Working full time really hasn’t been that bad, but I have to say how totally awesome it is to be back in student/SAH blogger mode for a day 🙂
While Matt got dressed for work, I whipped up breakfast. Literally.
I did 3 different experiments with this bowl of oats, so it was kind of hard to evaluate them individually. I FINALLY remembered to try Chelsea‘s method of cooking the banana in the pot before adding everything else to get it a little advanced caramelization.
Ultimately I didn’t notice a difference, but like I said, I had too many variables!
The next variable was adding some sweet potato puree in lieu of pumpkin. Ashley says it’s creamier than pumpkin and she likes it a lot. I say that it tasted more like sweet potato skin than a roasted potato and prefer my pumpkin 🙁
Lastly, I added an egg white, at the beginning this time (actually I forgot in the beginning and added it midway through, but it wasn’t slimy like last time because I gave it a good 3-4 minutes of whipping. Hard to tell if it made a difference though!
The Final Mix
- 1/3 cup oats, vanilla soy milk (i’m out of milk!) and water
- Pinch salt, cinnamon, vanilla, 1 tbsp chia
- 1/4 cup sweet potato, stirred in at end
- 1/2 an egg white, stirred in 1/3 of the way through and whipped
- Crunchy Coconut Granola
- Toasted almonds
- Naturally Nutty Butter Toffee Peanut Butter!!
BREAKING NEWS: Naturally Nutty is in the Open Sky store!!!!! So excited on this one. Two 8 oz jars for $8.99.
Here’s what I wrote about it: "Naturally Nutty makes THE BEST nut butters!! They are a little gritty, yet still smooth, thick and very flavorful – almost like FROSTING!! I love the butter toffee for its sweet, caramel aroma. Flax + hemp seeds add nutrition and texture. One of the top 10 nut butters I’ve tasted for sure."
Mmm mm.
Today’s coffee du jour: Caftea Chocolate Cherry Cordial. Also coming soon to an Open Sky store near your computer 🙂
MEOW!
***
MAC + CHEESE
Back in December I developed a mac and cheese recipe for the new 30 Days 30 Ways With Macaroni & Cheese Blog. The recipe is up! Blue Cheese Macaroni & Cheese with Mushrooms and Kale
***
Today is up in the air. Some work, some play, some cooking, a workout.
Have a great Monday!
Jennifer (Running With Cake) says
Toffee peanut butter sounds awesome and almost too good to be true. Although it should probably be more in the “dessert” category for how sweet it is. That “cat” coffee is too funny and very clever.
zestycook says
Yay for a day that is up in the air. Those oats look killer kath!
Nutritious Foodie says
I bet if you add mashed baked sweet potato while it is hot to your oats it would be really good.
I can’t do cooked banana’s they give me a severe heart burn… they are ok baked in a muffin though. I remember while in College my mom would tell me that these are the best years of your life and I thought why I don’t make any money… I now have been out of grad school for 4 years and have a great job.. but somehow wish I was back in the old college days… I guess she was right 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Mac and cheese is my favorite meal!! That sounds fantastic!
Haleigh says
Butter toffee PB sounds divine! Right up my alley, for sure. Have fun with your open schedule today!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
I agree on the pumpkin > sweet potato in oats! And I am suuuuch a SP girl. Also, I usually can’t taste a huuuge difference with the caramelized banana unless it’s the star of the oat show. Happy Monday!
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says
Sweet potato in oats!? Wow that’s a new one! Quite a combo you had going there 😛
Loads of superfoods though!! (well, 2? Don’t know if egg white counts..)
Have you tried butternut squash in oats? That’s REALLY good!!
Simply Life says
Wow I never thought to start with the banana – I’ll have to try that next time!
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans says
Have fun on your stay at home blogger day! I have had problems with sweet potato from a can, but if I pop a sweet potato in the microwave to cook it before putting it in my oats it is AWESOME. Then again, I am a pretty big fan of sweet potato pie.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Oh wow, I will have to try that! Sounds good! I <3 sweet potatoes in any form
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Yum– that Mac n. Cheese recipe sounds great!! Have a great day!
rustique says
Aha, kitty coffee. Love it.
