I’ve never been a fan of oatmeal.
Unlike my brother, who, growing up consumed (and enjoyed) bowl after bowl of oatmeal and cream of wheat hot cereal.
When I was around the age of 13 or 14, I discovered this:
My mom had purchased a variety box of these Fruit & Cream pouches while we were staying for a week at a beach house we had rented for the week at Indian Rocks. And although I was hesitant, I decided to try it one morning when my mom said we were “on our own” for breakfast.
It was love at first taste. The creamy oats, the little artificial squares of dried “fruit.” It was all so delicious!
Of course now as an adult I don’t buy this stuff anymore. And while I loved oatmeal back then, I once again lost the desire to whip up batches for breakfast. Truth be told I have more of a savory tooth in the morning and usually run from sweet things for breakfast (which is why I don’t do the whole smoothie/shake for breakfast thing anymore. I tried, really I did!).
A few weeks ago while traveling for work in Virginia, my co-worker and I stopped for breakfast before our training session began. It was cold- bitterly cold (temps in the teens!)-and I just could not get warm. I was craving hot coffee, hot eggs and bacon, hot ANYTHING. I ordered a breakfast sandwich, but then something on the menu caught my eye- quinoa oatmeal.
I was intrigued. I love quinoa and I *used* to love oatmeal, so would I like this? I decided to give it a try. If I didn’t like it, at least it was hot and hearty!
Well it was pretty damn delicious. Steel cut oats, creamy quinoa, sliced almonds, cinnamon and honey. Good stuff!
Today, as I was thinking about that trip, an oatmeal craving hit me for the first time in probably 20 years.
And lucky for me, I had all of the necessary ingredients AND some delicious toppings- hello Florida strawberries!
Chances are you may have the ingredients on hand too! If so, here’s how you can whip up this bowl of strawberry & pecan quinoa oats! If you don’t like strawberries, you can make this with blueberries, apples, bananas or even peaches! (Just like the box) 😉
- 1/4 cup steel cut oats
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1/2 cup half and half cream
- 2 tbsp. coconut sugar or honey
- 1 tsp. cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 3-4 sliced strawberries (hulled)
- 2 tbsp. chopped pecans
- Follow the directions to prepare the oats and the quinoa on the corresponding packages.
- Combine 1/2 cup hot cooked oats with a 1/2 cup hot cooked quinoa in a bowl.
- Stir in half and half cream, coconut sugar (or honey), cinnamon, ginger and sea salt. (add extra cream if you like your oatmeal a bit creamier).
- Top with chopped pecans, strawberry slices and a drizzle of honey.
