Slice-of-Pie Oatmeal

The mornings are getting colder and I'm in the mood for a hot breakfast. These quick, flavorful additions to a bowl of steaming oatmeal make a wonderful start to the day! Using simple ingredients you might already have on hand, you can create a different flavor every morning. Oatmeal makes an ideal brunch, especially on weekends when most people sleep a bit later. Also, I'll admit to eating it as an afternoon snack, especially when it tastes like pie or cheesecake! My favorite style is the old-fashioned oats (or steel cut), which only take 5-7 minutes to prepare over the quick cooking variety, because the thicker grain is heartier and more substantial. I like my oatmeal to have a bite to it! Quick cooking is fine, but instant is too mushy in my opinion. Whatever time of day you get a craving for it, just boil some water and, in a few minutes, you'll have a satisfying bowl of warm goodness.

Slice-of-Pie Oatmeal
(Serves 1)

½ dry oatmeal, old-fashioned or quick cooking (not instant)
1 cup water
Pinch salt

Prepare oatmeal on the stovetop according to package directions. (Quick cooking may not require as much water, so please check the package.) Add topping of your choice from suggestions below and add nutritional information accordingly.

Nutritional Information for cooked oatmeal alone: 150 calories, 27 g carbohydrate, 2.5 g total fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 250 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 5 g protein.

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Oatmeal (pictured): Top cooked oatmeal with 1 tablespoon pumpkin butter, 2 tablespoons light vanilla yogurt and 1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. If you like it a bit sweeter, add ½ teaspoon Splenda granular and stir.
Add the following nutritional information to cooked oatmeal: 47 calories, 12 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 7 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 0.5 g protein.

Apple Pie Oatmeal: Top cooked oatmeal with 1 tablespoon apple butter or ½ grated apple, 2 tablespoons light vanilla yogurt, 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon. If you like it sweeter, add ½ teaspoon Splenda granular and stir.
Add the following nutritional information to cooked oatmeal: 47 calories, 12 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 7 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 0.5 g protein.

Banana Cream Pie Oatmeal: Top cooked oatmeal with 1 tablespoon mashed ripe banana, 2 tablespoons light vanilla yogurt, 1 packet Splenda or Stevia and 1/8 teaspoon banana extract. Stir to combine.
Add the following nutritional information to cooked oatmeal: 46 calories, 11.2 g carbohydrate, 0.1 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 7 mg sodium, 1.1 g fiber, 0.9 g protein.

Cherry Cheesecake Oatmeal: Mix together 1 tablespoon low-fat cream cheese, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 packet of Splenda or Stevia and spoon onto cooked oatmeal. Top with 1 tablespoon chopped dried cherries and a pinch of nutmeg.
Add the following nutritional information to cooked oatmeal: 55 calories, 7 g carbohydrate, 1.8 g total fat, 1.1 g saturated fat, 30 mg sodium, 0.3 g fiber, 1.5 g protein.

Recipes by Kathy Sheehan, copyright 2010