What things do you add to your oatmeal to make it interesting?

[thunderbug84]

I love oatmeal and I eat it almost every morning, but I usually just add some local maple syrup. I'd love to hear about some of your weird but terrific oatmeal concoctions so that I can mix it up a bit!

[nissenpa]

In the fall I add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin, a tablespoon of pecans, a sprinkle of clove, cinnamon, and ginger--and a little honey or stevia for some sweetness.

I sometimes add honey and pb or hiney and sunflower seed butter from TJs--yum.

I also love cooking it for a minute and then stirring in an egg and cooking it for another 30 seconds. This makes the oatmeal so creamy---I LOVE it. I got that recommendation of chowhound last fall. I then add cinnamon or whatever else.

I also like coconut oil in my oatmeal.

Sometimes I throw in ground flax seeds if I have them.

[ajgnet]

A tablespoon of canned pumpkin and cinnamon ... that sounds fantastic.

[nissenpa]

It is so wonderful in the fall months. Try it!

[chicapea]

mmm...I eat it everyday too. Fave additions (AFTER cooked) are a bit of peanut butter, walnuts, dried cranberries and flax meal. I often add chocolate whey protein powder too, esp. if i'm working out that day. However the oatmeal needs to be warm, not hot, b/f making that addition in order to mix well.

[coney with everything]

Trader Joe's salty sweet and nutty granola as a topping, and REAL CREAM (just a wee bit)

[Claire]

I love it with butter, sea salt and pepper. Not sweet and wonderful that way.

[reubensandperrier]

a little nutella and sliced bananas! mmmm....

[Gio]

My oatmeal is made with chicken broth each morning. Nothing else added.

[odkaty]

I've been adding an egg - just stir it in. Someone posted the idea here a while ago in one of the many steel cut oatmeal threads.

Like the other suggestions above, I all flax, dried (and sometimes fresh) fruits, nuts, spices, a dash of cream or rice milk. Once, in a mood, I added homemade honey ice cream ... now that was decadent, but I think it went beyond breakfast? As for fruits, huckleberry is my favorite.

[Gio]

OK - now I have to try the egg addition tomorrow morning. It's got me intrigued. Thanks!

[nissenpa]

Let us know what you think.

I tried the grated zucchini recommendation this morning and LOVED it. It's my new summer oatmeal.

[ajgnet]

If I'm craving savory, salt, butter, and sometimes pepper does the trick.
For sweet, I'll add strawberry or blackberry jam with toasted almonds.
But recently, I've found myself adding raisins and sliced banana nearly every day.

[tochipotle]

I like my oatmeal to be really cooked...and solid!!! I just like the texture. So I'll cook it for a while and add dried apples - they absorbe a bit of the water, and they're really tart.

[chef chicklet]

for a sweet version, always golden raisins and dried cherries with a tiny dash of cinnamon.
savory I only add sea salt, and made always with water only for both, no milk.

Going to try the egg stirred in for the savory, that actually sounds really good!

[Cookiefiend]

Blueberries, brown sugar and a bit of chopped almonds.
mmmm

[rfried]

not as exciting as some of the others, but i add frozen strawberries or blueberries, cinnamon and some wheat germ for some extra nutrition...

[debbiel]

Inspired by a recent thread, I've recently started having a simple savory oatmeal--scallions (go in the water with the oatmeal) and lots of parmesan cheese. When I'm cooking steel cuts, chopped apples that go in with the oatmeals, toasted walnuts when served.

Here are some other recent oatmeal threads:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/322089
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/332675
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/340248

And the thread on adding kabocha that really helped me branch out on my oatmeal and corn mush:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/338710

[fauchon]

Dundee Ginger Marmalade--makes a great, not very sweet, wake-up-NOW! addition....

[pamalamb]

Trader Joe's carries orange-flavor dried cranberries, which are fantastic in oatmeal.

[HungryLetsEat]

Raisins, walnuts and banana chunks

[Pylon]

Peanut butter and whey protein, either chocolate or banana flavored.

[JungMann]

My friend makes a hearty and savory oatmeal cooking his pinhead oats to a creamy consistency in chicken broth and bacon fat. He then adds chopped bacon, parmesan and/or gruyere and seasoned salt. It is certainly a very satisfying way to begin your morning.

[nissenpa]

I have GOT to try this. Bacon and oatmeal have to be two of my favs---why have I not thought of this?

