Baked Oatmeal

This is a nice warm breakfast for cold mornings. It can be both warm and quick if you make it the night before and reheat individual squares in the microwave the next morning.

Ingredients:
1/3 c diced apples
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 c + 2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 cups uncooked oats
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp chopped walnuts
1 1/2 c milk
1/2 c applesauce
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 large egg, beaten


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 deg. F.
2. In a small bowl toss diced apples with cinnamon and 2 Tbsp of brown sugar.
3. In a larger bowl, mix oats, 1/3 c brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and walnuts.
4. Mix together milk, applesauce, melted butter, and egg and stir into the oat mixture. Fold the apple mixture into the oat mixture, too.
5. Pour into a greased 8" square pan and bake at 375 deg for 25 to 30 minutes.

Note: For a slightly quicker version, skip the apples and add raisins instead, mixing the cinnamon and 1/2 cup of brown sugar (rather than the 1/3 cup + 2 Tbsp) directly into the oat mixture before adding the milk et al. Hmm, craisins might be good, too.

Experimenting with Muffins

I started with a basic oatmeal muffin recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. It needed a lot of help. I have spent the last couple of years (I don't make muffins every day) experimenting and tweaking the recipe. For instance, I came up with the topping on my own. And I finally arrived at today's success. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Feel free to do your own experiments, and let me know how they turn out.

Oatmeal Muffins

Muffins:
1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 cup oats
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk or non-dairy creamer
1/4 cup oil

Topping:
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon chilled butter
1-2 Tablespoons chopped nuts

1) Preheat oven to 400. Grease muffin tin or line with baking cups.

2) Whisk together dry ingredients; set aside (whisking helps eliminate lumps). Beat together wet ingredients; add to dry mixture, stirring just until moistened. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Mix the topping ingredients and sprinkle over each muffin.

3) Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving with butter. Makes 12 muffins.