One of my 2010 resolutions was to make an effort to eat more breakfast foods that do not pair well with Diet Coke. The trick is to achieve this goal while still eating breakfast foods that are satisfying and stick-with-you-ing. Eggs are satisfying, but I drink pop with eggs. Golden Grahams do not pair well with Diet Coke but leave me feeling hungry eighteen minutes later. I usually end up with more savory breakfast fare like ham/turkey sandwiches or Lean Cuisine pizzas, both of which require Diet Coke (for me).
One breakfast food I return to from time to time is good old oatmeal. When I am on an oatmeal kick, I am on an oatmeal kick. I'll eat it almost every morning for weeks or even months, usually paired with orange juice.
Sometime around 1999-2000, I ate oatmeal for months (coincided with a period of weight loss, NTB) and topped it with sliced strawberries and fat-free white chocolate jello pudding. I think I'm only sharing that fact so I can think about pudding for a couple minutes.
My obsession now is oatmeal topped with brown sugar (love how the sugar looks as it melts) and either raisins or frozen sliced peaches (they defrost as you cook the oatmeal).
I don't do stovetop oatmeal, just quick oats from the tall can (packets are okay too, but the oats seem bigger from the tall can) in the microwave. I used to always make oatmeal with milk but have determined that it still tastes good made with water.
A recent issue of Cooking Light included a spread on oats and a recipe for Overnight Honey-Almond Multigrain Cereal. The recipe suggests that you combine steel cut oats, pearled barley, and water in a large (these oats expand, baby!) bowl overnight. Then, you microwave it in the morning. I've always wanted to explore the world of steel-cut oats but knew I didn't have the time or patience to spend 30 or so minutes on the stovetop every morning. No way. Anyway, I was intrigued by the recipe and sort of gave it a try. By "sort of" I mean that I combined the 1/3 cup of steel-cut oats, 2 tablespoons of multi-grain cereal mix from Trader Joe's (which I already had but was not using and which included barley in it), salt, and the 1 1/4 cups water recommended by Cooking Light and put them in the fridge overnight. I microwaved the oats in the morning, added my own toppers, and enjoyed a very delicious and filling breakfast. I'm sure the Overnight Honey-Almond Multigrain Cereal made exactly according to Cooking Light is divine, but the recipe involves too many ingredients for me for the morning. I don't see myself toasting almonds for my breakfast . . . not that I don't deserve toasted almonds.
Anyway, I'm loving my oatmeal again and wanted to pass on the soaking overnight tip in case other readers are interested in steel-cut oats that are less time intensive.
What are you eating for breakfast? And drinking?
10 comments:
I also resolved to eat less dinner leftovers for breakfast and go with traditional breakfast for at least the start of 2010. I am much less adventuresome than you. I had cheerios with banana. It wasn't bad and I didn't get hungry. On a negative note, I had a soft pretzel for lunch at a basketball game. Baby steps, baby steps. m
Oatmeal ... yes, left to soak overnight, with (you aren't going to like this) salt on it. And a gigantic vat of strong tea. Well, I AM English...!
My newest breakfast obsession is Boathouse Farms Mocha Cappachino smoothie. It has a respectable amount of protein (at least in terms of breakfast foods) and satisfies me more than I thought a drink could. I pour it over crushed ice so no blender necessary. Sometimes that it all I have, but often I pair it with a piece of whatever baked good is on our counter that morning:(. LAP
Breakfast is a tricky meal for me. I dont care for many foods associated with breakfast. My typical breakfast includes Thomas' Light English Muffin with peanut butter and some water to drink. Followed by a hot tea. Boring.
I've said it before, but the only part of my diet that does not vary -- at all -- is that I like cold cereal for breakfast with orange juice and coffee. Every. Single. Morning. Not to say I won't do the occassional oatmeal and like it, but I love cold cereal, and never tire of it.
In 2010 I am trying to take a multi-vitamin every morning, which doesn't go well on an empty stomach. I've never been much for breakfast foods, but find that if I eat one tablespoon of peanut butter, no matter what else I have I feel more full for longer. Perhaps it's a mental thing.
My breakfast usually consists of the rest of the breakfast that I made for my daughter that she didn't eat. If she eats it all, then I usually don't eat anything. Bad, I know. I'm just not a breakfast person. In the morning anyway. Give me a waffle at 7pm and I'm all over it.
I'll have to email you the details of my own overnight oatmeal trials. Came up with one I liked enough that I made a batch in the slow cooker last Sunday and ate it most of the week. Breakfast is hard for me what with the dairy issues. Thank goodness i discovered rice milk.
fried egg sandwich is a favorite, but i LOVE migas, and it is a great use for those broken corn chips in the bottom of the bag.
i always have coffee, with half&half, first thing in the morning. i have never had the coke, or diet coke problem/passion, and it is hard for me to imagine drinking it in the morning.
i am impressed with your multigrain ambition. it is a good one! and, yes! you do deserve toasted almonds! could you get those ready the night before too? they would be so yummy!
I try to eat oatmeal...maybe 2 days a week. Mainly Cheerios, and tea:)
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