Sweet potato and oatmeal sounds wonderful–but I happen to love the slightly bitter skins.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
That is one interesting oats experiment 🙂 I will have to try the “caramelized ” bananas. Great idea! And have a fabulous day off!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Oh my! Blue Cheese Mac & Cheese sounds amazing!!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i love the kitty kat drawing…totally made my morning 🙂
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
yay for a productive stress-free day! ENJOY IT 😉
Katie says
hooray for cat coffee!
Jenna says
Have a great Monday!
Oats look fab and I can’t wait to check out the pb on open sky!!
Lilly says
Hey kath,
You’re cool! Thanks for putting me in your coffee.
Love,
Your sister, Lillian the Wonder Cat
Kath says
Hey Billis!! How’s your tuna blog coming?
Ashley says
I’m taking the day off, too–I’ve decided it’s too icy to risk venturing outside in my car. Instead I’m going to sit here and stare longingly at that butter toffee peanut butter….want!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
Wish I’d decided to take today off… it’s already shaping up to be a busy and weird day here in middle school land.
Karla says
Naturally nutty sounds delish! I’m getting a little tired of my plain ol’ natural PB!
Ooh your recipe looks great!
Enjoy your day!!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
You always make that nut butter sound amazing — I’ll have to look out for it! 😀
Spiele says
I want t have this on my breakfast
Ameena says
Have a great day off! Naturally Nutty sounds like something I definitely need to try!!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I love adding egg whites at the very beginning of boiling. I think it really pumps up the volume and the oats become so fluffy! 😀
I agree with the sweet potato/pumpkin thing. I’ve had canned sweet potato before, and it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Lauren @ Eater not a runner says
Love the drawn-on cat face….too funny. And that mac and cheese sounds amazing!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I do like the egg whites in my oatmeal. It completely changes the texture. I do the microwave thing and just cook it in 1 minute intervals and then stir like crazy. YUM! Have a great day!
Meg @ Be Fit Be Full says
Man, I get such a kick out of your coffee shapes 🙂 Enjoy your snow day! Was hoping for one as well but no suck luck.
Lara says
why did you only use half an egg white? That is nothing and your breakfast could have used some protein.
Kath says
Because I used one whole egg white in the pot of oats – split between us. So technically there was half in my portion. Just trying to accurately portray.
Lara says
ahh I was imaging trying to get one half of an egg white 🙂 But seriously, one egg for two servings doesn’t add much in terms of nutrition and creaminess one would typically get when making oats with egg. Some protein would have made the meal much more balanced.
Kath says
Actually I think this breakfast is very balanced. Grains, fruit, healthy fats, a vegetable and about 15 grams of protein not including the egg white (which is about 1/3 of the RDA for me). Did you know a whole egg and half a cup of oats have roughly the same amount of protein? (6g v 5g)
Kaite@ Two Lives, One Lifestyle says
Oooh- toffee PB? That seems like an awesome price on Open Sky!
[email protected] says
I have never tried an egg white in my oatmeal, will give that a try. Enjoy your day off!
Jamie says
Oh I want to try some Naturally Nutty!! Did Open Sky ever decide what to do after the massive site failure last time you offered a giveway? I was one of the unlucky who was stuck in internet nowhere trying to get on the site 🙁
Sophie @ yumventures says
Those oats look amazing! Does the egg white make it more filling, or is it purely used as a combining agent?
Rose says
Meow face is the best thing I’ve seen in a long while. Thanks, Kath!
Beth (Mackattack) says
I don’t even like peanut butter, but the toffee butter sounds amazing!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
I completely agree with you on your review of naturally nutty. I’m actually having that same flavor with my breakfast right now!
skinnyrunner says
you’re always so creative with oatmeal! id like to try that coffee but then i remember i dont like cherry. or cats. 🙂 have a fun day off
Hannah says
LOVE blue cheese! But *pout pout pout* putting the Naturally Nutty in your store six days before my travelling time in the US finishes? Sadness!!
