31 ays of whole food for breakfast:: doctored up oatmeal

  

 I think my Mama invented the doctoring up concept.  Ask any of my childhood friends: she never met a pre-made pizza that didn't get extra cheese, olives and pepperoni.  I inherited her doctoring skills - it's a rare recipe I don't work to improve with more garlic, or less sugar. 

 Have you ever heard groaning or whining when you answered the what's-for-breakfast-question with "Oatmeal?"  I decided to keep at least one morning groan-free by doctoring up plain-old, predictable oatmeal.  That way, my answer to the morning question could be "Something new!"

::Doctored-up Oatmeal::

             makes 6 hearty helpings

2 c oats  - soaked overnight

2 apples

3/4 c raisins

1 c unsweetened shredded coconut

1 T  Organic Cinnamon

1/4 c maple syrup

5 T coconut oil or butter (the healthy fat plus soaking the oats helps digest easier!)

Optional Toppings: chopped nuts, fresh cream, yogurt

Another benefit of soaking you oats overnight is how quickly they cook - less time than it takes to boil water!! Cook oatmeal like you normally would, adding coconut to the water about a minute after the oats.  When there is still a bit of liquid left, add the raisins and apples.  Once all the water is absorbed, add maple syrup and coconut oil.  We always use cream on top to cool it down, but a few wanted yogurt and I like the crunch of nuts. 

They liked that it was almost sweet enough with the fruit.  HA!  Actually, I liked that.

They liked that it wasn't plain oatmeal and that I was liberal with the maple syrup.  Although mexicanjumpingbain did say that it was too much coconut...I'll amend that next time.

What do you doctor up?

 
Linking with all the other fabulous 31-dayers here