Baked Oatmeal

I know that this recipe works.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is consistent, easy, streamlined, and adaptable to many different palettes.  How do I know this?  Because I have made this a CRAZY number of times in the last three months!  There has been oatmeal coming out our ears over here!  And we have loved every minute!

Other than the fact that it is just frustrating to photograph-How do you make it come out looking decent?-this recipe is perfect.  Nutty, hearty, not too sweet, and oooooh so easy!  I have made it plain and with three different types of fruits so I have you covered from all angles.  If you have been trying to find a reliable recipe that is good for you and tastes fantastic too, look no further.  I mean, I love a good muffin, but sometimes you need to shake it up a bit!

This is actually quite different from the Overnight Oatmeal recipe I have posted before.  This is not creamy and I do not recommend adding milk or cream to it.  Well, especially not cream, as that would defeat the purpose, right?  Just scoop and eat!  Your fruit and grain all in one.

Please Note:
In the recipe, I say you can use maple syrup or honey, but the general consensus was that we like the flavor of the maple syrup better.  I have not tried it with agave or raw sugar but I have no doubt that either would work just fine.

Also, I list a few different fruit options.  Amazingly (and I was the most shocked by this than anyone) we liked bananas the best.  Weird, huh?  The apple was fine, but the juice made it a bit watery on the bottom.  Still very good though.  Blueberries are my personal favorite and a close second of everyone else.  Certainly the easiest to do.  I didn’t bother with blackberries and raspberries because I thought they would just be way too juicy, but if that is how you roll, I doubt it would taste bad!

Bottom line: Make this oatmeal.  So incredibly healthy.  So easy.  So yummy.  You may even want to make so much that it is coming out your ears.
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Baked Oatmeal
Adapted from Super Natural Everyday
If you want to make this plain, sans fruit, just omit the fruit layer and make it the same unless a different quantity is noted in parenthesis.

Spray a small casserole dish or 9X9 glass baking dish.  In a single layer, add blueberries, fresh or frozen, sliced banana, or 1 grated apple that has been peeled and cored.

In a medium bowl melt 2 T (3T if making it plain) butter in the microwave.  Add:
1 c rolled oats, not quick cooking (1 1/2 c)
1/4 c chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 tsp baking powder (3/4 tsp)
3/4 tsp cinnamon (1 tsp)
pinch of salt

Mix well to evenly distribute the butter and carefully spread over the fruit.  In a large, glass measuring cup, combine with a whisk:
1 c milk (1 1/2 c)
1/4 c pure maple syrup or honey (1/3 c)
1 egg (2)
1 tsp vanilla

Pour evenly over oatmeal and carefully slide into a 375 degree oven.  Bake for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned and oats have set.