I’m just gonna throw out some of my favorite weekday breakfasts …. These are easy to throw together when you have little time, and yummy to boot. I know some might seem a bit odd (even my hubby thinks my new obsession with smoothies is weird – but he has at least tasted all of them), but give it a try. You never know if you like something until you try it.
Oatmeal: Yes, I eat this all year long.
oatmeal with banana (and a banana with almond butter on the side)
I fell in love with steel-cut oats in Ireland and have found the perfect way to make them so they’re quick in the morning.
1/2 cup steel-cut oats
1 1/2 cup water
1 tbsp butter
dash of cinnamon
Night before:
Melt butter in pan and add oats. Toast for a bit.
Add water and cinnamon and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Allow to cool in pan for about 5 or 10 minutes, then portion into two containers. Refrigerate.
In morning, add 1/4 cup milk (I like almond milk), mashing the oatmeal into the milk to make incorporate. Add sliced banana and mix. Microwave for 45 seconds. Sitr. Microwave for 45 seconds.
You can kind of mash the bananas into the oatmeal – it makes it nice and sweet! You could add a bit of raw sugar if it’s not sweet enough for you. Try adding other fruits too – sliced apples, strawberries, peaches, etc.
For an added boost, I sometimes add up to a tbsp. of chia seeds – it thickens it up and also has a TON of good qualities. Read more about chia seeds in this post from Heather at Heather Eats Almond Butter.
Banana with almond butter:
banana with almond butter
Just call me Polly, or Jenna, or Kath, or Heather (though she just wants the almond butter!) I love this combo. It’s the perfect pre-workout snack for me. (or really, a perfect snack for anytime)
Green smoothie:
Green smoothie
green smoothie
This one includes the following:
2 handfuls of baby spinach (organic girl brand)
2 stalks kale
~1 cup almond milk
1/2 apple
1/2 banana
a few handfuls of frozen strawberries
1 packet Amazing Grass
It made one HUGE glass and a half a glass for later 
If you’re worried about your smoothie tasting too much like greens, just add more fruit and then ease back over time.
Ha ha – I’ll take the banana too.
Thanks for the shout-out, and I love the way you eat. So much balance and SO MUCH almond butter. You’re a girl after my own heart.
I went through a steel cut oat phase, but lost interest in them when I discovered oat bran. This post makes me want to try them again, using your method. I should pick some up next time I’m at the store as I bet they would taste amazing after toasting them with some Earth Balance. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
[...] back, but left them behind when I began my love affair with oat bran. Well, after reading about Jess’s method for preparing Steel Cut oats, I decided to revisit them. Before cooking, I toasted my oats with 1 [...]