My, my this was a fantastic bowl of oatmeal!!! The secret weapon was salted peanuts!
The Mix:
- 1/3 cup oats, 2% milk, water, pinch salt, half banana
- Splash Mexican vanilla
- 2 tbsp wheatberries
- 2 tbsp low-fat cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup blackberries
- 1 tbsp flax
- Sprinkle walnuts + salted peanuts
- Drizzle TJ’s Crunchy PB
This guy was a little higher in fat than usual – we’ll see how it affects my satiety 
Butterscotch Toffee….ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I was up at 5 this morning to go to the gym, except that I feel back asleep to John Mayer on the radio and woke back up to the obnoxious announcers at 5:30! Once I was there I did 50 minutes on the ET with Women’s Health. The time flew by because the magazine was good Then I ended with 15 minutes of lifting, including Kelly’s lunge sets and pike push-ups.
Guest Breakfast!
Here’s reader Danielle’s Valentine’s oats!
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 small banana
- handful dried cranberries
- splash vanilla extract
- tbs ground flax
- drizzle honey
with vanilla nut coffee
Cookbook Ideas?
One of my friends in publishing is brainstorming ideas for cookbooks and wanted to know if you all had any suggestions for what you’d want to see on the shelves? Thoughts?
I’m off to class!
{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
First to post – wow! Yummy peanuts!
I’d like to see the husband write a cookbook!
Mmm… talk about the perfect sweet-salty combo! I’ll definatley have to try that sometime soon – I’m an oat addict as well.
Oh, and Kath, I have been a reader (not always a commenter; sorry about that) for about a year now, and I have finally started my own food blog on wordpress! I read several other blogs too (see my blogroll) and I’m just wondering if you had any helpful tips for starting out. My page is embarrassingly plain right now, but I do have an intro post up, and I’m hoping to post at lunch later today – maybe a recipe too! Any help would be much appriciated!
There’s something about that salty-sweet combo that just hits the spot! Hmm… something I’d like to see on the shelves… I’ll have to think on that.
Kate: a great start to blogging is to comment comment comment, especially on Kath’s blog!!! She rocks!
I love cookbooks that post more of a process rather than an exact recipe. I think it is more fun to play around with recipes
As a college student, I would love to see a “cooking for one” cookbook so I’m not stuck eating the same leftovers for days!
Peanuts in oatmeal? I never would have thought of that, but I like the idea. I would choose unsalted peanuts, though.
Fantastic oats, indeed!!
I’d like to see some BLONDIE recipes in the book
mmmm…..salty sweet, best combo ever!
I would like to see healthier, fast, vegetarian cookbooks.
Looks like a great breakfast! Your oatmeal is always so elaborate!
Oooohhh peanuts + PB in oats…sounds delish! Also, those blackberries look pretty darn good.
I ditto the comment above: fast, fresh, easy recipes with a vegetarian focus. Putting a nutritional analysis by each recipe would be really helpful, too.
Great looking breakfast!! You can’t go wrong with the salty sweet combo
looks like there is coconut in there too? or something else white and flaky?
healthy, FILLING vegetarian recipes that are easy to make but also good for parties.
I’d like to see new & unique flavor combinations of whole/super foods & spices, herbs etc…
Breakfast looks like art- amazing! For cookbooks, I always want to see vegetarian, fast, accessible recipes that are delicious, interesting and filling!
Mmm, both oats look so tasty, I could just eat them right off the screen!
Oooh! Salted peanuts! Good idea.
I would love to see quick, easy and above all – healthy – lunch ideas that you could make the Sunday before. I am always struggling with this one.
great looking oatmeal Kath! maybe a whole foods cookbook would be fun
I would totally buy a book on quick and easy recipes on a budget. like every meal is nutrionally good but under 10 dollars to make.
Why don’t you write a cookbook? I’d buy it!
OATMEAL COOKBOOK!
You should make one, Kath! You have so many beautiful pictures, great ideas and really helpful how-to info.
Love the Mexican vanilla in the oats!
Great Valentine’s oats!
I’d love to see a cookbook featuring healthy yet inexpensive meals- and maybe some ideas for weekly meal planning. I have such a hard time with that!
Salted peanuts – So good but SO addicting!!
