Sweet Corn, Blueberry, and Basil Oatmeal

The best part about Manhattan can be summed up in one word: access. In this city, you can basically track down anything..with relatively little effort (as long as you've mastered the public transportation piece). Certainly, I could access most things from Brooklyn, but it was always such a drag. I used to make excuses about how inconvenient or tedious it would be, and I would just stay home. In my new location, it's so easy!

Farmer's market. No excuses.

What is it about farmer's markets that is so incredible?! Maybe it's because there are so many unique items (love the habanero jam I bought from Beth's Family Kitchen). Maybe it's because there are free samples. Maybe it's because everything is so stinkin' fresh. :

Melon Berry Overnight Oatmeal

So,, um....watermelon is not the most photogenic fruit. Forgive me.

Okay, so the idea behind this recipe is that you can endlessly combine various berries and melons together. Here you see blueberry + watermelon, but how about raspberry + cantaloupe? Blackberry + honeydew? Strawberry + cool exotic melon from the farmer's market (have you ever had a lemon drop melon?!).

Blueberry Breakfast Cobbler

This. This recipe is summer vacation to me.

Not summer, but summer vacation. As in, "I'm not working 80 hours a week, so I can experiment with recipes that I imagined a year ago but never had the energy to actually create."

This is actually just a super simple baked oatmeal atop a sea of blueberries. Don't be freaked out by the cast iron skillet; you could make this in any ramekin.

'Murica Overnight Oatmeal Parfait

The irony of this post is that I'm actually one of the least patriotic people you will ever meet. It's not that I'm not happy to be in America; I just don't care to celebrate it with some of the most annoying songs ever and the most obnoxious outfits of all time. Like seriously, calm down, Toby Keith.

(I should clarify that I by no means take my liberties for granted or do not respect those who protect our country; I just think that our flaunting of patriotism is what gets us so much flack from the rest of the world! Why do you think nobody likes Gretchen Weiners?)

However, I do like berries, and if eating berries means celebrating 'Murica, I'll be a little patriotic today. Here's to living in a country that provides me easy access to my favorite foods with minimal effort! Thanks, Founding Fathers!

Happy birthday, 'Murica. Oh, and I should also mention that--as of this week--I am a resident of Manhattan. SO. MUCH. PACKING. I liked Brooklyn, but the commute to work was terrible.

'Murica Overnight Oatmeal Parfait

Adapted from this recipe.

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 0 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

For the Oatmeal

• 2/3 cup coconut milk (or 1/2 cup coconut milk + 1/4 cup plain coconut yogurt)
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tsp liquid sweetener of choice (optional)
• pinch of salt

For the Parfait

• Blueberries
• Strawberries or raspberries

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients for the oatmeal in a mason jar.
2. Cover with lid and shake, shake, shake until combined.
3. Store in the refrigerator overnight (or for several hours).
4. When ready to serve, put a spoonful at the bottom of a fancy glass or mason jar. Drop a few berries. Repeat, alternating layers of oatmeal and berries.
5. Eat while listening to this and wearing your most obnoxious star-spangled overalls.

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**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Double Berry Baked Oatmeal with Lemon Curd

As summer approaches (just a couple weeks away!), everyone is craving lighter and brighter recipes. One of my favorite parts of summer is all the produce, especially the berries.

I really do challenge myself to develop non-banana recipes, just to balance things out on here. This recipe uses mashed raspberries instead of my usual mashed banana, and the blueberries are delightful because they burst and bubble in the oven.

The lemon curd is optional, but it definitely adds to the summery brightness of the recipe and makes the serving a little larger.

Blueberry Lime Basil Oatmeal

I was with a friend last weekend who asked me, "If they came up with a synthetic food--like a shake--that was proven to be safe and contained all the necessary nutrients for survival, would you eat it?"

Of course, I repeatedly argued that it couldn't possibly be better or even on par with REAL food, which we were designed to eat and gain our nutrients from. Still, he responded each time, "But what if it were proven? Just pretend. Would you eat it?"

Finally, I said, "I think it would be great for feeding populations who are malnourished or food insecure, but I am neither of those things. I enjoy the process of chopping vegetables and cooking recipes and creating nourishing meals on my own. I feel spiritually fulfilled by it."

That's how I feel when I make recipes like this one. Whenever I make oatmeal with herbs, I feel so gourmet and fancy. Each of the three main flavors in this recipe blend together so beautifully. Once combined, they each become subtle and complement each other with perfect harmony.

Blue Raspberry Overnight Oatmeal

Can I get a high five for two overnight recipes two Thursdays in a row?

I found while making this recipe that the color of raspberries is far more potent than the color of blueberries. On my first attempt, I was stunned to see the vibrant red color of my blueberry-raspberry mixture. However, after sitting in the fridge overnight, the oatmeal mellowed out into a calm blue (like in the pictures).

Berry, Almond, and Coconut Oatmeal

Whenever I make a recipe with coconut, I become angry with myself for not doing so more often. Coconut is so...perfect in every way. Buttery, rich, flavorful. So great.

