This is a great school or work breakfast. Bake the oatmeal the night before, refrigerate, then reheat in the microwave. Breakfast in a jiffy!

Baked Oatmeal -2 servings

1 cup regular (Old Fashioned) oatmeal
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons brown sugar or granulated sugar or 1 1/2 packets of stevia or your favorite sweetener.
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup liquid: milk, juice or non-dairy plain or flavored liquid creamer
1/4 cup applesauce, bananas
2 tablespoons Craisins, nuts, chocolate chips, blueberries, or caramel bits
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter or squeeze margarine
1/2 teaspoon flavoring: vanilla, almond, lemon etc.

Mix all ingredients together. Spray 2 ramekins, 2 custard cups, or 2 paper lined muffin tins with non-stick spray. Bake at 350ºF for 23 minutes.

For Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, plain non-dairy creamer, applesauce, butter, and vanilla. For icing: 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons whipping cream, 1 teaspoon melted butter.

For Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, milk, bananas (caramelize bananas in microwave for 10 seconds), butter and vanilla.

For Apple Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, apple juice, applesauce, butter, and vanilla.

For Blueberry Almond Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, omit cinnamon. Add the following ingredients: granulated sugar, salt, water, French vanilla non-dairy creamer, applesauce, blueberries, butter, sliced almonds and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.

For Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, brown sugar, salt, water, pumpkin spice non-dairy creamer, applesauce, butter and vanilla.

For Cinnamon Raisin Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, milk, applesauce, raisins, butter, and vanilla.

For Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, 1 tablespoon of cocoa in place of the cinnamon, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter, granulated sugar, salt, water, milk, applesauce, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, and butter.

For Eggnog Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, granulated sugar, salt, water, Eggnog non-dairy creamer, applesauce, butter, and vanilla.

For Pecan Praline Baked Oatmeal: Add oats, omit cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, Pecan Praline non-dairy creamer, 1/4 cup bananas (caramelize bananas in microwave for 10 seconds), 1/4  cup toasted pecan pieces, butter, and vanilla

Published in The News and Neighbor on August 17, 2013