I love this time of the year when everything feels fresh and new. New days filled with new dreams and hopes and plenty of easy, sunny days around here. Just reading a book, having long conversations about everything and nothing and the same time, taking a nap, walking barefoot around the garden, watching our baby girl grow by the minute, and preparing lots of foods together with J. Oh, I wish for more days like these to come. We made foods that in a way can be put together easily and also save us time.
Since having Lia, we decided to change things a little in the kitchen and started to prepare things ahead, like lentils, quinoa, chia seeds, and oats. So we can quickly prepare lunch using the lentils or quinoa or make a quick, satisfying breakfast or snack with oats for the afternoon. Moreover, keep us going throughout the day until dinner. We like making oats toasted. Toasted oats are our favorite, they have a nice nutty flavor when toasted, are easy to make and a great superfood to add to a bowl of yogurt and fruit for breakfast in the morning or any time of the day, really. And we also use them as topping for smoothies and desserts, our favorite a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with toasted oats and coconut flakes! You can toast the oats in the oven, keep them in a sealed container, away from sunlight, preferably in a cool, dark place; they will keep fresh for four days! Great isn’t it! It saves us time in the morning, when we are hungry, in a hurry ready to start the day. Lately, we have been eating a lot of blueberries since they are in season here. And caramelized green apples with blueberries, yogurt, and toasted oats have been the highlight of the week!
TOASTED OATS RECIPE with GREEN APPLES & BLUEBERRIES
1 C. Oats, {I use quick oats}
5-6 Medium Green Apples, cut into wedges
1 C. Blueberries, {you can use fresh or frozen}
3-4 Tbsp. Honey, agave or coconut sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
3-4 Tbsp. Unsalted butter, to caramelize the apples
Preparation:
To Make the Toasted Oats:
Preheat oven to 180C/350F. You don't need oil or butter to toast the oats. Simply spread oats over an ungreased baking sheet, making a thin layer, so they can roast evenly. Bake oats for 10-12 minutes stirring occasionally using a wooden spoon or spatula. When ready, a lovely nutty aroma will fill your kitchen! Remember to preserve toasted oats in a sealed container, in a cool dark place. They can be kept fresh to four days.
Caramelized Apples + Blueberries:
Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add apples, vanilla extract, and honey and sauté for about 9-10 minutes. Add blueberries just a couple minutes before apples are about to be ready. Serve with yogurt and toasted oats!