This oatmeal combines the lovely combination of almonds and coconut, like my Almond Joy Oatmeal. It also contains a hidden banana, so I guess you could say they're close cousins. The difference is this one tastes a little healthier (without the chocolate, and the addition of fresh berries)! However, these cousins are equally tasty. :)

Peach and Blueberry Overnight Oatmeal

First there was Peach & Blueberry Oatmeal. Then Peach & Blueberry Oatcakes. Now, I present Peach & Blueberry Overnight Oatmeal. Three cheers for the best fruit combo known to mankind! (Or can you nominate a better one?)

I made my version diced, but I bet it would be marvelous with pureed peaches (if you're okay with dirtying your blender).

Peach and Blueberry Oatcakes for One

What is it about oatmeal that makes my digestive system run so well? I understand the nutrition aspect and all (hurray soluble fiber!), but this marvelous ingredient still astounds me. Pancakes make me sick for the rest of the day. Cereal (even the "healthy" ones) makes me puffy and weird. Even whole wheat muffins or waffles or pancakes leave me ill.

But swap the flour with oats? Problem solved.

These oatcake recipes actually let me enjoy pancakes again. Plus, they're way more flavorful than anything Bisquick could make.

Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal

Today marks the start of my final week in the Midwest. I must say I'm eager to return to the East Coast and ride subways to my heart's desire. And eat brunch in the Upper West Side. And shop at Trader Joe's. And read in Central Park. And all that good stuff.

I enjoyed an excellent morning in Minnesota today, though. I visited the farmer's market, which is small but mighty. Only four vendors had set up under the picnic shelter of the lakeside park. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the selection this week. Despite only having four vendors, the variety was impressive:  fresh breads and baked goods, maple syrup and goodies made with it (maple butter!), and two "typical" produce vendors.

Berry Cream Cheese Baked Oatmeal

My roommate Allison pulled a tub of strawberries out of the fridge. It was the robin's-egg-blue-colored, recyclable cardboard crate that they give out at farmer's markets.

"Will you make me strawberry cheesecake oatmeal in the morning?" she asked. "My mom bought me these strawberries and I need to use them up."

I hesitated. My mind recalled all my failed attempts at that very recipe from earlier this year. Maybe it just needs a little lemon juice. Less lemon juice. Maybe some apple cider vinegar will help. More cream cheese. More yogurt. Less yogurt. I eventually came to the conclusion it was an impossible feat, yet she was requesting me to attempt it once more. This time, however, I wouldn't have to jump the hurdle of making everything nondairy, and that could be cure. Sorry, but Tofutti sucks.

I knew from the moment I set the ramekin in the oatmeal that I had failed to replicate an actual cheesecake, but I remained hopeful that I was providing a suitable alternative. I presented the baked creation to Allison, who was sitting eagerly on the couch in her pajamas. "Berry Cream Cheese Baked Oatmeal," I titled it.

"Ohhhhhhhh my GOD!" Allison exclaimed after her first bite. I don't know if I'll ever have success at making a cheesecake oatmeal, but for the time being, I know I can make a hell of a cream cheese baked oatmeal. :)

Almond Berry Overnight Oatmeal

What's the general consensus on almond extract? Sometimes, I truly love it. It's dynamite in my Pear and Almond Baked Oatmeal and killer in Almond Joy Oatmeal. Other times, I can't help but be a little peeved by it. I mean, it doesn't actually taste like almonds, in my opinion.

Anyway, the perk of almond extract is that it steals the show, meaning it's perfect for a "hidden banana" recipe. I make this overnight recipe whenever I'm in the mood for a creamy and fruity porridge, but I'm not in the mood for the taste of bananas. (Lately, I've filled this need with my Lemon Drop Oatmeal, but hey, it's good to have options!)

How do you feel about almond extract? Yay or nay?

Fruit-on-the-Bottom Oatmeal

I'll be honest right from the start: I have never had (nor do I have the desire to try) fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt. First of all, it's not available in nondairy varieties, so that's an obvious deterrent. Moreso, the "fruit" on the bottom has been heavily processed and coated with sickeningly sweet high fructose corn syrup. Um, no.

Like most of my recipes, I've been eager to try this one for a while. It required me to have yogurt on hand, which I usually lack. Whenever I have it, I end up demolishing it before I can even attempt this or the other yogurt-demanding recipes.

Creamy Berry Oatmeal

Hello from South Dakota! I was hoping to throw up tons of new recipes while I was home, but every morning I was just dying to make some of my favorites, like Banana Bread and Grapefruit and Chocolate Banana. I wasn't in the mood to experiment!

But here's a new one for you!

Take your favorite berry (or berries), blend them with some almond milk, and use that fruity puree to cook your oats! Num!

Berry Chocolate Crunch Oatmeal

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, taste buds!
For I ne'er tasted true beauty till this week.

Sweetest pepitas...

If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To EAT YOU.

