A new recipe to share - Gingerbread Oatmeal!

Oh, I've missed this blog.  I enjoy sharing with all of you...actually, maybe there are just a few of you readers!  However few there are, I love blogging.  :)

So!  I have a really tasty recipe to share.  Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal.
Yes...it's just as yummy as it sounds.  It just so happens, it have a batch cooking right now and it smells soooooo good!  In today's batch I added a chopped apple, some chopped walnuts and a few dried cranberries.  Just because I could!

Here's a pic from the site The Lemon Bowl, where I found the recipe.

Photo credit: The Lemon Bowl

At first taste, I wondered if the flavors were too strong.  The spices and molasses and all.
Ummm.  Nope. After that first bowl, I was hooked.  Of course I still add my usual toppings, as I do to ALL my oats.  Sliced banana and a dollop of plain greek yogurt.  A sprinkle of chia seeds and whole ground flax seeds.
Oats are a filling, hearty and nutritious way to start my day and I never tire of them.  Yum.

Here's the recipe for this latest addition to my fave recipes.  For a printer friendly version, click through to the original post at The Lemon Bowl.  The link is above.

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

8 hours

Total time

8 hours 5 mins

This cozy breakfast is full of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves and ginger then drizzled with molasses, brown sugar and chopped pecans. Perfect for busy weekday mornings or a make-ahead dish for lazy weekends!

Author: Liz DellaCroce | The Lemon Bowl

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 1 cups water
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Steel Organic Cut Oats
• chopped pecans, brown sugar and molasses - optional garnish to serve

Instructions

1. Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray.
2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
3. Cook overnight on low for 8 hours.
4. In the morning, stir oatmeal with a fork to loosen the steel cut oats and make sure everything is fully incorporated.
5. Serve warm with chopped pecans and additional brown sugar and molasses to taste.

Notes

For easier clean-up and to avoid the slight "crusty" residue inside the slow cooker, place all ingredients in a glass bowl that fits into the slow cooker then add enough water to fill the lower half of the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 cup Calories: 301 Fat: 7 g Saturated fat: 1.9 g Unsaturated fat: 5.1 g Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 48.8 g Sugar: 12.5 g Sodium: 360 mg Fiber: 7.1 g Protein: 9.6 g Cholesterol: 10 mg

Eat up and enjoy!

 

Sole Sisters Race Team!

I've been intending to share some photos from a 5k race that I did last month.  This time I formed a race team.  Several of my friends have never participated in a race and they really wanted to give it a try.  They suggested I form a team...so we became the Sole Sisters race team.

Of course, I enjoy participating in races.  I've talked about that on my blog in the past.  But, racing as part of a team made it even more fun!  There were 6 members in our team for the Autumn on Parade race, in nearby Oregon, IL.  Some of us walked (yes, I was one!) and some ran.  Some did a combination of both.  Some of us kept passing other members as they switched from running to walking.  Nothing like a little friendly competition!

I'll leave you with a couple of photos from race day.  Fun times with fun friends!

From left to right: me, Tina (in pink, of course), Sandy, Connie, Janie & Rhonda

From left to right in my car (no, I was not driving at the time!): Tina, Janie and me

Way back in August I signed up for the Gobbler Gallup 5k Race that will be held this Saturday, November 21st.  Yeah, I know what the weather can be like in northern Illinois this time of year.  But, I hadn't bargained for what the weather forecast is saying now.    What have I gotten myself into???

A facebook post (below)  by a local meteorologist...Candice King.

Candice King - First Warn Weather Chief Meteorologist

10 hrs · Edited ·

Winter Storm Watch in effect for all of N. IL and S. WI beginning Friday evening. This could potentially be a big, first snow with totals over 6". Let's start planning now for travel during that time. Good news it will be coming over a weekend. Looks like we are going to dive right onto winter!
It is important to note that this is still 36 hours out, and this forecast could change.

YIKES!