Gooooood morning all and happy Saturday!!
Man it’s pretty cold here, what about you? I’m expecting a surprise snowstorm any day now…nah just kidding!
(Image Credit)
Well, since it’s Saturday here at A Dancer’s Live-It, that means only one thing: LOTS of link-love!!
Welcome to another Link-Love Saturday!
Today’s feature is very closes to my heart, because it was through this blog that I discovered my love for oatmeal. Growing up, I would eat oatmeal occasionally with nothing in it but milk and maple syrup. And by maple syrup I mean I DROWNED that bowl of oats with maple syrup! It wasn’t even the good kind of syrup either! Once you go pure, you never go back. Just sayin’.
But before I get into more, please help me give a warm welcome to Lauren of The Oatmeal Artist!!
Lauren is more than just a blogger and oatmeal queen, she’s also a full-time 6th grade writing teacher in Manhattan! How cool is that? She’s also “Plant Proud” and thoroughly enjoys her new life of veganism. She says, “I love animals, but my choice to go plant-based was more about being healthy and taking care of the environment.” You go girl!
Similar to Lauren, oatmeal was kind of my gateway into healthier eating. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always eaten pretty healthy, but I used to think oatmeal was just the nasty, sugary Quaker packets you bought. NOPE! However, Lauren suffers from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), whose terrible symptoms led her to change her lifestyle and consume more oats. After a few months of Quaker Banana Bread Instant Oatmeal, she switched to making her porridge from scratch to save money and avoid unnecessary ingredients. Four years later, she now eats a heaping bowl of oats every single morning!
Rewind about 3 years ago. *Thanksgiving morning.*
I had just finished my very first Turkey Trot race and I knew I needed to eat something substantial to help my body recover. Having a sudden craving for REAL oats (not the packets), I googled “Thanksgiving oatmeal” and the first thing that popped up was Lauren’s Thanksgiving PB&J Oatmeal.
WHOA. A banana, spices, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and almond milk?!? How is this possible and what the heck is almond milk?! I carefully followed the instructions to a “T” and took my first bite. I was AMAZED. Not only could I taste every flavor in the bowl, but I couldn’t believe that I was eating oatmeal that tasted this awesome. And it was all GOOD FOR ME! I have never looked back since then, and I owe it all to Lauren. I then began to browse through her huge recipe list and became giddy with excitement. Wait, you can bake oatmeal too? WHAT. My first baked oatmeal experience was with her PB&J Baked. What a classic. I took one bite and thought I was eating everyone’s favorite sandwich instead of a breakfast food. I was immediately intrigued!
Fast forward to about 3 years later. *A couple months ago*. I have now been eating oatmeal every morning for breakfast…
“This looks fantastic! Will you be my next Oatmeal Enthusiast?” (I scream with joy and almost cry).
I almost fell over when Lauren commented this on one of my oatmeal photos. I had been secretly hoping she would discover my Instagram page after I had been tagging her in almost every one of my oatmeal photos. What’s an “Oatmeal Enthusiast” you ask? It’s basically a monthly feature of one of Lauren’s readers who is as obsessed with oatmeal as she is! We share our typical week of breakfasts with pictures, provide a little background about ourselves, and everyone gets to “ooo” and “ahhh” at all of the amazing creations. It was one of the coolest moments of my life so far, and I’m so grateful to Lauren for the amazing opportunity! Check out my post HERE!
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I post pictures of my oatmeal every morning because I LOVE to! It makes me happy to know that others are seeing it and hopefully getting inspired to spice up their breakfasts too. I’ve learned that breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day, and I don’t think I will ever, EVER go back to eating cereal. Ugh, gross. So for all you breakfast-skippers out there, visit my Instagram and maybe you’ll change your mind.?
Now for a recipe! I’m sharing my absolute favorite recipe of Lauren’s and I hope it will become your favorite too.
Fudgy Banana and Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Recipe by Lauren of The Oatmeal Artist
- 1 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 rounded tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 or 2 tbsp peanut butter
- pinch of salt
- Bring milk (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add rolled oats, and reduce heat to medium.
- Mash up a ripe banana and add to the oatmeal. Stir.
- Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir. If it doesn’t look very chocolaty, add more cocoa powder.
- When you’re pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, drop in small clumps of peanut butter and stir in. I don’t like to stir mine in completely. I like it left in clumps so I get bursts of peanut butter flavor every few bites.
- Transfer to a bowl. Serve with another splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (chocolate chips, shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).
(Photo credit to Lauren)
Bottom line, Lauren’s blog is my #1 source of inspiration for breakfast and I am SO grateful for everything her recipes have done for my life. I hope to meet her one day and give her the biggest hug ever.
Is that too weird..? No? I didn’t think so either.?
Have a spectacular Saturday!!! Eat your oats!!
Show Lauren some Link-Love:
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