Strawberry Pretzel Overnight Oatmeal

:D

Yes! Pretzels!

Strawberry pretzel bars are a bake sale, potluck, and picnic favorite. They are a lovely blend of sweet and salty. They begin with a bottom "crust" of crushed pretzels. Above that is a thick layer of cream cheese. Finally, the top layer is jello-fied strawberries.

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?!).

Strawberry Rhubarb Breakfast Cobbler

FINALLY I got my hands on some rhubarb. I thought the entire summer was going to slip away without me finding some. Would you believe my sister had some the entire time?

Considering how much I enjoyed my Blueberry Breakfast Cobbler, I decided to try something similar with my rhubarb. As you can see, the result was gorgeous.

Roasted Strawberry and Almond Butter Oatmeal + Getting Fit #6

Yay! Oatmeal! You love oatmeal! I love oatmeal! Let's roast some strawberries and be friends.

But first, let's check in with Crystal.

This is the sixth segment of my Getting Fit series. This series features my friend Crystal, a rockstar figure skater and fellow oatmeal lover. You can her blog, Confessions of Crystal, and check out her Instagram,@crystalchilcott.

TOA: Hello! How's the concussion?

Crystal: It's better now, but I'm at home in Pennsylvania and haven't skated or worked out. It's driving me crazy! How did the last two weeks go?

TOA: Great! I finally reached my goal of running 3 miles (twice!), and oddly enough, it was at my fastest pace yet! (~10 min/mile)

Crystal: That is wonderful! Has your energy level improved?

TOA: Not particularly. I've noticed I have more energy Saturday through Monday, but the rest of the week, I'm hopeless. I'm moving around my running schedule around to fit my "high energy" days and doing the bulk of it on weekends and early in the week (Mondays and Tuesdays). Last weekend, I went on a hike with a friend instead of my usual jog to switch things up!

Crystal: That's great! Changing things up can help maintain your motivation and desire to run. Did you try interval running?

TOA: I did! This past Sunday, I didn't feel like running at all, so I gave the intervals a shot. Every time I felt like walking, I started sprinting instead. Surprisingly, it worked! That night, I ran three miles again, and my whole body was exhausted afterwards. It was such a great workout.

Crystal: That's great! That's something you can always consider if you're tired or not motivated. How do your strength exercises feel?

TOA: I'll be honest: the last time I did three miles, I skipped them. My whole body was limp.  But on this past Wednesday night, I only ran 1.5 miles (it was sweltering hot), so I did them. They are my least favorite part of the routine haha.

------------------

As I reflect on the last few months, I am so proud of how far I have come. Do I love exercising? Nope. Still hate it. Have I skipped a routine along the way? Definitely. Did I once go an entire week without running? Sure did. HOWEVER...have I given up? NO. The past several weeks, I have run at least twice (usually three times) every week. And I'm up to THREE MILES, and that's with my super exhausted body right now. I can't wait to see what I accomplish once summer vacation starts and I'm no longer a walking zombie.

Such a celebration demands some fancy porridge. I've been meaning to top my oatmeal with roasted strawberries for ages, but I finally tried it. It's actually absurdly easy--just time-consuming.

Oh, and great news: I made this jar of almond butter last more than three days (because that happened once...). It's been a solid two weeks and I haven't finished yet. Yay?

Roasted Strawberry & Almond Butter Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 5 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

For the Roasted Strawberries

• 5 strawberries
• 1/2 tsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

For the Oatmeal

• 3/4 cup milk of choice, or water
• 1/4 cup quick cook steel-cut oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract OR almond extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon (omit if using almond extract)
• 1-2 tbsp of almond butter
• pinch of salt
• sliced or slivered almonds for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray an oven-safe ramekin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Hull and quarter strawberries.
3. Toss with maple syrup and vanilla extract.
4. Place in oven for about 20-25 minutes, until warm and juicy but still holding its shape. Set aside.
5. Bring milk (I use 1/2 c almond milk and 1/4 c water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. (If you'd like to add a teaspoon of flax or chia seeds, do so now.)
6. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add extract of choice, optional cinnamon, and salt. Stir.
7. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, swirl in almond butter. I like to not mix it in completely because I like finding globs of it when I'm eating. :)
8. Transfer to a bowl. Top with sliced/slivered almonds and roasted strawberries. Add a splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).

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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!

Berry Blackout Oatmeal

All of my favorite recipes just made a baby.