[Gio]

I've actually had chopped turkey bacon and oatmeal in the past. Really very tasty. But cheese? I have to try it before I'm convinced it's a good morning starter.

[JungMann]

Think of how great cheese grits are in the morning. Even if it's just parmesan and not some great melting cheese, the oatmeal really benefits from the slight creaminess behind the toothy oats.

[LaureltQ]

Fuuuuu. This sounds so good! I will try it. I usually make a big batch of oatmeal a couple times a week and just spoon some out and mix it with milk, cinnamon and sugar. Cheese sounds way better!

[adventuresinbaking]

Wow I want oatmeal now.

My old standbye is to cut up a green apple and add it to the water while I am waiting for it to boil. Then I throw in the oatmeal, maybe some raisins, and let it cook. Right before I take it out of the pan, I add peanut butter. It is so good.

On the weekends for a treat, sometimes I throw in chocolate chips and peanut butter, maybe with a little banana. Also very good.

[mrbozo]

Sweet butter and maple syrup. Black currant jam. Butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.

[matermagna]

Definitely craving oatmeal now. My standby is pretty simple: chopped dates added while the oatmeal's still cooking so they get all gushy. No need for any additional sugar. It's not very summery, but very comforting on cold mornings.

[abud]

I cook it with raw grated zuchinni. Delicious.

[nissenpa]

I'm going to try that tomorrow--I bet it is great.

[Texchef]

raisins and flax seeds most mornings... dried cranberries are great as well. and dried apricots cut into raisin sized pieces. If I'm adding after I've cooked it, sliced bananas, or strawberries or blueberries...and I alway add some salt while cooking

[mvi]

An old folk remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, which I have been dealing with for a few years, calls for nine golden raisins soaked in gin. (Do a search and you will see the testamonials.) I add them to my organic oatmeal, along with fresh fruit, knowing the amount of gin is really pedestrian, and they sure are good.

[Emme]

Calories aside, butter and brown sugar. Or sugar and cinnamon.

Carmelized chopped persimmons.

Sweet potato or butternut squash puree and cinnamon (or sage for savory)... can also add chopped pecans or walnuts.

Butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar when I'm being really bad.

Oats + egg whites + cinnamon + vanilla + sweetener = pancakes

Also good is oatmeal parfait... layer oatmeal, vanilla yogurt, and berries... for healthy fats, add sliced almonds.

My ex loved bing cherries, brown sugar, cinammon, hazelnuts, and hazelnut oil.

Crystallized ginger and pistachios with a swirl of molasses.

[HungryRubia]

I like to add brown sugar or maple syrup and walnuts and cinnamon. Sometimes fried cherries are tasty too.

[lilmomma]

HungryRubia,
You mean "dried" cherries right? Fried ones could be good though, I guess. Fried in butter and sugar. LOL

[JFla]

Vanilla poached pears
Dried cherries, slivered almonds and orange zest
Sweet potato (diced and roasted), cinnamon and butter

[yankeefan]

Mango and/or honey mustard

[jfood]

start with Silver Palate Oatmeal and then add one of the low sugar Bare Naked Granolas and a little splenda to sweeten.

[yogurtsoda]

coconut milk.

[jeni1002]

A slight variation: toasted coconut flakes and toasted pumpkin seeds; and maple syrup....

[another_adam]

kimchi and seasoned seaweed. (i've never understood the sweet oatmeal for breakfast thing...)

[yogurtsoda]

okay, i am *definitely* trying that.

[ArikaDawn]

I am not sure if this counts as more of an oatmeal or an apple dish, but last night when I wanted something sweet it fit the bit.
In a bowl I combined about 1/4c. oatmeal, quite a bit of cinnamon, approx 1/2tbsp.butter(actually, I Can't Beleive It's Not Butter, but I always hesitate to admit such theings on these boards, haha), and 1 apple cut up into bite size pieces skin and all. I mixed it all together and realized there was nothing to sweeten it except for the apple and also it was a bit dry. For some reason it occurred to me to squeeze the juice of a clementine over the top of it all to moisten and sweeten. I then transferred it all to a foil bowl and baked at 350 for about 30 minutes. It was sooo good! Completely unlike any sort of apple crumble because the oatmeal didn't crisp as it was mixed all throughout, not just on top. The citrus was such a wonderful complement to all of the flavors, and healthwise, it is actually quite wholesome. This is definitely something I will be making again for breakfast with perhaps double the oatmeal and the juice of two clementines. It basically ends up being the most delicious apple cinnamon oatmeal ever with a little citus kick.

