Today is my last day of Christmas Break. After a glorious week and a half filled with family, friends, pajamas, Wii games, and of course FOOD, it’s time to look towards 2010 with determination, spirit, and excitement.
I tell myself that I will get up a little earlier in the morning so I can sit and enjoy my cup of coffee in my jammies. It always sounds like such a great idea until that morning when the alarm goes off, and I know I have more time to sleep. Apparently sleep is far higher on the priority list than my morning coffee in the kitchen.
Looks like I have to take my travel mug and sip it while going to work…
Santa was very good to me and brought me an embroidered travel mug, clipboard, and lunchbox. It may seem crazy… but I’m an elementary school teacher. I’m allowed to get cutesy things like this! Pink fuzzy pens and cute sparkly stickers and picture frames are also widely accepted in my world filled with five, six, and seven year olds…
Plus, you know you want my travel mug.
This New Year brings me much excitement. My little sister Emily is getting married in April and Jay and I are taking a long overdue summer vacation to Cape Hatteras, NC with a wonderful group of friends. This means that I need to get healthy – well, healthier. I’ve always been really good at eating my fruits and vegetables, but now I need to put those cookies down. Well not all of the cookies… I can still have a cookie, right?
Let’s start with a healthy and incredibly filling breakfast! What better way to start your day than with bright, vibrant fruit, and oatmeal. I always mention that oatmeal needs to be loved. If you leave it unloved, it can be bland and just flat-out disappointing. Love your oatmeal and it will love you back.
I really enjoyed this breakfast but my only concern was the time it took to make it. This is a perfect weekend breakfast, but for those of you that are like me and sleep to the last possible second before getting ready for your day’s events, you won’t have time to make this. Although you could make it the night before and warm it in the oven while your in the shower in the morning. That’s a thought. Maybe I’ll try that tomorrow!
Baked Apple with Oatmeal
Source: Oprah.com
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 lemon, cut in half
4 large red apples
3/4 cup agave nectar or honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 teaspoons butter (optional, I omitted this)
1 3/4 cups milk or water for cooking oatmeal
1 cup oatmeal
fruit and nuts of choice to mix into oatmeal – dried fruit, fresh berries, almonds (optional)
2 tablespoons light brown sugar (I omitted this)
Whipped cream, optional
Preheat oven to 375°. Squeeze juice from lemon halves into a large bowl with 2 cups cold water. Peel top third of each apple. With a small knife and working from the top of each apple, carefully carve out a large “bowl,” including the core, about 2 inches in diameter, leaving the bottom of apple intact.
Reserve all cut-away pieces. Place carved apples in lemon water. Chop cut-away apple pieces into small chunks, removing any core or seeds. Toss with 3 tablespoons honey and cinnamon; set aside.
Combine remaining 9 tablespoons honey with 1/2 cup hot water and stir until well blended. Stand apples, cut side up, in a 9″ x 9″ shallow baking dish. Place 1 teaspoon butter (optional) in bowl of each apple and pour honey and water mixture on top. Cover dish with foil and bake until tender, 25 to 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring 1 3/4 cups water or milk and a pinch of salt to a boil. Add oatmeal and apple pieces, and stir until mixture returns to a boil; reduce heat and cover. (I also added dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, and shredded coconut to my oatmeal. Add any other fruit or nuts you’d like!) Cook until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Remove apples from oven and carefully fill with oatmeal mixture. Top with brown sugar (optional). Place under the broiler 1 minute, just until light brown sugar is bubbly and dark brown. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.
My fresh blueberries burst in the oven creating a beautiful presentation and flavor!
