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Search Results for: Salted
Salted Chocolate Chestnut Oatmeal
As I was looking up ideas for recipes using chestnuts, I kept seeing recipe after recipe of chocolate chestnut cakes. In these cakes, the chestnuts are pureed and mixed into the cake batter, so I imagine they are virtually undetectable in the cake (unless you have a keen sense of taste). I thought this was lame at first, considering I like using recipes that highlight my ingredients, not hide them.
However, the more I work with chestnuts, the more I realize that I don’t actually think they’re that great. They’re sadly lacking in flavor, and the flavor that they do have is slightly…unimpressive. Thus, to use up the last of my chestnuts, I decided to steal this idea.
Salted Chocolate Pear Oatmeal
I’ve learned the secret. If you ever make oatmeal that doesn’t turn out as spectacular as you’d hoped, just add SALT. Salt that sucker! Mix in salt, and sprinkle some more on top!
Much to my grief last week, I discovered that chocolate and pear just wasn’t doing anything for me. To be honest, I was just super annoyed at the pears. I’m so over pears! They are potentially my least favorite fruit. I’m done with them.
But then I salted it, and everything changed.
Salted Plum Oatmeal
Bubble tea (or “boba,” if you prefer) is the best. I sometimes feel like I judge people on whether or not they like bubble tea. Not in a “You don’t like boba = you suck at life” kind of way, but in a “You don’t like boba = I don’t understand you and we can’t be friends” kind of way. Like, I’m sure you’re a great person…but we just can’t be friends.
My favorite bubble tea place—despite all the wonderful teas I’ve had in NYC—is the Tea Garden in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I’m serious. The best. You can actually taste the TEA, and it’s not just a sugar/juice-fest. They also have a ton of different flavors, and you can mix and match up to three flavors at one time. How is that NOT awesome?
Salted Maple, Apple, and Pecan Oatmeal
I hope everyone had an excellent 4th of July. It’s definitely not my favorite holiday, but I had a pleasant camping trip with my parents. Yes, I’m back in the Midwest for a few weeks before starting another school year in Manhattan!
I know many of my readers are from outside the U.S. (hello!), but I hope your July 4th was nice, too. ^_^ If not, I have the perfect recipe to make your week better:
Apples. Pecans. Maple syrup.
And it’s SALTED!
I originally came up with the idea for salted maple and pecan oatmeal, but at the last minute I decided to include apples, and I’m glad that I did. It added an extra sweetness and boost of nutrition.
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Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal
[A new and improved version of this recipe can be found here. I highly recommend it!]
Mmkay. How could anyone see the name of this recipe and NOT be tempted?!
I suppose I owe you that much. It’s been over a WEEK since I’ve posted a recipe. First, I didn’t have any of the right ingredients to make a new recipe. Then, I spent the weekend camping with my parents at my grandmother’s farm. Then, I was so stressed out with work that I didn’t have time to take pictures in the morning. Finally, yesterday I planned to make this recipe and blog it before work…only to wake up an hour late and have to settle for TOAST. 🙁
The Blog’s 5th Birthday + a GIVEAWAY by Nairn’s!
Friends!
Tomorrow, my blog turns five years old. Five years! This little baby is ready for kindergarten.
I’m celebrating with a GIVEAWAY for FIVE winners, courtesy of Nairn’s and their fabulous gluten-free oatcakes and crackers!! Scroll down for details.
This past year has not been easy as I’ve gotten more and more frustrated with my inadequate camera and photography skills ? but I’m still proud of the posts I managed to publish this year.
Like this Pumpkin & Kale Steel Cut Oatmeal:
Oatmeal Enthusiasts: Meet…Me!
I never planned on doing this myself. It was always intended to be for guest posts. But when my featured poster had to back out, I didn’t want to throw the assignment on anyone else last minute (it can be a somewhat extensive project to just take on out of nowhere). So here I am.
You can read all about me elsewhere on the site (and, like, on every post), so what else is there to say about me? 🙂 So here are five facts about me:
(1) I love hip hop. I may dress like a 50s housewife, but I can spit every word to a variety of J. Cole, Kendrick, and Drake songs.
(2) I am the youngest of three kids. My parents recently celebrated their 32nd anniversary.
(3) I hate garlic and onion. Obviously I still eat them because food tastes pretty flavorless without it, but I generally reduce the amount from the recipe to a fifth of what they call for. The concept of “40-cloves-of-garlic chicken” that I see on Pinterest all the time is abhorrent to me, and not just because of the chicken.
(4) I set an alarm for 5:30 am every day (even weekends) because I just love mornings.
(5) I was involved in just about everything in high school, which is common in small towns: volleyball, basketball (until 9th grade), softball (until 11th grade), wrestling cheerleading (until 11th grade), football cheerleading, theater, choir, band (alto saxophone), Business Professionals of America, knowledge bowl (9th grade only). I hated most of them except theater, choir, and BPA. 🙂
^^ baby high school Lauren
Now, here is what a week of oatmeal looks like for the Oatmeal Artist herself!
