Nutty Pumpkin Berry Oatmeal, + Other Hacks for Banana Haters

Dear Banana Haters,

This post is for you. Although it may seem like we play for opposite teams (I'm all like, "BRING ON THE 'NANAS," and you're all, "UGH, I GAG!"), we're not all that different.

You see, as much as I love (and NEED) my daily banana(s), I also know what it's like to loathe an ingredient. Even before my transition to a herbivore lifestyle, I have never appreciated the taste of sour cream. I think it's pretty vile, in fact. If my favorite blog kept making oatmeal topped with sour cream, I would be pretty ticked.

Therefore, I have a solution. You have probably noticed by now that most of my favorite recipes contain banana. Not wanting you to miss out, I have compiled a list of hacks for all you banana haters...including one new recipe (pictured below--scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipe)!

Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Oatmeal

Although I've made several pumpkin recipes, they all carried a similar theme; in particular, they all included pumpkin pie spice.

This recipe let me depart from that category. I'm finally exploring all pumpkin possibilities, which I intend on doing more frequently going forward. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip was a success, so why not with cocoa powder?

10 Oatmeal Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

I know I haven't posted a new recipe since Tuesday, but I decided it was vital for me to spend this week relaxing and exploring the city with my sister, who is visiting from Minnesota. Instead of posting a new porridge today, I created a round-up of all the recipes you could make using some of your potential leftovers from Thanksgiving (which, by the way, is my FAVORITE holiday...even as a herbivore!).

I have so much to be thankful for...seemingly more so than previous years! I'm thankful to have "made it" in this city. I'm thankful to finally be a teacher. I'm thankful for plant-based options popping up more and more at restaurants around the city. I'm thankful for peanut butter on a genuine NY bagel. I'm thankful for this blog and the joy it brings me every week, as well as the love and support given to me by Country Choice Organic. I'm thankful for sauteed kale (because JEE-ZUSS it's so good). I'm thankful for warm fleece jackets, hot tea, electric blankets, and space heaters. I'm thankful for my family, friends, and everyone who reads my blog (YOU)!

Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

Pumpkin, Apple, and Cranberry Oatmeal

Pumpkin. How can I make more pumpkin recipes? What else can be done with pumpkin? These are the questions I ask myself twice a day.

What spices and herbs go well with pumpkin? What fruits pair well with pumpkin? What different forms of oatmeal have I not tried with pumpkin?!

The result of this never-ending search is today's recipe. Seeing how well apples paired with sweet potatoes, I knew they'd be smashing with pumpkin. Of course, cranberries are my go-to dried fruit for autumn recipes, so I threw those in as well. Aaaand bam, cue the world's coziest breakfast.

Oatmeal Recipes for Autumn Lovers

I can take a hint. When I asked for what ingredients you'd like to see more of in my recipes, the resounding opinion was simply everything autumn. I couldn't agree more, which is why I've been pumping out all sorts of hearty, autumn goodness. Summer food is delicious, but when the temperature starts dropping slightly and everyone breaks out their best pair of boots, delving into a bowl of cozy porridge is truly perfection. This is the time of year when the "seasonal porridge lovers" join us crazies who eat it year-round. For once, everyone's in agreement, and we can all share our love of hot, creamy, pumpkin-themed oatmeal. :)

Here are my favorite and/or most popular autumn-themed oatmeal recipes. Plus, since everyone lurrrrves my autumn recipes, I capped myself off at ten recipes instead of five. (And yes, there will be pumpkin.)

Pumpkin Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal

For over a year, I had to stomach the fact that my Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal was my #1 most viewed recipe. I mean, that recipe was fine and dandy, but number one?? C'mon. Not even close. I could name thirty recipes that I'd pick over that one.

Luckily for me, the most wonderful thing happened about a month ago. As always, August and September ushered in the yearly pumpkin craze, and my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal received a great deal of love on Pinterest. Out of nowhere, this recipe vaulted into the #1 spot and surpassed the Salted Brownie by thousands of views. COOL. I feel like my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal is a much better representative of my blog than the Salted Brownie.

