Oatmeal season isn’t over until I stop sleeping in flannel pajama pants. Last year that was less than a month… three 7-10 day periods of extra-warm weather interspersed in a cool western WA summer. I don’t eat oatmeal all the time, but we make a mean pan of steamed oat flakes. (Secret: OR I use Ralston instant oat packets, unflavored and unsweetened, but shhhh.)
Around here, many of our coffee stands offer oatmeal go-cups by Umpqua Oats. These are fantastic combinations of thick-cut oat flakes, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, sometimes sugars… Mmmmmm! Filled with the super-hot water from the espresso machine’s tap, these oat flakes turn into a chewy filling meal after a few minutes.
I’ve been grabbing more coffees while out and about more than usual, and have been seeing the menu cards with these oatmeal offerings over and over! Their product list is my inspiration to make up some bags of add-ins for cooked oatmeal without having to run to the store for anything…
Bag 1: in the freezer: frozen blueberries, 1/4 of an apple grated, 1 tsp chia seeds, 1 Tbsp flaxseed meal
Bag 2: in the freezer: frozen blackberries and strawberries, 1 oz. cream cheese, maybe flaxseed meal
Bag 3: raisins, 1 Tbsp. muscovado sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, toasted pecans, chia seeds
Bag 4: 2 Tbsp toasted coconut (who am I kidding! 4 Tbsp toasted coconut), diced dried mango and/or dried pineapple
Bag 5: dried cranberries, dried currants, sliced almonds, pistachios, white and dark chocolate tidbits OMG, right?
Moving along!
Continuing with my “I love asparagus” theme from this Spring Menu Plan last week: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/5-ingredient-bacon-asparagus-pasta-recipe/ Yes, you read that link right: asparagus and BACON together in pasta. Brilliant!
And this recipe is going on the list for this summer’s dinners, when we usually grill veggies and some kind of protein (chicken, beef, pork, salmon) to put on salad greens or with a grain/rice side dish. This salsa-verde style of ranch dressing would be perfect on pretty much anything we eat during the summer!
Do I have any non-food things to share this Wednesday? I thought I would, but aside from desperately craving making more stretchy bracelets… Nope! Sam and her daughter Abbi, me and my mom — all four of us had lunch together today. Family is just kind of awesome, you know???
Happy Hump Day! (didja know what day it was? huh? didja know what day it was?)
Gail
PS How to make steamed oats my way on the Facebook page!
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