Wednesday: Banana Oatmeal with Almond Butter & Grape Jelly
It’s basically Banana PB&J Oatmeal, but with almond butter. My favorite is the salted crunchy AB from Trader Joe’s. This is a pretty standard choice for me, especially when I’m at my parents’ house (which I was for Christmas).
Thursday: Brownie Batter Oatmeal + toppings
Brownie Batter Oatmeal is another classic. (I would have loved to have Cardamom Fudge but my mom doesn’t have cardamom. 🙁 ) Blackberries were on sale! I also enjoyed the wide range of baking ingredients my mom has on hand, like the walnuts and coconut.
Friday: Banana Oatmeal with Almond Butter and Blackberries
Today I babysat my nephew, Graham, so I made us a simple Banana Oatmeal and topped his with blackberries and bananas (he loves berries), and I added almond butter to mine. I was afraid to give nut butter to a toddler. Nut allergies scare me. 😛
Saturday (Christmas Eve!) – Almond Joy Oatmeal
Since I have almond butter, the original Almond Joy Oatmeal seemed like a natural choice. Plus, my mom has sweetened shredded coconut. I definitely prefer the unsweetened kind (better texture, and it’s toastable), but it’s always a fun change to have it sweetened sometimes. Kind of like how regular Oreos are the best, but every now and then it’s fun to have a peanut butter Oreo. Stuff like that. 😉
Sunday (Christmas Day)
Despite my grand ideas for my Christmas Day oatmeal, I ended up being dreadfully sick and couldn’t even keep a single grape down (believe me, I tried). So no oatmeal was had. 🙁
Monday – Grape & Rosemary Oatmeal
This is a combination of Grape & Rosemary Oatmeal and Grape & Walnut Oatmeal, with a bonus of a little almond butter. I was still a little queasy Monday morning so that little teaspoon of richness was about all I could handle. I chose to make this because I rarely buy grapes (is it just me, or do they cost a billion dollars?), but my mom always has them on hand. We also had rosemary for our holiday baking, so I used the opportunity to make this recipe again.
Tuesday – Mocha Berry Blackout Oatmeal
It’s basically Berry Blackout Oatmeal with a Mocha Brownie Batter base. I used coffee extract instead of coffee granules for the first time, and I must say, I’m not a fan. It tastes a bit like a bad cold brew. I shall stick to the instant granules! The oatmeal is topped with dried cranberries, the last of my blackberries, and some chopped unsweetened baking chocolate (like the 100% cacao stuff). My mom will not be thrilled when she opens up that package and sees that sliver missing. ?
The next day, I had Rosemary Brownie Batter Oatmeal. I wish I could have taken a photo but I got up really early (to get back on my usual sleep schedule) and it was still pitch black out.
Would you like to be an Oatmeal Enthusiast in 2017?
Head to my Contact page and shoot me an email. I’d love to feature you!
Best of 2016
See also: Best of 2012 / Best of 2013 / Best of 2014 / Best of 2015
In many ways, 2016 was a pretty tough year. I don’t think I need to elaborate on that as we all seem to be on the same page about this dumb excuse of a year. 🙂 But in other ways, this year was big for me. I really found my passion in school–bilingual education–and my mental health improved by a billion. I feel almost as balanced and stable as I did pre-teaching, just way more jaded. But I can deal with that. I got not just one but two jobs. My nephew can finally say my name and recognize me. My boyfriend brings a lot of joy and adventure into my life. The initial work of my thesis has gotten a lot of praise. I even learned a good chunk of Spanish!
Oatmeal-wise, this year has challenged me as I have fallen in love with experimenting with unique ingredients and sophisticated flavor combinations, yet I also want to keep my recipes easy, quick, and inviting. I wish all my recipes could be made with five ingredients, and I don’t want to scare anyone off with my persimmons. 🙂
As usual, I have assembled the top recipes from the year for us to reminisce together!
1. Fan Favorite Recipe
These German Chocolate Cake Oatmeal Bites, much to my surprise, received more views than all other recipes from 2016. I did not see that coming!
Cocoa Candy Cane PB2
Looking for an ultra easy way to Christmas-ify your favorite oatmeal recipe? This topping needs half of a standard candy cane and can be whipped up in about two minutes!
Fudgy Rosemary and Fig Oatmeal
This oatmeal is a close relative of my Salted Rosemary Brownie Batter Oatmeal, but I swapped the dates for dried figs. While dates are great for giving a relatively neutral sweetness, figs add another layer of flavor (in addition to sweetening the porridge)! I love figs and rosemary together, and rosemary and chocolate together, so the three of them all at once is a dream come true. ?
