Baked Oatmeal 2 Ways

My kids HATE oatmeal.  I’ve tried everything short of a funnel duct taped to their mouths.  One time I even got a big bowl of brown sugar and scooped a huge spoonful of it on top right in front of The Wild One and he didn’t even bat an eye.  It might as well have been toxic waste.  This is all very disconcerting to me because I love granola so much, and oatmeal in everything.  Sooooooo, I have found lots of recipes for baked oatmeal, which I have never really eaten before.  Tornado scarfed down a whole bowl, and The Wild One is warming up to it.  It’s getting cold, and crawling out of bed is a little tiny bit easier for everyone when there is something yummy cooking in the oven that will fill our bellies and stick to our ribs.

This one tastes like apple crisp or apple pie.  I tell The Wild One it is “Oatmeal Cookie Cereal” so he will eat it.  Just like I tell him the shrimp is chicken.

Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

• 1 C. whole rolled oats
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 3 T. maple syrup
• 1-2 peeled and diced apples. (I grate mine sometimes)
• 1 1/4 C. milk (I use coconut or almond milk)
• Nuts if desired.

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a glass pie plate. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into pie plate. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Don’t over bake. Remove from oven and allow to cool a bit. Serve with a little milk, whipped cream or yogurt if desired.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 bananas

 Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 8x8ish pan with non-stick spray and set aside.

 Combine all ingredients, except for bananas.  Slice bananas and place in bottom of the sprayed pan.

  Pour oatmeal mixture over bananas.

 Bake for 20 minutes or until oatmeal is set.

Remove from oven and serve warm. Add additional toppings to baked oatmeal, if desired.

The bananas really add a nice touch.  This is pretty yummy, especially with Thanksgiving coming up.  I’m going to save my leftover pumpkin and make some muffins or use it for pumpkin pie next week.  Next week!  I can’t believe it.