Apple Butter Oatmeal
This is my go-to breakfast, customized with whatever fruits are in season or what I’ve stashed in the freezer. It’s packed with nutrition: probiotics from yogurt, omega-3s from flax, and protein from nuts. This cozy, wholesome bowl is a delicious way to fuel your day and celebrate the season. The recipe below is one serving size. Multiply for however many bowls you wish to make!
Ingredients
1/4 cup oats
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon plain whole milk yogurt (not the sugary kind), plus more for topping
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon flax seed
1 apple*
1/4 cup mixed, raw, unsalted nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc)
Apple butter for topping
*These ingredients can be found at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market
Method
The night before, measure 1/4 cup of oats, 1/4 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of yogurt into a small container with a sealable lid. Leave the mixture on the countertop overnight. The yogurt will begin to break down the oats, making them easier to digest. If that freaks you out, refrigerate the mixture.
The next morning, bring 1/4 cup of water to boil over high heat, season with a pinch of salt. Add the oat mixture and stir. Reduce to medium and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
While the oats are cooking, use mortar and pestle or coffee grinder to grind your flax seed. You can also use ground flax seed, but it’s more nutritious when freshly ground. Slice the apple into 1/4” chunks.
After oats have cooked for 5 minutes, remove from heat. Stir in ground flax and chopped apples. Cover and let sit for 2 minutes. During this time, you can take your vitamins or get your coffee or tea going.
After 2 minutes, scoop oats into a bowl, top with yogurt, nuts, and generous serving of apple butter.