It's Brownie Batter + Fudgy Banana & PB + Nutty 'Nana Berry. It's the best threesome ever, and their baby is a GODDESS. YOU MUST MAKE THIS NOW. Cocoa powder + banana is my favorite oatmeal base. Strawberries are my favorite fruit topping. Peanut butter is MY LIFE. And this is CHOCOLATE peanut butter, so it's obviously the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Strawberry White Hot Chocolate Oatmeal

Valentine's Day is coming up. I was contacted recently by the Brilliant Earth Create a Little Love Campaign to join them in...well...creating a little love. :) Brilliant Earth specializes in "honest, ethical" jewelry. It's a perfect option for those of you who are looking into an upcoming engagement (while I simultaneously binge on peanut butter and Buzzfeed quizzes, of course). When I first thought about making a V-Day themed recipe, I had a moment of anxiety. How would I write a post about Valentine's Day? Oh, the horror!

Those who know me personally know that Valentine's Day is my least favorite holiday. I don't feel like getting into the reasons now, but I've always loathed it. In high school, people criticized me for being a cynic and a "hater of love," and--to prove that they were wrong--I began celebrating my own holiday: Hug's Day. When people wished me a "Happy Valentine's Day!", I would respond, "Happy Hug's Day!" I gave out "Happy Hug's Day!" cards and celebrated "Happy Hug's Day!" with my boyfriend at the time. Sadly, it didn't catch on.

Strawberry Almond Oatmeal

Inspired by my recent Berry, Almond, & Coconut Oatmeal, I realized I haven't done enough with almond extract. So many possibilities!

My favorite aspect of almond extract (besides its taste) is the intensity of its flavor. This allows me to (drum roll please) ...use the hidden banana trick! Oatmeal without banana is like a cookie without chocolate chips (a poor analogy, considering my favorite cookie is a snickerdoodle).

Anyway, strawberries have been--inexplicably--on sale and in great quality at my local produce market, so I've been enjoying them in my oatmeal and salads. Combined with the nutty almond extract, this oatmeal is a fresh and fruity delight.

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Oatmeal

Confession: I did not buy vanilla beans for this recipe.  *gasp*

Truthfully, I found something better: vanilla bean paste (Christmas present from my sister! Thanks, Amy!).

Now, I'm sure the quality of an actual vanilla bean is higher than that of my paste, but the difference is that I have the next best thing up in my cupboard, easily accessible, whenever I need it, for a fraction of the cost. Look at the pictures! You can see the little vanilla dots if you look closely!

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. :)

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

Two baked recipes in one week!

This one is a little more decadent than Tuesday's Lemon Lover's recipe. As much as I love the occasional oatmeal with chocolate chips, I definitely have to be careful with how often I do it. I have quite a sensitive stomach, which is what led me to veganism in the first place, so eating chocolate chips in the morning can be a risk for me. Luckily, I had no issues, and even if I had, this oatmeal was so delicious that it wouldn't have mattered.

Berry Pistachio Oatmeal

A few weeks ago, I splurged on pistachios. It felt irresponsible at the time, but then I tasted one.

It's not like I had never had a pistachio before. However, I think I've only ever had it in mixes of nuts, and the individual varieties kind of lose their distinct flavors.

It's been difficult for me to save these pistachios for oatmeal only (I often crave just snacking on them), but this recipe received the prestigious honor.

Strawberry Pineapple Oatmeal

If you haven't already done so....please check out my new recipe index at your earliest convenience! Over the month of August, I spent hours (at least 30) plugging in all my recipes (all 200+ of them!) to a professional formatter. You've probably noticed that my blog displays recipes differently than they used to (and you can Pin and Tweet directly from the recipe), but the other intention was to have a more attractive recipe index. So click on "Recipe Index" above and "oooh" and "ahhhh" at all the prettiness!

Once you do that, come back and try this new recipe. It's less than five ingredients, which I think is always a plus. I really appreciate a recipe that stars fruit and only fruit...no expensive extracts or nuts necessary!

Berry and Fig Oatmeal

For all of my fig lovers out there (and there appears to be a large herd of you), this recipe comes as both a gift and an apology. Although this may rock your world and taste divine, I must share with you that this will be my final fig recipe until next year.

Take a deep breath. You will survive this.

I've enjoyed working with figs and getting to know them, but fig season is escaping us. Actually, I can't tell you exactly what months fig season runs, but something tells me figs have a short season. It just seems like one of those fruits.

Dark Chocolate Dreams Oatmeal

If you've read anything on my blog, you're probably well versed in my lust for peanut butter. I think we're all clear on that, right? I've also mentioned my adoration for a certain sandwich shop in Greenwich Village. It's called Peanut Butter & Co. and it was basically designed specifically for me (I'm pretty sure my name is even on the blueprint somewhere).