I love my pumpkin pie recipes. Certainly, they're not my MOST favorite, but they're in my Top Ten. You might think that I'd be satisfied with a stove-top, baked, and overnight version, but no, I'm not finished. Now that I've fallen in love with steel-cut oats, it just made sense to add another variation to my pumpkin pie family.

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."

Eggnog Oatmeal

Sadly, my family was never an eggnog family. It wasn't until I was in high school that I asked my mom what it was, so she bought me a carton of the store-bought variety so I could try it. I'll admit now that most of it ended up being poured down the sink two weeks later (i.e. I was unimpressed). I've never had homemade eggnog, but it's never been high on my priority list for foods to try, either.

Now that I avoid dairy, I have even less desire to try the real stuff. However, I was exceptionally curious to try the dairy-free varieties after reading some reviews. I saw the rice 'nog appear in Whole Foods even before Thanksgiving, but it wasn't until a week ago that I finally captured the coconut 'nog! As soon as I spotted it on an obscure refrigerated shelf in the corner of the store, I snatched a jug up in less time than it takes for my roommate to complain whenever we play Christmas music. ;)

Overnight Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

My Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal was a hit. The Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal was also a hit. (Confession: despite the fact that the stove-top version has more views, I highly prefer the baked version!) So why not give the people what they want?

Now you can enjoy silky pumpkin pie that practically prepared itself overnight. You're welcome. :)

Funny story: the second time I made this, I accidentally dumped in a spoonful of TACO SEASONING instead of pie spices. Ugh.

Sweet Potato Oatmeal Muffins

What do you do when a hurricane pummels your town and cancels school for four days? Bake. Bake all afternoon. Bake multiple batches of muffins and have your roommates taste-test for you.

Here's the result for you! These muffins are perfect for a healthy breakfast. They're sweet enough to be delicious and satisfying, but not overly sweet like traditional muffins. They are also free of refined sugars and flours. You're welcome!

Variations on Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

It's mid-October, and pumpkin recipes are everywhere. If you're the type of person that loves this, then read ahead with glee! If you were beyond sick of the pumpkin posts on TasteSpotting and Food Gawker way back on September 1, then I apologize. Another (non-pumpkin-themed) post will be up on Saturday! :)

Here is a list of possible variations for my basic baked pumpkin oatmeal:

Pumpkin & Chocolate Chips:

Fold a handful of chocolate chips into the batter before pouring into ramekin and baking.

Pumpkin & Banana:

Reduce amount of pumpkin slightly (optional) and add sliced bananas into batter before pouring into ramekin and baking.

Pumpkin & Coconut:

Use coconut milk instead of almond milk, and top with shredded coconut; or, get fancy and swirl it.

Pumpkin Spice Latte:

Either replace half of the almond milk with brewed coffee, or mix in 1 tsp of instant coffee granules. 

Pumpkin & Peach:

Reduce amount of pumpkin slightly (optional) and add diced peaches before pouring into ramekin and baking.

Pumpkin & Chai:

Instead of pumpkin pie spice, use a rounded 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp cardamom, and 1/8 tsp allspice.

Pumpkin Green Monster:

Blend pumpkin puree with spinach or your other favorite green before mixing with other wet ingredients.

**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!

Coconut Pumpkin Swirl Baked Oatmeal

I apologize for the freakishly long name of this oatmeal. I normally try to avoid lengthy titles like that, but I couldn't resist. This is what this oatmeal had to be named.

This oatmeal was inspired by a wonderful experience at Amazing Thailand in Minneapolis, MN. Thai is one of my favorite cuisines, despite the fact that I only discovered it recently! At this particular restaurant, I ordered pineapple fried rice, but my friend ordered pumpkin-coconut curry. I was shocked at how delicious the combination was, and I've wanted to try it in oatmeal ever since.

Pumpkin Nut Butter Oatmeal

It's so appalling to consider how I used to hate pumpkin. Why were my taste buds so worthless for twenty years?! Recently, I've been a fiend for anything and everything pumpkin.

I'm also a fiend of anything nut or nut butter related. I recently saw a pin for a recipe for pumpkin oatmeal topped with almond butter, and I quickly logged the idea on The List. (Unfortunately, I cannot find this recipe for the life of me. If you know what I'm talking about, please comment below so I can give inspiration credit to the original poster!)