Lilly says
I haven’t gotten the blog up and running, but I sure loves the fish bowl and place mat you gave me for Christmas!
Allison K says
You make oats so gourmet! and i love the cat in your coffee!
christie @ honoring health says
Love the kitty in your coffee!
Ginna says
Kath – I actually boil the bananas with water and milk before adding oats. Makes it really yummy!
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama says
The kitty kat totally made my day! =)
caronae says
I love how the naturally nutty news is breaking news, lol!
Lauren says
Hahaha, that cat just seriously cracked me up!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
LOL, love the kitty cat cafe! 🙂
Interesting bowl ‘o oats, sweet potato sounds really good, naturally sweeter, but I don’t know. I like just banana in oats, pumpkin is ok too but needs sweetener.
Jenn
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
Jealous of your snow day – I could use on of those right now!
Enjoy your day off 🙂
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
interesting about the sweet potato – i’ve got a can of it in my cupboard and wondered the same thing.
Fallon says
WOW That is a GREAT deal for naturally nutty. I’ve been paying $9 for just 1 jar at my local Great Harvest.
Sarah @ Fitography says
Wow – that oatmeal looks delish! I will have to try out the recipe this week.
Ashley says
Hahah, sweet potato skin!? I think I like the creamier consistency more and liked it in my oats, but like the pumpkin flavor better and was definitely not sold on the sweet potato + yogurt combo….it almost tasted soapy!? Weird!
HeatherBakes says
LOL- love the kitty cup 🙂
I have that same can of sweet potato puree in my cabinet right now. I guess I won’t be using it in oats, though… maybe sweet potato biscuits??
Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life says
Can’t wait to read that mac and cheese recipe!
Paige(Running Around Normal) says
Those variations sound great! Well, except for maybe the sweet potato puree 🙂
I looove Vanilla Naturally Nutty! Soo good. Gah!
haha love the picture of the kitty cat drawn in the coffee.
Sarah (OC2Seattle) says
Sounds like a great day! And thanks for starting my day off with a laugh – the cat pic in the coffee of course.
kate says
i need to try some egg whites in oats or a smoothie asap! loved the meow pic!
Cole says
Days at home are always the best, especially when it’s a normal work day. And I’m definitely going to have to try egg whites in oats. That looks great.
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Sorry the sweet potato didn’t work out as planned… maybe a microwaved “baked” sweet potato would work better? It sure sounds like a good idea though!
Enjoy your day off!
Jil says
haha the kitty drawing made me giggle. and that butter toffee favor of nut butter sounds awesommme.
Kelli says
That mac and cheese recipe looks great! What a great twist on the dish!
Enjoy your day off!!
Chelsea says
I love the kitty cat face 🙂 I do mush the banana before I cook it 😉 I’m glad that you got the day “off”. How nice.
Wendy says
Loving the kitty face AND Lillian’s comments! Too funny!!
I have an off-topic question…how is your shoulder/neck feeling after your massage? I’m having similar issues (I think I have a huge knot in the same spot), and I’m wondering if it’s worthwhile to spend the $$ for the massage. I used to get them regularly, but I’m not working as much now, so I had to cut them out of the budget. 🙁
Hope your world thaws out soon!
Kath says
SO MUCH BETTER!
Wendy says
Awesome! I just made an appt. 🙂
Ellen says
Your coffee interpretations are TOO cute. I think you make them into a coffee table book!
Niki @ Niki's Neverending Adventure says
Kath-
I find that a mashed banana really makes for an even creamier consistency than a thinly sliced one! Ever tried it? I add it in at the beginning like you normally do!
Kath says
Yes, and I need to do it more. Mashing dirties up an extra bowl! And I don’t like to mash in my non-stick pot because I might scrape the bottom.
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Changing too much about a recipe at once scares me because I can never figure out what I like and what I don’t like and end up scrapping the entire thing.
Tammy @ Defining Wellness says
I’ve been eager to try the Naturally Nutty peanut butters, and now I’m sold!
Catherine says
Love how you added the kitty face!!! 🙂