Strawberry & Cream Oatmeal

Growing up, my brother and I had an unspoken rule. Whenever we bought the Quaker Fruit & Cream Instant Oatmeal, my brother ate the strawberry and I ate the banana flavor. Although, looking back, it might have been because my brother just disliked the banana flavor and he ate all the strawberry flavor in one day…

Did you eat breakfast on school mornings? I ALWAYS ate breakfast before school, I don’t know how anyone skipped it! I was always starving by the time lunch rolled around.

Let’s talk about the other flavors, the peach flavor was good, but not my favorite. But the blueberry flavor would sit in our pantry forever! Because who actually enjoyed the blueberry oatmeal? Why do they always give you twice as many for a flavor everyone hated? The little blueberries were so hard, I always threw them away before eating the oatmeal.

Along with the little amount of oatmeal in each packet, I’ve also realized how unhealthy they are (those little strawberry pieces in the oatmeal? Well, they are actually apples! Just artificially flavored and colored to look like strawberries…), but sometimes I still want some Fruit & Cream oatmeal. I present you with the updated strawberry & cream oatmeal!

This oatmeal doesn’t whip up as fast as the instant oatmeal, but it’s still quick.

Depending on time, you can use quick oats or steel oats. Just change the ratio for the appropriate cooking time listed on your box. You can also use fresh or frozen strawberries. I used frozen because that’s what I had on hand. But, one thing you cannot skip is the strawberry puree! It’s simple, just toss the strawberries in the food processer until liquid. It adds a really unique flavor to the oatmeal.
Then of course, the oatmeal is topped with a crunch from the nuts and chia seeds.

Feel free to experiment with different add-ins too! A mashed banana, or chocolate, or granola would all be great ideas. What’s your favorite oatmeal flavor?

Strawberry & Cream Oatmeal

From north coast eats at https://northcoasteats.com/strawberry-cream-oatmeal/

https://northcoasteats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/oatmeal-0132.jpg

Yield: 1 bowl of oatmeal

Pureed and chopped strawberries stirred in steel oats and topped with pecans, chia seeds, and coconut.

You'll Need...

1/4 cup steel oats
1/2 cup strawberries
Toppings:
1/4 cup chopped strawberries
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon coconut
1/4 cup toasted pecans
1 teaspoon cinnamon
honey, for drizzle

Directions

Cook steel oats according to package.
Meanwhile, placed the 1/2 cup of strawberries in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Stir 3/4 of the pureed strawberries into the cooked oats.
Assemble the oatmeal: place cooked oats in a cereal bowl. Top with remaining pureed strawberries, chopped strawberries, chia seeds, coconut, toasted pecans, cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey. Serve warm.