[yomyb]

Cooking it with milk, not water, is essential to me, then my favorite toppings are brown sugar, cinnamon, walnuts and cranberries. You can also add a dash of evaporated or condensed milk to make it a little sinful. ;-).

Not as healthy as oatmeal, but a Puerto Rican tradition that is delicious is boiling ginger and a stick of cinnamon in some water, then mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with one cold cup of milk and heating this up while slowly adding some of the tea/flavored water. This becomes the most delicious thickened milk/hot cereal ever ;-). This with some Puerto Rican bread with butter and a cafe con leche...ahhh heaven.

[lvhkitty]

I love oatmeal with the texture of spackle. I use half the water recommended and use the long cooking oats. Then I add dried blueberries and either walnuts or almonds.

[nissenpa]

I thought I was the only one!!!!

[firecooked]

Its way too hot to eat hot oatmeal in PHX in the summer, so I make Museli... the only hard part is remembering to throw it together the night before:

1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
¼ cup raisins or dry cranberries or other dried fruit of choice
¼ cup walnuts (chopped) or almond slivers
2 cups unsweetened soy milk (or any milk of choice, including part yogurt or juice)
1 tablespoon Apricot or Peach jam
1 teaspoon honey (or to taste)

1 small apple (grated) or other fresh fruit

Mix everything except for fresh fruit together, cover and refrigerate overnight. If it seems a bit thick in the morning, add some more milk or some plain yogurt. Stir in grated apple just before serving, or serve with other fresh fruit (berries, banana’s, apricots…)

[Doreen]

For years I've been using a recipe of Michael Romano from Union Square Cafe. He says he makes a batch every day and it is all he eats between tasting things. Steel cut oats cooked in apple cider with some brown sugar. I add walnuts, apricots, raisins, an apple cut up. We eat it all fall and through the winter. It's very satisfying.

[HungryLetsEat]

Funny you should say that. I bought a "chef for a day" package at a charity event a few years ago. When I went to do my day of work (which was great fun and quite enlightening) I was noticed that the head chef ate a HUGE bowl of oatmeal right before service (while the staff meal was being served). Must be a chef thing?

[firecooked]

Yum, Steel Cut Oats are a great treat (and very different) from regular rolled oats, any way you prepare them.

[amyzan]

In the summer, I parboil and then steam it for fluffy individual flakes that don't hold a lot of heat. Parboil 2 minutes, steam for 5-10 depending on how thickly it's rolled. Interesting variation if you eat a lot of oatmeal, no matter the temperature outside.

I prefer steel cut oats in colder weather.

[Richard 16]

You can treat it like polenta. (Although I have never used tomato sauce. Doesn't sound good...) Since steel cut oats take so long to cook (try it in a slow cooker ala Alton Brown) make extra and refrigerate part of it. Cut and fry in really good butter and add S & P. (I suppose you could do a sweet version.)

[choppme]

OK, haven't seen this here: Oatmeal, blueberries, bananas, milk and COTTAGE CHEESE! It's freakin deeeeelicious!

[chefathome]

Brown sugar and bacon!

Cream and whisky (popular in parts of Scotland).

[debbiel]

Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my. This sounds like heaven. I think it might have to be a new holiday breakfast.

[Snorkelvik]

I love oatmeal and normally have it with some combination of banana, walnuts, peanut butter, apples, coconut oil, strawberries, cinnamon and brown sugar.

Today I tried savory oatmeal cooked slowly in homemade chicken broth, 2 dashes of soy sauce and 1 chopped scallion. After it was cooked, I folded in a diced 1/2 avocado. Delicious!

[Westminstress]

My favorite combo lately is raisins, walnuts, flax seeds and honey. Walnuts and honey are a terrific combo! Some others:
Dried figs and honey.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.
Butter and brown sugar.

[AverageJo]

Roasted cacao nibs, roasted pecans/walnuts; ground flax seed. Chia seeds, sometimes.
Banana is cooked in the pot with the oats.

I know it's odd to eat oatmeal in the warm weather, but if you do, fresh strawberries or peaches really make it special.

[eclecticsynergy]

Steel cut oats. TOASTED, then cooked. Awesome with any addition you might choose.

