Salted (or not) Caramel Apple Oatmeal

One week remains of my first year of teaching! Each year, as my life and career become increasingly more demanding, I worry about how my blog will fit into my schedule. This year, I consistently worked 70-80 hours a week, yet I somehow managed to squeeze in a few hours each weekend to manage this blog.

...So if you're wondering why I'm not so great at responding to blog comments anymore, that's why. I'm sorry! I read and appreciate all of them!

Despite my long hours of classroom prep, I remained loyal to this blog. I think that's quite telling. No matter how stressful my life was, I made this blog a priority. Why? I enjoy it. Yes, it's a LOT of (more) work, but it's also gratifying and therapeutic.

This recipe, like many others, has been stumping me for at least a year. How could I make a VEGAN caramel sauce? It's not that I didn't know how--there are tons of recipes out there. I just didn't feel like making it (see above re: 70-80 hours a week)!

Salted Mango Coconut Oatmeal

I may crave peanut butter and bananas hardcore during the fall and winter months, but during the spring and summer, I definitely crave a different flavor. I've noticed that everyone's cravings change with the seasons*, and my oatmeal is no exception. These tropical, fruity, and citrusy porridge recipes I've been craving are lighter and more refreshing than my usual cozy bowls.

*But let's be honest, peanut butter is appropriate 365 days a year.

For this recipe, I was inspired by these popsicles. I never would have considered salting a tropical recipe like this, but these popsicles were so visually appealing that I wanted to grab one from the screen and try it out. However, I'm perpetually cold (just ask the students who sweat to death in my classroom), so I had no desire to make popsicles. Then I thought, why not try it as oatmeal? So I did.

Salted Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

Is it breakfast, or dessert?

Either.

I actually had to go several weeks (if not months?) without buying chocolate chips because I eat them by the handful(s). Because of my IBS, this causes many problems, so I had to quit them.

Wanting to make this recipe (and a few others), I caved and brought them back into my life.

Oatmeal Recipes for Salty-Sweet Lovers

Almost an entire three months ago, someone asked me on the train if I preferred salty or sweet (we had been discussing food for several stops). I paused, and then said salty. My roommate/friend/coworker responded, "Really? You seem like you're more of a sweet person. All your oatmeal recipes are sweet." I considered that, and the question has been haunting me since November.

I finally realized that I like both equally. In fact, I'm one of those people that adore salty-sweet combinations. Pretzels dipped in chocolate? YES. Pineapple on my (cheeseless) pizza? YES. Cranberries in my sauteed brussels sprouts? Absolutely. Salt on my oatmeal?

YESSSSS.

If you're a fan of the salty-sweet combos like me, here are five of my favorite salted oatmeal recipes! Have you tried them all yet?

Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal: Revisited

Despite its popularity, I've never been particularly proud of the original Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal. At the time, I was a bit precarious with my recipes. I knew it wasn't perfect (it tasted like bananas, for Pete's sake!), but I enjoyed it, and it sounded fancy, so I posted it before I should have. Much to my anxiety, this recipe became a hit. I wasn't surprised that people were excited about the recipe itself, but I was stunned when people actually tried it and liked it. Really? But it tastes like bananas!!

Salted Chocolate Chestnut Oatmeal

As I was looking up ideas for recipes using chestnuts, I kept seeing recipe after recipe of chocolate chestnut cakes. In these cakes, the chestnuts are pureed and mixed into the cake batter, so I imagine they are virtually undetectable in the cake (unless you have a keen sense of taste). I thought this was lame at first, considering I like using recipes that highlight my ingredients, not hide them.

However, the more I work with chestnuts, the more I realize that I don't actually think they're that great. They're sadly lacking in flavor, and the flavor that they do have is slightly...unimpressive. Thus, to use up the last of my chestnuts, I decided to steal this idea.

Salted Chocolate Pear Oatmeal

I've learned the secret. If you ever make oatmeal that doesn't turn out as spectacular as you'd hoped, just add SALT. Salt that sucker! Mix in salt, and sprinkle some more on top!

Much to my grief last week, I discovered that chocolate and pear just wasn't doing anything for me. To be honest, I was just super annoyed at the pears. I'm so over pears! They are potentially my least favorite fruit. I'm done with them.

But then I salted it, and everything changed.

Salted Plum Oatmeal

Bubble tea (or “boba,” if you prefer) is the best. I sometimes feel like I judge people on whether or not they like bubble tea. Not in a “You don’t like boba = you suck at life” kind of way, but in a “You don’t like boba = I don’t understand you and we can’t be friends” kind of way. Like, I’m sure you’re a great person…but we just can’t be friends.

My favorite bubble tea place—despite all the wonderful teas I’ve had in NYC—is the Tea Garden in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I’m serious. The best. You can actually taste the TEA, and it’s not just a sugar/juice-fest. They also have a ton of different flavors, and you can mix and match up to three flavors at one time. How is that NOT awesome?

Salted Maple, Apple, and Pecan Oatmeal

I hope everyone had an excellent 4th of July. It's definitely not my favorite holiday, but I had a pleasant camping trip with my parents. Yes, I'm back in the Midwest for a few weeks before starting another school year in Manhattan!

I know many of my readers are from outside the U.S. (hello!), but I hope your July 4th was nice, too. ^_^ If not, I have the perfect recipe to make your week better:

Apples. Pecans. Maple syrup.

And it's SALTED!

I originally came up with the idea for salted maple and pecan oatmeal, but at the last minute I decided to include apples, and I'm glad that I did. It added an extra sweetness and boost of nutrition.

Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Mmkay. How could anyone see the name of this recipe and NOT be tempted?!

I suppose I owe you that much. It's been over a WEEK since I've posted a recipe. First, I didn't have any of the right ingredients to make a new recipe. Then, I spent the weekend camping with my parents at my grandmother's farm. Then, I was so stressed out with work that I didn't have time to take pictures in the morning. Finally, yesterday I planned to make this recipe and blog it before work...only to wake up an hour late and have to settle for TOAST. :(