My favorite oatmeal

Oatmeal has been one of my favorite breakfast foods for years. It was a great day when I found and tried this recipe for baked oatmeal. It comes from the Fix-it and Enjoy-it Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good. It uses simple ingredients, but also allows you to be creative when adding the nuts and fruit you want. You can also prep it the night before.

The first time I made this recipe, I used brown sugar. The result was good, but it was better the next time when I used honey. I much prefer the honey because it isn't as dry and it is just better for you. I like making mine with chopped apples and almonds, but you can add just about anything to it. This is my new favorite oatmeal--perhaps it will be yours as well. Enjoy!

Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup oil (I use canola oil)

1 cup honey or brown sugar

2 eggs

3 cups rolled or quick oatmeal, uncooked

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg, optional

1 cup chopped nuts, raisins, apples, or other fruit (dried cherries, dried cranberries, or 1/2 cup cut-up apricots work well)

1. Combine oil, honey or brown sugar, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add dry oatmeal, baking powder, and milk. Mix well.

3. Add nuts and/or fruit. Mix well.

4. Pour into a greased 8-inch square baking pan.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

6. Serve hot, cold or at room temperature with milk.

It tastes so good with milk mixed into it. It is very filling, so you don't need a huge amount in your bowl to start your day. Kyla enjoyed eating this oatmeal, too. I'm glad that she eats anything I make for her.

What a silly girl! I think she's getting used to my camera being out a lot. If I took a picture of my spoon, she had to get a picture of hers as well.:)