[EM23]

Toasted oats take oatmeal to another level - so delicious!

[rosewood]

1. sweet corn and cumin
2. spinach and oregano
3. some of my favorite jam (am using rose hip jam, ginger jam or strawberry/rhubarb jam now)
4. I made a corned beef, then used some of the broth (did not cook cabbage or potatoes with the beef this time) and some of the meat, finely diced
5. mushrooms (I bought a smoked duck breast and rendered the fat to saute the mushrooms in, but you can use bacon fat instead)

[padkins1]

I recently added the gelatin from baking country style pork ribs. I let it setup first and skimmed the fat off first. Also I added some peas, carrots, and onions. It was a bit different, but I thought it was pretty good. I am thinking about doing it again. Granted it was more of a savory dish, and when the oatmeal thickened up it was very rich, but it was a good breakfast.

[Face_hole]

I do a kind of peanut sauce flavor.. I add sriracha, peanut butter, soy sauce, few drops of sesame oil....

[patricium]

- Leftover "poached" pear pieces. I often do pears kind of like bananas foster - saute pieces in a butter/sugar mixture, then add some rum or brandy. Awesome over oatmeal. You could do this with apples or peaches too.

[patricium]

On the way home, I remembered more things (Oatmeal is a winter-only thing for me.)
I toast the steel cut oats, so right at the end, just before adding the water, I add some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice, so they become fragrant. If you're adding a sweetener like brown sugar, adding it at the beginning of cooking lends additional caramel notes.
I make a slightly different batch every week - Orange zest & dried cranberries, or peanut butter and raisins, or candied ginger and almonds.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

I cook it with dried cranberries and a thin piece of orange peel. After it's cooked I add walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, a drizzle of maple syrup and a splash of milk.

Also heavenly with dark brown sugar and a spoonful of yogurt on top.

[peasantpalate]

That sounds like an awesome base for a cookie.

[PotatoHouse]

Butter, sugar, egg, flour, chocolate chips, and sliced Spanish Almonds. drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes. Eat with a glass of cold milk....

[beccydinosaur]

Steel cut oats with natural peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, flax seeds and stevia - my favourite!
I also like it with almonds, cinnamon and a couple of dates.

[noodlepoodle]

I start with some boiling water, then add the rolled oats and a little salt and cook that for a few minutes until it's a little thicker than I want it, then add some half and half and then half a well mashed banana and some brown sugar. The banana and half and half make it nice and creamy.

[Antilope]

Oatmeal Cookie Oatmeal recipe from Trader Joes supermarkets

http://www.recipesecrets.net/forums/r...

[sandylc]

Toasted pecans.

Or, change things around and don't cook the oatmeal. Sprinkle the raw rolled oats into yogurt and fruit. Surprisingly satisfying.

[Val]

toasted pecans...BINGO...I'm so used to just walnuts ALL.THE.TIME (well, their Omega 3's are awesome!) but I need a change up AND I have some lovely pecan meats in my freezer...next time I make oats...WEDNESDAY...this is what I will do...thanks for that suggestion, sandylc!

[Wordweaverlynn]

I add chipotle powder along with the conventional butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Very warming!

[mattstolz]

I suggest checking this site out for good ideas!

http://www.katheats.com/kaths-tribute...

seriously so many ideas there.

as for me, i am a fitness nut and bodybuilder, and eat oats 2-3x a day. I always cook mine and stir in some of my favorite protein powders for really easy and delicious flavoring (also changes the texture to smoother and thicker most the time!

[beccydinosaur]

Thanks for the site!

I'm somewhat of a fitness nut too and oats with protein powder is definitely one of my favorite snacks.

[mattstolz]

some of my favorite combos:

dark cocoa/instant coffee grounds/chocolate protein

chocolate protein/peanut butter

good scoop pumpkin/cinnamon/pumpkin pie spice/vanilla protein

diced banana/chocolate (or vanilla) protein/peanut butter

diced strawberry/chocolate (or vanilla protein)

chocolate protein/cinnamon/cayenne pepper

chocolate/cayenne/shaved coconut/peanut butter

i also like savory oats A LOT! theres been a chow link hangin around on the side of the page lately with some good ideas. but i like cooking them in pasta sauce, curries, salsa, mole.... with pretty much any protein!

[PotatoPuff]

so not quite gourmet, but a favorite for the past 20 years... cinnamon, skim milk and RICE KRISPIES!