Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Okay, so this is pretty easy to make... When my oldest was a baby, I used to buy the pre-packaged apple cinnamon oatmeal. I got it because it cooked fast, and it was pre-measured. I thought I didn't have time to make it from scratch, but now with 4 kids, I make it from scratch! ;) After a few months of giving her the pre-packaged stuff, I realized it had way more sugar in it than I should probably be giving her. So from then on, I would just make it. It really isn't that hard. Just takes maybe an extra 5-10 minutes to pre-pare.

The best thing about this, YOU control how much (if any) sugar you put in this! I don't put any sugar in the kiddos, but I will put a little bit of local honey on it and mix it up. When my hubs eats it, he puts browns sugar on it.

I buy Oats in bulk at BJ's! Love making homemade granola and we will be going through more oatmeal now that it's getting cooler out. Plus my youngest girl is no longer fussing that she has to eat oatmeal, she actually likes it, or likes that I put honey on it, I dunno which one! hahaha ;)

You can pretty much make it any way you want, you can add or take any certain fruits...

This is the way I've made it the last few times, but will change it up next time. ;)
(like peaches and cinnamon- apples and bananas, will add the banana's after it's done cooking-craisins and raisins, you can also add nuts... the possibilities are endless!! ;))



Water and oats cooking


Add the chopped up apples before it comes to a boil

Bring it to a boil


Stir and cook until desired consistency (I already added the cinnamon and vanilla)



Now that it is all cooked, I added the raisins, kept adding til I thought it was enough and stirred it around....

Put them in their bowls, and drizzled a bit of honey on top. Now this pic looks like there is alot of honey, but there really isn't! ;) I also found some local honey, helps out with your allergies... Take a teaspoon everyday for 2 weeks, should help you out a bit... ;)



Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

1 cup oats
2 cups cold water
half of an apple, chopped (you decided whether to keep the skin on)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
honey or brown sugar to taste (optional)

Put oats and water in a pot and bring to a boil. You can add the cinnamon and vanilla at this time as well.
(here you decided whether you want slightly soft or crunchy apples. If you want the slightly soft ones, you add the chopped apples now... If you want the crunchy apples, then you add them right before eating your cooked oatmeal)
You will continue to cook and stir until the water is absorbed and the oatmeal is the consistency you want it.
It usually takes me about 15 minutes to cook these. But I have to double this recipe!
I also use a whole apple. I also need to peel the apple because my youngest can't eat the peeling very well. Not enough teeth yet! ;)
I also don't really measure the cinnamon and vanilla, those are things you can omit if you would like. But I like the flavor that they add.
I've been adding raisins after it's done cooking, right before serving. I don't measure, just dump! ;)