For the cookbook: healthy and quick meals plus lots of pictures!! When I can see what a dish should look like, I’m more inclined to make it
Is it too much to ask to have a cookbook with a picture of EVERY recipe? That’s what I want to see
YUMMMMMMMMM
I don’t know about your friend, but you Kath should write a cookbook of your oatmeal recipes!
mmm, the peanut blackberry combo sounds so good! and cute cranberry heart in danielle’s oats.
i don’t have room on my shelves for cookbooks, so i’d love one that doesn’t take up space or that is somehow a functional use of space, haha. that would probably require a lot of creativity/magic to develop …
Healthy foods that appeal to kids! Deceptively Delicious seems to be the only one geared toward health and kids…I love that book, but would also love one that didn’t center completely around “hidden” good food. so, if you write one, I promise I’ll buy it!
I’m a sucker for cookbooks containing healthy and light recipes. And there has to be beautiful pictures. This is soo important ; )
Sarah
god those look good!
I second, or maybe third, the cookbook for one idea.
Salted peanuts are the BEST!
How about a cookbook full of healthy “fake” foods. By this, I mean recipes like your “hotdog and fries” breakfast which was actually a banana in a bun and mango slices
Would be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Thanks for posting my oats!
cookbook ideas:
lunches to go:
easy healthy packed lunches that use up ingredients you buy at the beginning of the week
easy in season:
bring this cookbook to the supermarket (small size? spiralbound?) and use it to buy ingredients to create meals around what is fresh and on sale.
budgetfresh:
weekly shopping lists (complete with price estimates) and meals to feed your family for the week! again, i like books divided by seasons so there would be separate spring, summer, fall, and winter lists, as well as seasonal & themed lists.
i’m in a creative mood this morning! let me know if your publisher likes any of these ideas
I’d love a gluten-free cookbook that is easy to follow, loaded with pictures and includes basic but tasty recipes that would be yummy for one person but could also feed to guests (and they wouldn’t turn their nose up at the food!). I’d buy that for sure
Oh, and peanuts on oatmeal… I eat that almost every day!
So good!
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day so I would like some recipes for that! Or portable, fast, and filling lunches to take to work (trying to save money in this downward economy).
cute heart oatmeal!
I’d love to see more healthy cookbooks, preferably one with vegan recipes (or recipes that can easily be veganized). I like books that put new, healthy spins on old classics. I also like books that don’t have too many special, hard-to-find ingredients.
First off, a cookbook written by YOU would be so great! And here are a few of my ideas:
(1) College Student Cookbook
(2) Runner’s Guide to Cooking (protein filled meals, lots of nutrients, how to fuel your runs/workouts)
(3) Healthy, Packed Lunches/Meals (for those who don’t have time to eat a full bfast in the AM and want to bring lunch, not buy, at work)
(4) Couple’s Cookbook (fun meals to make together)
Oats look Amazing!
As for the book – must, must, must be loaded with pictures – also would be nice to see a book that does total meals – suggests combinations of food and wine. a complete guide to entertaining. has anyone found this in an already existing book?
I’m with Kelsey on the “cooking for one”. Cooking for two would work as well When I make something from a cookbook I’m never serving 4-6 people just two and I really stink at math and halving recipes
Also recipes that don’t require 18 different ingredients, I like it simple and to the point.
Sweet + salty = amazing combo.
I saw a cookbook yesterday in Barnes & Noble and I thought more should be written like it… it was on Fitness Foods… good breakfasts, lunches, dinners, recovery meals, pre-workout meals, light/healthy desserts, etc. It wasn’t a “diet” cookbook – just had some amazing recipes that were balanced, nutritious, and full of “power” foods.
Those oats…yum.
Oh wow I love reading all of these awesome suggestions for cookbooks. Everyone has such great ideas!
Kath are you thinking of writing one?
salted peanuts in your oats? such a good idea
YUM! I LOOOVE blackberries. I bought a whole bunch this weekend and they are already gone.
Looks delicious
I would enjoy a cookbook that had normal, delicious, recipes from all cuisines, but had a vegan version, a vegetarian version, and a low calorie version, with calore counts for each. That way you couuld splurge on a recipe if you wanted to one night, but could make the vegan version another night, etc. But calorie counts are one of the biggest things I look for in a cookbook these days. And pictures are VITAL for me. I won’t buy a cookbook that doesn’t have delicious pictures. I would also love a whole week planned out that minimized by food bill by using some of the same ingredients in all of the meals. but I want the recipes to be different enough not to feel like I’m eating the same thing all week.
I’m apparently a very demanding cookbook consumer
.
I woud like to see a cookbook that had healthy recipes for groups, Healthy Potluck recipes!
every time i see your oats, i’m reminded that i need to try cottage cheese in mine! i’m skeptical though… :/ and i would love a cookbook with a. easy recipes with few ingredients b. light and healthy c. easily obtainable ingredients d. pictures. e. desserts that use oats!!!
