Vegetarian Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oatmeal) Quick
I pretend to be a cereal eater. I buy cereals, most of which go to waste before they are eaten. Since the milk texture in my cereal really bothers me, I eat dry cereal. That can get really boring quick. My husband and sons love cereal with milk. So I’m the odd man out in my family.
However, I enjoy eating granola in Greek yogurt. The pieces of granola don’t get soggy like they do in milk. So making homemade granola can be cost-efficient. Homemade granola can also be adapted to my taste and preference. I also know what exactly is in it, so there are no mystery ingredients. Plus, it’s delicious!
So when this recipe crossed my inbox, my curiosity peaked. So I got the few ingredients I needed to make the granola. I made it on a Sunday morning before church. I took some with me to eat during refreshment, so I wouldn’t eat any of the not-so-good goodies. When I shared some of it with my fellow churchgoers, they were impressed with the taste. As was I.
The granola combines the flavors of fall. Cinnamon and nutmeg tickle your taste buds. Apples scream fall! There are also a few surprises hidden in the granola.
Vegetarian Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oatmeal) Quick Meal Planning
In August of 2010, I posted an entry for Instant Oatmeal Mix. As we are experiencing another cold snap, oatmeal is a good way to warm up on a bitterly cold morning.
I was pursuing Yummy Life’s instant oatmeal packets’ blog entry and found some good ideas for different types of instant oatmeal. Instant oatmeal mixes are better than the Quaker or off-brand instant oatmeal packets. You control the ingredients. Plus, it doesn’t have preservatives.
Using some of the ideas from Yummy Life and what I had around the house, I came up with divine apple cinnamon instant oatmeal.
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal
Stars of the recipe:
2-1/4 c. Instant or Quick Oatmeal
1/3 c. powdered milk
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
2 to 3 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. dried apples
1/3 c. chopped nuts (I used cashews.)
2 -3 Tbsp Chia seeds
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. Vanilla powder (optional)
Steps:
Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.
Store in an airtight container.
When ready to make oatmeal, mix 1/2 c. of the oatmeal with 3/4 c. water. (Make sure the bowl is big enough because the oatmeal expands in the microwave.)
Heat in the microwave for 90 seconds.
Or:
Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.
Store in an airtight container.
Mix 1/3 c. oatmeal, 1/2 c. water, and 1/4 c. Greek yogurt in a Mason jar or similar jar.
Make sure the lid is on tight, and shake up the mixture.
Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Enjoy straight out of the fridge, or allow it to warm up to room temperature before eating!
Originally published: 12/17/2013 Updated: 12/19/2022
Gluten-free (if using gluten-free certified oats) Meal planning Quick
One of my favorite candy bars is Almond Joy. This is a good thing on Halloween because the boys won’t touch them with a 10-foot pole or if the Imaginative One is being his snarky self, a 9 and 3/4-inch pole. I get their Almond Joy candy bars on Halloween. The combination of chocolate and coconut is pure heaven!! 😃
My other favorite treat is granola, either plain or with plain Greek yogurt. So the combination of the taste of Almond Joy candy bars with yogurt is the best flavor, at least it is to me.
I had bought some wreath shaped pretzels to use for my Rolo Turtles not realizing the Rolos would fall through the wreath. I used one bag of the wreath pretzels for my cinnamon sugar pretzels. Since I had another bag to use up, I found this recipe. Hubby had leftover popcorn oil from an event he hosted in November so this was a perfect way to use the pretzels.
Enjoy these at your Christmas get together or even on New Year’s Eve. Yum!
Oh and the best part of this is there is no baking involved. Sweet!
We went to Meijers the other day. As I walking back to the front of the store, I noticed the pumpkin spiced Cheerios so I decided to get me a box.
Once I got home, I decided to use the Cheerios to make a trail mix.
Now there is some debate whether Cheerios are truly gluten free. Some people have reactions when they eat them. If you are one of those people, please don’t use them.
I had some pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds waiting for me to do something with so I used them in this trail mix.
You can use any kind of nut. I had pecans available so I used them. I think walnuts would be delicious in this trail mix.
I also used some freeze dried apples that I got at Trader Joes. However, I think dried cranberries would be delicious also.
I know there is some debate on whether Cheerios is really Gluten Free or not. Since I have not been diagnosed with Celiac’s disease and only have a sensitivity to gluten, I decide that Cheerios are okay for me.
The Wee One loves this snack mix. While it was cooling on the baking sheet, he would randomly walk into the kitchen, take a handful of the mix, pop the snack mix into his mouth, and then walk out.
These are a snack that I have loved for a long time not just since I went gluten free. When my father-in-law was trying to watch his sugar, I introduced him to these bars. When I tried them myself, I fell in love with them.
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