter onto the hot griddle. When the pancakes set and start to bubble, flip and cook until golden.  Top with the chopped apples and syrup of your choice.

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Photo Diary: Evan's Orchard

Photo Diary: Evan's Orchard

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Here are the rest of my photos from our apple picking adventure. There is something just so darn satisfying about picking your own food and then taking a big bite immediately after paying. I hope to go back when more types are ready; right now they only had Scarlet Galas and Ruby Johns, both of which are crisp and delicious. Also, does anyone else want to be a kid again so they can play in the hay bale castle? Please say I am not the only one.

Would anyone be interested in an apple based recipe? I might try to come up with something for the season. I used to do a cooking blog, but I just do not have the time/money to constantly be coming up with fresh things. I think a few recipes here and there might make a nice touch to this blog though. Please let me know if this would interest you!

P.S. All photos taken with my husband's phone. Not bad eh?

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