Strawberry & Granola Oatmeal
Oatmeal in the morning is great for when I want to have something that is quick and easy but also warm and filling. Oatmeal is definitely fiber-rich, especially if you add extra fiber to it. I like to add psyllium husk to my oatmeal. It's natural; there are no fillers or preservatives, and there are no unwanted side effects like in over-the-counter fiber supplements. This is the perfect natural way to stay regular, so if constipation is an issue for you, try a bowl of oatmeal with extra fiber in it. Be sure to also drink plenty of water. You can find brands of psyllium at Azure Standard.
I can also get creative with my oatmeal in a short period of time. I can cook my oatmeal to different consistency levels, add different toppings, use different sweetners, and use different cooking methods to see what the end result is. I use the microwave in the morning, as it's the quickest method. I like to add in fruit, either fresh, frozen, or dried, as well as any seeds or other toppings like rice cereal. This recipe has strawberries and granola. This recipe is gluten, dairy, and oil free. I buy gluten-free oats that I have made sure (to the best of my ability) aren't cross-contaminated. You can find gluten-free rolled oats here.
For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen strawberries and any water or milk you prefer. In my pre-dairy-free days, I used a combination of milk and water, cooking the oats with the water only first and then adding milk at the end, only reheating it just a bit if needed if I used cold milk. These days I have just used water, and I don't really miss the milk anymore. If I used milk, I would choose coconut milk.
This recipe makes one serving, so it's perfect for a single person or when you're making food just for you. This can be easily increased for more people. For quick oatmeal in the morning, just add the oatmeal to a microwave-safe bowl along with the water. I use glass Pyrex bowls because they're easy to clean, don't stain like plastic, and are better for the environment. They also won't ever need to be replaced unless, of course, they get chipped over time.
In a bowl, add the ingredients for the cinnamon-ginger granola, except the raisins and honey, which will be added at the end. Stir the oats, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl with 1-2 tablespoons of water and add to a baking sheet. Alternatively, you can just add them right to the baking sheet with 1-2 teaspoons of water and then pop them right into the oven. 350° for 10 minutes. Add the raisins and honey and stir.
Cook the oatmeal for 2 minutes, and then stir. Then cook for an additional 1 minute. In a bowl, add frozen strawberries. Cook just until thawed, about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Slice the strawberries. You can just slice fresh strawberries unless you want them a bit warm, and then by all means, you can warm those up as well. Top the strawberries with the oatmeal. Add the granola on top.
Disclosure: There may be some affiliate links in this post and I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post, not all links are affiliate links, some are just to more Information about the topic. Thanks for supporting The Love Feast Kitchen
Ingredients
Oatmeal
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup water
5-6 small strawberries cut in half
Cinnamon Ginger Granola
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ginger
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp honey (optional)
Directions
In a bowl, add the oatmeal and water. Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir and cook for another 1 minute.
If using frozen strawberries
Put in a small bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
Stir and cook an additional 1 minute, or just until warm. Cut in half.
If using fresh strawberries, you can skip the microwave step unless you want them a bit warm.
On a baking sheet, add the oats with the cinnamon, ginger, and 1-2 tsp. water. Mix and bake in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes. Add the raisins and mix. Add tsp
Honey.
In a bowl, add oatmeal. Top with the strawberries and granola.
