Instant Oatmeal in a Malt-O-Meal Town

There may come a day when, after nearly 4 years, I restart this humble cooking blog, and it is this day!

Behold I bring you a budget-saving breakfast hack for the instant oatmeal purists among you! 

I grew up eating homemade oatmeal, made in such a manner that, although I have tried time after time, I cannot replicate that perfect texture with minimal gloopy-ness (yes, that's a word).  I have since come to believe the missing ingredient/technique is the childhood nostalgia of having breakfast made for you by someone else.  Because few can deny that food made by someone else usually tastes better! 

Instant oatmeal is wondrously convenient and was my mainstay in the college years. You could find me wandering the halls of Bethel University with my Goodbye Blue Monday travel mug full of Maple Brown Sugar oatmeal at any hour of the day.  My husband, on the other hand, is loyal to Cinnamon & Spice by Quaker Oatmeal, to which no generic brand can compare. And my children, loathing all foods with texture, prefer instant oatmeal to homemade any day.

With these cool Autumn mornings, hot breakfast is so warm and cozy and oatmeal is kind to the wallet.  I set out to create my own mix with variations and found inspiration from this foundation recipe. Today we are making Maple Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal Mix, and at the bottom I will share a variation for Cinnamon & Spice that passes the husband test.

Your ingredients are: rolled oats (instant, quick or old-fashioned), brown sugar, cinnamon, maple extract and vanilla extract.

 To turn this oatmeal up to "11", you can add things like chia seeds, flax meal or protein powder (I use pumpkin seed protein powder) without changing the texture or flavor.  I use 1/2 cup of each.

Begin by mixing 1 Tbsp of maple extract and 1 tsp vanilla extract with 2/3 cup to 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon, depending on your preference of sweetness. I began with 1 cup and have slowly worked down to 2/3 cup.  By mixing the sugar with the liquid, it will absorb some of the wetness and help with the flavors blending well in the final product.

I have tried making this with just maple extract, but the flavor is quickly lost.  That little bit of vanilla really makes the maple shine!

Quick note on extracts: Not all are created equal!  After lots of trial and error, I have found Beanilla Natural Maple Flavor to be the best for maple extract.  And for vanilla, La Vencedora Mexican Vanilla is the ABSOLUTE best! You won't regret it.

 Next mix in 4 cups of oatmeal, making sure to break up the clumps of sugar evenly.
*If you are using thick-rolled oats or another coarser blend, you can pulse 2 cups of the oats in a food processor to fine powder to mimic the texture of instant oats.

 Lastly stir in any mix-in's. I add 1/2 cup each of chia seeds, flax meal and pumpkin protein powder. Other great ideas include raisins, craisins and other dried fruits, nuts and seeds.

There you have it!  To enjoy, scoop 1/4 - 1/3 cup oatmeal mix with 1/2-2/3 cup hot water or milk.  Let sit a few minutes for the chia seeds to soak, and you may need to add additional liquid to thin to desired consistency.

Maple Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal Mix
2/3 - 1 c brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp maple extract
1 tsp vanilla
4 cup oats or 2 cups oats and 2 cups blended oats
1/2 c chia seeds
1/2 c protein powder (I use pumpkin)
1/2 c flax meal

Cinnamon & Spice Instant Oatmeal Mix
2/3 - 1 c brown sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 to 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
4 cups oats or 2 cups oats and 2 cups blended oats
1/2 c chia seeds
1/2 c protein powder (I use pumpkin)
1/2 c flax meal