Breakfast is GREAT at Trader Joe’s
We are addicted to our breakfast.
What is it you ask? What can be so good so early in the morning? Wait for it… OATMEAL!
You can’t believe it can you??
Let us clarify. This is not just any oatmeal. This is organic, long cooking and hearty oatmeal that stays with you throughout the AM. This is the kind of oatmeal that cold cereals only dreams about becoming… This oatmeal is a star at the breakfast table.
OK maybe we are just getting carried away?
But we really do like this oatmeal. Because it is long cooking, sometimes we cook a batch the night before. Sometimes we cook up an even bigger batch for 2-3 mornings when there is NO extra time. Usually, we bring the oatmeal and water to a boil in the pan and then turn off the heat, and then go for our morning power walk. When we return, the oatmeal is nearly finished with only about 5 more minutes left to cook.
Then the real fun begins.
The toppings! What better way to keep your breakfast new and different then by changing up what you top it with? We have tried bananas and apples, raisins and dried cranberries an assortment of nuts, apple butter (WOW- just delish) and even granola (yes made from oats too) in a zillion combinations. What about whip cream and chocolate chips?
Right now for our breakfast we are serving up a most excellent batch of oatmeal topped with sliced banana, toasted pecans, blueberries and a swirl of maple syrup. Yum. If you have not tried a bowl of oatmeal in a while, we suggest you start. It is a great way to start a wintery morning when it is dark and cold, and we live in Tucson! Now just so we are clear here, this is not a Trader Joe’s brand, it is a product that has the “Trader Joe’s seal of approval” and is sold in their stores. We also purchase all the wonderful toppings at our Trader Joe’s store as well.
Oh yeah…. want to know the secret to delicious oatmeal that we discovered in some cookbook, some show or on the Food Network?
Don’t stir it too much.
Really, just leave the oatmeal alone and “shake” the pan once or twice. OK… stir it quickly to make sure that it is not sticking on the bottom, but then stop and just swirl or “shake” the oatmeal around the pan. It is a myth that making oatmeal uses the same skills as making risotto. You do not need to stir it constantly. If you do, you only wind up with a gummy, pasty mess that no one wants for breakfast. When you “shake” or swirl the pan, the oatmeal grains are more separated and are still nutty.
Warning: Go slowly when learning this technique, as we have spilled oatmeal on the stove a couple of times when we first started… Ugh….
Let us know if you have tried this oatmeal and how you like it. What toppings do you love on your oatmeal? Please leave your comments below and let us all know.
Have a great, OATMEAL start to your day!
What a great post! So detailed. I had no idea you weren’t supposed to stir oatmeal. And I love the warning about spillage.
I seriously need to add Oatmeal to my breakfast habits. I currently operate on 2 cappucini & a small muffin or a piece of cake and that sees me through till a small lunch mid-afternoon. I tend to do most of my eating at night… Although I am in pretty great shape (sorry to boast, but – ahem – yoga does work), even *I* know this is not the best way to start your day.
We recently we stayed with a friend (weekend at the snow – Mammoth Mtn) and she made oatmeal for breakfast that was sensational and I’m pretty sure she used this TJs one.
She also topped it with stuff you mentioned — dried cranberries etc — but here’s the kicker – she also sprinkled it with *toasted flax seeds* from TJs. Super delicious and very healthy. Strenuously recommended.
We just love oatmeal in the morning- give this one a try – it has such good “oaty” flavor. We are trying a new summer twist on our oatmeal, eating it raw. We are measuring the oats into a dish and then adding double the amount of water. This will now sit overnight in the fridge and get soft.
In the AM we add nuts, fruits and some almond milk- YUM!!
I think those toasted flax seeds might also be a good addition- I will look for them on my next visit.
Cheers! Kris