I am obsessed with cookbooks! I would love to see a cookbook that has recipes sorted by main ingredient (whole food ing. preferrably). Like apple recipes, tofu recipes, etc.
Love the blackberries in the oats! I think you should do a breakfast cookbook..mainly featuring your oats but also your amazing pancakes and eggs!!
I would buy a family/man friendly healthy and/or vegetarian cookbook. Or a cookbook that has meals that can be easily transformed for meat eaters/nonmeaters alike!
I love the sweet and salty combo on those oats!
I’m always looking for a good vegetarian/vegan cookbook featuring authentic ethnic recipes. Also, recipes using easily accessible ingredients and techniques are always a plus.
Wow, that looks like an amazing bowl of oats!!!
Kath, it would be great if you came up with a cookbook! I’m sure you’d have lots of readers/buyers!!
Hi! I really love your blog, I’ve actually been reading for a few months and it’s really inspired me to live a healthier life! If you have the time, i’d really appreciate if you’d take a look at my blog (less than 24 hours old
) and let me know what you think! Thanks!! Lia
Kath- What kind of Mexican vanilla do you use? I have a huge bottle from Walmart that they don’t carry anymore “La Dorada”. But I only have a smidge left and am looking for more. I use a lot in the pancakes and crepes that I make.
I would SO buy a Kath cookbook. I know some bloggers have done e-zine type cookbooks for like $5; maybe you could do something like that? You wouldn’t have to find a publisher and you could still make a few bucks.
I’d like to see one of those “5-ingredients-or-less” cookbooks that focuses on healthy food. Or a small-batch baked goods cookbook, because I want to bake more but I can’t be pumping out 4 dozen cookies! And halving some ingredients can be hard (1/2 of 3 eggs??).
And here is the address: http://lovelylia.wordpress.com/
Great bowl of oats! I didn’t eat mine today and now I’m craving them!
love the salty and sweet combo, and cute place mats!
I agree that a cookbook with directions for modifying a recipe for only one or two people would be fantastic. Everything on the market is geared towards families.
Lots of pictures are always a plus.
Budget friendly and easy to find ingredients is another thing I look for in cookbooks. I live in a small, rural town so our grocery store doesn’t care specialty items or uncommon ingredients. And I just graduated college so affordable food is a must!
I would also love a guide to spices. I never know what spices to pair with which foods/how much of a spice to use.
Hey Kath~ How did you balance day to day life with losing weight. It seems like every time I lose 2 pounds something happens and I gain it right back. I’m never going to get these 10 pounds I gained at the end of last year off at this rate. I was trying the “eat in moderation” concept but does that maybe not work when trying to lose weight and it’s more a concept to but in place when maintaining? I’m just so frustrated and discouraged. I know my goal is not unreasonable. I’ve been there and maintained it before. But I just can’t seem to get back to it…
Oh definitely love the oats!
Thanks for all the great cookbook suggestions guys! I’d love to write one …someday. I’m too swamped with school at the moment though.
Kate ,
My best advice: put your heart and soul into your photos. Take the time to find natural light and get a couple good views.
rebecca ,
YES! I forgot the coconut
Lindsay ,
I don’t know what kind of Mex. vanilla it is because we got it in a jar from Matt’s grandma, but it was cheap and is very good.
Melissa ,
it sounds like you know why you’re stuck: something happens and I gain it right back. You need to work on figuring out the “something” and how it’s connected to eating.
Kath
I’d love to see a cookbook for college students!!! Simple, easy, tasty and fun!!!
I really want to try butterscotch coffee because it sounds so good! I’ve looked at Earth Fare, grocery store, and Target…but no luck. You’ve probably mentioned it before, but where did you find it?
lainb ,
Dilworth Coffee Shop.
K
Today, I had my first Kath-inspired oatmeal! Normally, I put blueberries, ground flax, protein powder, and agave nectar in my oatmeal. Or pumpkin instead of blueberries. But today, I did banana, almond butter, mini chocolate chips, ground flax, protein powder, and almond milk. It was sooo good! It tasted more like a dessert than breakfast! I think I would have liked to add a little more almond milk b/c it was so thick after I added all the goodies. But most importantly, it got the BF’s stamp of approval! Thanks!
That butterscotch toffee coffee sounds amazing.
I’m such a cookbook addict — chances are if it has colorful pictures and easy recipes I’ll buy it. Have you seen Donna Hay’s cookbooks? I’d love to see more like those.
I’d love to see a cookbook dedicated to efficient, whole-food, low-calorie cooking. I can’t get enough recipes for lean, nutritious meals that don’t require an hour in the kitchen or processed ingredients.