I know I'm being incredibly overdramatic, but my confession must capture the scale of my new infatuation. This past weekend (thanks to my mother's birthday present), I tried pepitas for the first time. I've had "roasted pumpkin seeds" before, but they were nothing like "pepitas." You would think they would be equally wonderful (considering pepitas are pumpkin seeds), but there is definitely a difference, the first being that pepitas are as glorious to this night as is a winged messenger of heaven, and "roasted pumpkin seeds" are just a big pile of "meh."

Blueberry Oat Muffins

I am extraordinarily fond of my Blueberry Muffin Baked Oatmeal recipe. It was my very first baked oatmeal attempt, and it ended up being one of the most popular recipes on my blog. It was actually #1 for several months, until the Salted Brownie came along. :)

If that recipe hadn't turned out as well as it had, I might have been turned off baked oatmeal forever. Instead, it sparked my curiosity. Yes, it was more time-consuming and finicky, but it had its pay-offs. Now, of course, I'm almost as obsessed with baked oatmeal as I am with stove-top.

But I'm getting off-track. I realized today that if I loved that recipe so much, why not convert it to mimic actual blueberry muffins?

Blueberry Almond Baked Oatmeal

Happy Saturday, fellow oatmeal lovers!

It's so nice to have a Saturday morning at home again. I returned to my usual weekend morning routine of simultaneously making oatmeal and cleaning the kitchen. Why is cleaning the kitchen so cathartic to me?

Berry-Ginger Sauce

To be honest, I'd be happy eating "boring" oatmeal forever. A simple peanut butter and banana oatmeal makes me absolutely giddy. However, because I own an oatmeal blog where people come to see new and creative ideas, I have to get fancy sometimes. For those of you who like getting fancy, this one's for you.

Toppings make things special. Just throwing chocolate chips on my oatmeal gets me all excited, so imagine how I felt drizzling on spoonfuls of BRIGHT RED DELICIOUSNESS.

Blueberry Trail Mix Baked Oatmeal

I dislike only posting twice a week. I was pretty happy with those few weeks back in August and early September when I was able to pump out three recipes each week. Now, I seem to be in a tiny rut.

One problem is that I eat the same baked oatmeal every morning. I have come to really enjoy this system as it allows me to sleep in a little later than I would if I had to cook my oatmeal on the stove every single day. Plus, it gives me a nice weekend project to look forward to. My roommates are always interested in what my "oatmeal of the week" will be, so that's motivating as well. Unfortunately, that means I'm not trying out a new recipe every single morning.

The other problem is that I never have the right produce on hand. You can trust that I still have plenty of ideas for recipes; I just don't have the produce to make them. I'm too cheap (or poor) to splurge on good stuff, and I keep coming home from the market with bananas and apples. There's only so much you can do with bananas and apples! This is mostly a planning issue. Still, the few times I have splurged on peaches and other pricier fruits have resulted in failed recipes, which is discouraging.

And finally, a lot of my ideas are incredibly ambitious at the moment (you'll see what I mean when I post my next recipe later this week). I guess that's why they've stayed on the list so long without being attempted. Eventually, one by one, I'll attempt these fabulous ideas and share them with you. However, most of them are destined to be weekend projects, so it will take time to roll all of them out.

Until then, here's a wonderful baked oatmeal recipe I enjoyed last week. I first made it without bananas, thinking it would have enough flavor from the blueberries alone. Unfortunately, it was a little dull and dry, so I tried it again using bananas, and WOW. What a difference it made! (Compare the picture above to the picture below to see what I mean. They're blatantly different!) I'm quickly learning that baked oatmeal is so much better when there's banana involved. Always. (If you don't want to use banana, perhaps you could try applesauce?)

Also, I highly recommend using raw nuts for this recipe. The first time I baked it (without the banana), I also used pre-roasted nuts. After baking the oatmeal, the nuts became quite unpleasant. The brazil nuts were bitter, the cashews were sour, and the walnuts were gritty. Using raw nuts helps because then the nuts are only cooked once (instead of twice). However, the time I made this with banana and pre-roasted nuts worked out fairly well, probably because the bananas provided a little extra moisture (maybe?). Still, I recommend raw nuts.

Blueberry Trail Mix Baked Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 25 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1/2 an overripe banana
• 1/3 cup milk of choice
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup trail mix (raw nuts preferred)
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray a single-serving ramekin with non-stick spray.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, mash banana. Then, add milk and vanilla extract.
3. In another small bowl, mix together dry ingredients: oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, add to the bowl of wet ingredients. Stir.
4. Add trail mix (I broke up some of the nuts first) and blueberries and fold in carefully.
5. Pour into the prepared ramekin and bake for 18-22 minutes.

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For a big batch!

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 overripe bananas
• 3/4 cup milk of choice
• 1/2 cup water (or more milk)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 cup trail mix (raw nuts preferred)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray a 8x8 pan with non-stick spray.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, mash bananas. Then, add milk, water, and vanilla extract.
3. In another medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients: oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, add to the bowl of wet ingredients. Stir.
4. Add trail mix (I broke up some of the nuts first) and blueberries and fold in carefully.
5. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!