Monday, March 1, 2010

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Most mornings I have a green smoothie for breakfast - they're fast, healthy, and I can drink them on the run. The only thing that's inconvenient about it is having to make sure my blender is always clean so I can use it in the morning. If I weren't a full-time student (aka dirt poor) it would probably be worth it to me to spend another $60 to have a couple more around so that I didn't have to wash them so regularly (lazy, I know). Thanks to the recipe my mom gave me, I now alternate breakfasts between green smoothies and hearty steel cut oats (in the crock pot). Thanks, mom!

Hearty Steel Cut Oats

2 Cups milk (almond milk, soymilk, rice milk, etc)

1 Cup Steel Cut Oats

1 Apple, chopped

1/2 Cup walnuts or almonds, chopped

1 Tbs. Earth's Balance Buttery Spread

1/4 Cup sweetener (molasses or pure maple syrup)

3/4 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

1/2 Cup Raisins (optional)

Mix ingredients well and add to greased crock pot. Cover. Before bed, turn crock pot on low setting. Serves 4

*I like to pour almond milk over my oats when I eat them

Unlike quick oats, steel cut oats don't get "gluey" if you store them as leftovers. I make this once a week or so and then I can reheat it for four of my breakfasts! I love that I don't get hungry again until close to lunch time.


Green Smoothies

  • heaping 1/4 Cup Peaceful Planet Supreme Meal soy-free vegan protein shake
  • 1 Cup Almond Milk

  • 1/2 Cup Mixed Berries, frozen

  • 1 Banana

  • large handful Fresh Spinach

  • 1 tsp. psyllium fiber

  • 1 tsp. sweetener (pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, etc)

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Drink soon after blending, especially if you add psyllium fiber because it thickens if it sits too long. I know the spinach sounds gross, but you can't even taste it - what an easy way to get more greens!

*I'd had smoothies from the health food store or the gym that had spinach in them, but it hadn't occurred to me to add spinach into my shakes at home until my friend posted about smoothies on her blog - and I'm lovin' it! Thanks, Dara :D

3 comments:

Deb said...

I love this recipe for steel cut oats!! I have a different way of making a mix of steel cut oats and seven grain mix - but I can't wait to try yours out! Fun, Fun! Thanks for the link to your blog :)

Tara said...

Do tell! I'd love to get your recipe :D

Anonymous said...

That looks tasty...I may have to try that! Oatmeal is one of my favorite things to eat...where do you get the steel cut oats?