oatmeal revelation

Today I had a revelation. An oatmeal revelation. It all started from a little bowl that held the world (or at least it did for me this morning). I was up early with the hubby since he had an early work start, wide awake and with a full day ahead of me – so, I started thinking about oatmeal. Oatmeal is obviously one of the best breakfast’s out there, but there had always been something missing over the years…

I was doing it all wrong! So I hopped on Kath’s site, since she has a whole page devoted to the beloved oatmeal, and came across a video she made. I noticed how she actually cooked the oats with water and milk. The vital step I had been missing! How had I never managed to simmer my oats with milk?! I would normally add it in after they were done cooking – this is a totally different breakfast that way!

I let my oats cook in some water, coconut milk and (sadly) some 1% milk, since I ran out of coconut milk. I swear that stuff is my drug lately – I go through it like it’s going outta style! I could immediately tell that the oats were going to be great, just by looking at them – nice and creamy.

Now, I would consider myself an oatmeal amateur having not discovered this little tidbit sooner, so I needed verification as to what I should top my oats with. I saw lots of nut butters, nuts themselves, seeds, granola, coconut butter, chocolate, and the list goes on, on other blogs…so I knew I was in safe territory to pick the ‘right’ toppings. I chose slivered almonds, unsweetened shredded coconut, ground flax, bananas and peanut butter.

Never before have I ever put peanut butter on my oatmeal. Cue the silence/looks of disbelief/the ‘whaaaat?!’s because yes, you heard me right. Peanut butter has never touched my oatmeal before today. Not because I’m a PB hater – I’m actually quite the opposite. This was probably what made the revelation so profound. I discovered my love for peanut butter just expanded into a whole new world *refer back to reference above.*

It tasted like heaven and never will I go back to my childhood ways of eating oats, which aren’t that different in preparing, but take on a whole different taste!

I only used half a cup of oats, but boy was I full not even nearly close to being done them.

Don’t think for a second that I left them at that…no, no, no. I ate them anyways! I wasn’t leaving such deliciousness in a bowl – in my belly was where it belonged! Totally awesome revelation.

Honestly, this oatmeal revelation had me pumped for the majority of the morning – both figuratively and physically!

I worked out on them. Insert hideous pic, because when you workout at home, you don’t need to look pretty!

This involved running an awesome 6.4 miles.

And I did homework on them, too! I studied until I was bored hungry. All in all, this new oatmeal thang I got going, actually ain’t going anywhere. I’m sticking on it, like it’s doing to my ribs! (Or how the story goes…)

One last thing before I go, because I must share this; I made some pretty awesome quesadillas for #meatlessmonday (twitter, anyone?). They’re my own variation from this amazing restaurant that the hubby and I love near my uni I used to go to.

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Quesadillas

Ingredients:
2 sweet potatoes, cubed
1 head of broccoli, cubed
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 each red, yellow & red pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1/2 red onion
1/3 – 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves of garlic
spices of your choice (I used oregano and marjoram)
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
grated cheese (either cheddar, marble, mozzarella or anything of your choice – I used vegan rice cheddar cheese and mozzarella)

Sides:
guacamole (I just mashed some avo with a little lemon juice, salt and peper)
mock sour cream (Greek yogurt + lemon juice)
salsa (feel free to go spicy!)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Steam sweet potatoes for 5-10 mins then add broccoli for another 5 mins.
3. In a large frying pan over med-high heat, add olive oil, garlic and onions, let cook for 3 mins.
4. Add all those veggies to allow them to cook! Then add the spices to the frying pan.
5. Once everything is cooked, prepare on tortilla, then add beans, some salsa and the cheese.
6. Place another tortilla on top and bake for 20 mins – or just enough time for the beans to heat and cheese to melt!

Enjoy!

They tasted amazing! I really do apologize for the extra long post. I hope I didn’t lose you halfway through!

What’s the last food revelation you had? 

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