Peanut Butter & Co. blows my mind for two main reasons: 1) flavored peanut butter with no trans fats (although there is palm oil, unfortunately), and 2) GOURMET PB&J SANDWICHES. Each of their peanut butter flavors stars in its own special sandwich, which you can request toasted (and why wouldn't you?!).

This porridge does not replicate the Dark Chocolate Dreams sandwich, which actually consists of cherry jam and shredded coconut to taste like a black forest cake. I already have a Black Forest Cake Oatmeal, so instead, I went a different route.

Strawberry Kiwi Oatmeal

I don’t remember much from elementary school—especially anything of importance. However, I easily recall the Ocean Spray vending machine outside the cafeteria. At a certain point in the day (after afternoon recess, I think?), we were allowed to walk by ourselves to the vending machine and put in 50 cents to get a can of Ocean Spray juice.

There were the standard options, like orange, apple, and grape, but my favorite was strawberry kiwi. Now, I shudder at the thought of all this juice and its effect on my beautiful teeth, but I definitely enjoyed it back then.

Orange Strawberry Oatmeal

I know it's still mid-summer, but I always experience such mixed emotions regarding the changing seasons. Earlier this morning, I was fantasizing about Sweet Potato and Cranberry Oatmeal and Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal. I was drooling over the idea of autumn and imagining myself strutting the sidewalks of Manhattan with my light trench coat and some hot tea. Only a couple hours later, I noticed it was already the end of July, and my throat dried up a little bit. Where has my summer gone? I panicked.

What does this have to do with today's recipe? This oatmeal just strikes me as a refreshing summer recipe, so that's what led me to look at the calendar and notice how late in July it is.

Fruit Salad Oatmeal

I must admit that I enjoy being a vegetarian. In the beginning, I struggled with feeling misplaced or left out, but once it fused into part of my identity, I embraced all of its challenges. Limited options on menus means I'll be less overwhelmed (I'm very indecisive) and more likely to try something new (like eggplant!). Potlucks become a scavenger hunt and careful investigation to discover the meatless dishes on a long table of bacon and ground beef. Thanksgiving and Easter turn into challenging games I like to call "How to Make a Meal Out of Side Dishes."

Potlucks, especially in Small Town, South Dakota, generally offer less than three vegetarian options (one of which is a basket of dinner rolls). The scalloped potatoes will always include diced ham. The quiche will always have bacon.

But there will always be fruit. Sometimes these fruits are in their raw form: a giant bowl of cubed watermelon or clusters of purple grapes. Other times, they're mixed together in one bowl: berries and melons and grapes! Sometimes, they're mixed together in a tasting "dressing," like honey mint or lemon poppy seed or coconut lime.

Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

Simple recipes thrill me. Don't get me wrong; Neopolitan Baked Oatmeal is a beast, but sometimes I enjoy a return to simplicity. Strawberry Baked Oatmeal definitely fits that definition.

I stand by the proclamation that baked oatmeal is best with bananas, but this recipe is unadulterated strawberry heaven. If you want a marriage of the two, you could always try my Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal.

Choco-Strawberry Sauce

My mom and I bought a massive crate of strawberries last weekend. (Actually, we bought a box of peaches, too! We're still waiting for those to ripen.) Much to our horror, they started going bad immediately. As in, we were throwing berries away by the next morning. :(

I've been making admirable attempts to salvage as many of these lovelies as possible. Naturally, I've been having pot after pot of strawberry-themed porridges. Duh! Yesterday, I whipped up a strawberry sorbet (which was delicious, if I do say so myself). This morning, I made this sauce!

Strawberry Basil Oatmeal

When I think about fresh herbs, I reflect on just how far my food journey has taken me. Until a couple years ago, I had never really experienced fresh herbs before. "Flavor" to me used to mean dumping sugar on top of my Frosted Flakes.*  The idea of using fresh dill to season potatoes or a sprig of thyme to add zest to a homemade soup was absolutely foreign to me. I think the first time I experienced fresh herbs (that I can actually recall) was the summer that my mom grew chives out on our backyard deck, just a few years ago.

* In my mother's defense, I did this behind her back; she did not approve. :)

Fast forward a couple years... I find using fresh herbs to be terribly inconvenient, but I still make the effort now and then. I despise how recipes always call for a minuscule amount, but stores sell them in rather large packages. Not helpful! Thus, I typically only buy them if it's either an important recipe or it's something that requires a hefty amount of herbs!