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Yep. My Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal was a hit, so I decided to try it out on the stove as well. :) Everything's better on the stove, right? Right??

This recipe is perfect because autumn is definitely setting in. I know this because each day when my alarm goes off at 5:35, it's a little darker outside. :( And each morning, it's a little chillier on our walk to work. Autumn is admittedly my favorite season, but I'm not a huge fan of those two particular characteristics.

Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

As a planner, I'm always thinking ahead. Far ahead. I've already started looking at my options for Thanksgiving, my absolute favorite holiday. My roommate offered to let me spend it with her and her family. My very first question was, "Will there be pumpkin pie?"

I don't ask much from my Thanksgiving meals. All I request is pumpkin pie...and at least one green vegetable. :)

Pumpkin and Peach Oatmeal

As I prepare for my big move to the east coast, I worry about the state of this blog. Our work day starts bright and early in the mornings. Will I have time to snap a picture of my breakfast? Will I feel silly photographing my food in front of my roommates?

I don't want my blog to die. I love this blog. It's one of the first blogs (I've had several in the past) in which I'm eager and enthusiastic to post more. Sure, sometimes it feels like work, and I just want to eat my stinkin' oatmeal and not deal with my mediocre photography skills. However, it's worth it, and I still have dozens and dozens and dozens of ideas that I'm eager to share.

Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

This wasn't the recipe I intended to post today, but I'd say it makes a pretty good back-up, don't you think?

I was poking around my sister's kitchen when I discovered the most glorious thing: a jar of pumpkin butter. Half of me was overjoyed, yet the other half of me was peeved. I knew exactly when and where she got that jar...because I bought one, too. We were at a glorious souvenir shop in Estes Park, Colorado. It was a little over a YEAR ago. I finished mine within a couple of months.

...Hers is still nearly full.

I was appalled! However, I opened it up, stirred it a little, and sniffed it. It seemed perfectly fine still, despite being over a year old. It needed some love, though (after being ignored for so long), so I made the recipe that I used to make last summer when I had my own jar...but I made it even better by adding some chocolate chips. :)

The awesome thing about pumpkin butter is that it's already seasoned and very flavorful. It tastes like pumpkin pie in a jar! That makes it a great candidate for "5 ingredients or less" recipes. However, if you can't get a hand on any pumpkin butter, you could recreate it by using pumpkin pie filling OR regular pumpkin puree with pumpkin pie spices.

Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 2 min

Cook Time: 5 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 cup milk of choice, or water
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 2 tbsp. pumpkin butter
• pinch of salt
• handful of chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Bring milk (I use 1/2 c original almond milk and 1/2 c water water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. I also add a spoonful of milled flax at the same time as my oats.
2. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add the pumpkin butter and salt. Stir.
3. If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, raisins, sunflower seeds), do so now.
4. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Serve with another splash of your milk of choice and chocolate chips. I also topped with sliced banana.

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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!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Oatmeal

As I've said before, coffee was never a big part of my life. It wasn't until I started ignorantly dieting several years ago that my interest in the drink really blossomed (What? No calories??). I would drink the stuff black during my brief stint as an office assistant the summer after my freshmen year of college. Brewing and drinking coffee (and cleaning up the machine afterward) gave me a break from my eight hours of scanning and shredding. 

As a result, when I returned to school in the fall for my sophomore year, I was completely clueless about the nutrition of specialty coffee drinks. I had a few extra minutes before my Western Civilization class, so I stopped at Java City, the Starbucks-like company on our campus. I was in the mood for something sweeter (so not black coffee), but I had no idea what anything on the menu went (mocha? latte?? americano??!?). I did, however, see a large poster promoting the in-season Pumpkin Spice Javalanche (blended drink). Feeling adventurous, I ordered one of those.

Pumpkin Banana Oatmeal

I think my internal calendar is confused...

Lately, I've been going through a pumpkin phase. It's not very summer-ish of me, but I can't stop making oatmeal with pumpkin! I just find something so warm, cozy, and comforting about pumpkin. It reminds me of cool autumn days, light sweaters, football games, and trees ablaze with orange and red leaves. Favorite season? Yep.