Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Although we are one week away from Easter Sunday and the end of March, snowflakes are falling and it is still feeling like winter in Minnesota.  A bowl of oatmeal is a comforting start to any day - whether the grass is covered with fluffy white snow or (hopefuly soon) lush green grass.

This recipe for Cinnamon Apple Baked Oatmeal is healthy, can be assembled in just a few minutes, and requires minimal attention as it bakes.  When I find a 'formula' that works in creating a new recipe, I have a hard time leaving it alone...so look forward to variations to come.

 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

 



Ingredients
1-1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 apple, peeled and shredded
1/4 cup maple syrup
2-1/2 cups milk (I use skim)
Additional maple syrup and milk for serving, optional
Dried apple rings for serving, optional

Spray a 9"x5" loaf pan (or similar-sized baking dish) with nonstick cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine oatmeal, cinnamon, salt, and shredded apple.  Pour into prepared pan.  Combine milk and maple syrup, pour over oatmeal mixture.

Cover pan with foil and place in preheated oven.  Bake for 25 minutes; remove from oven and stir.  Repeat the process; bake for an additional 25 minutes, then stir the oatmeal.  Return to oven, uncovered, and bake for approximately 10 minutes.  Baking the oatmeal creates a bit of a toasted crust (my favorite part!).  The length of the final baking period can be varied depending on your preference.  Baking for less time will result in a thinner oatmeal; the milk will continue to be absorbed into the oatmeal as it is baked longer.

When the oatmeal has reached the desired consistency, serve in individual bowls.  Additional milk and maple syrup may be drizzled on top if desired.  You may also top individual bowls of oatmeal with dried apple rings (I love Trader Joe's dried apple slices).

The oatmeal saves well in the refrigerator and may be reheated in a microwave.  The oatmeal will become thicker as it cools and sits in the refrigerator; you may thin it out with additional milk when reheating.

Happy Trails Mix

I recently had the pleasure of planning and preparing food for post-wedding gift opening brunches for a friend who had three daughters get married within a four-month period.  Each brunch had its own identity, with colors and invitations that complemented the wedding and food preferences from the bride.  Each brunch also had a few common elements; with input from the bride and mother-of-the bride, I created an assortment of sweet and savory, hot and cold, bite-sized foods to serve to roughly forty guests.  All three brunches ended with something that I consider essential to any party...party favors.

Today's post features the favor from the third brunch, held in October.  The wedding featured earthy "fall" colors; the brunch followed suit with rustic accents in kraft brown and burnt orange.  Guests left the gathering carrying their own bag of "Happy Trails Mix."

This favor was popular for a few reasons:

• Food is a hit!  The age range at family events typically spans multiple generations; food can be enjoyed across the board.
• Pre-preparation:  One person preparing and serving eight-plus varieties of food for forty people is quite an undertaking.  Choosing a favor that can be prepared well in advance is a smart way to reduce stress and time pressures in the period just before the event.

I have prepared many variations of trail mix for a number of people.  It can be easily tweaked based on preferences, the season (candy corn here, for fall), recipient preferences (allergies?  leave out the peanuts), and what is on sale when you shop!  So be creative with your selections!

Happy Trails Mix featured the following:

• Pretzel M&M's
• Milk Chocolate Chips
• Candy Corn
• Honey Roasted Peanuts
• Variety of Goldfish Crackers (chocolate chip, chocolate, honey, pretzel)
• Roasted Almonds
• Pretzel Nuggets