This is a great school or work breakfast. Bake oatmeal the night before, refrigerate and reheat in the microwave. Breakfast in a jiffy! You can easily multiply this recipe for larger families. Enjoy!

Baked Oatmeal 
1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar or granulated sugar 
1/4 teaspoon iodized salt
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup liquid: milk, juice, or non-dairy plain or flavored liquid creamer
1/4 cup pureed fruit: applesauce, bananas, or other fruit
2 tablespoons add ins: dried cranberries, raisins, nuts, chocolate chips, blueberries, caramel bits, or grated apples
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter or squeeze margarine
1/2 teaspoon flavoring: vanilla, almond, lemon etc.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Mix all ingredients together. Spray 2 ramekins, custard cups, or paper lined muffin tins with non-stick spray. Bake 23 minutes. Makes 2 servings.

Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal: Use 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.
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, milk, bananas (caramelize bananas in microwave for 10 seconds), butter and vanilla.
Apple Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, apple juice, applesauce, grated apples, butter, and vanilla.
Blueberry Almond Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, (omit cinnamon), granulated sugar, salt, water, French vanilla non-dairy creamer, applesauce, blueberries, sliced almonds, butter and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.
Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, pumpkin spice non-dairy creamer, applesauce, butter and vanilla.
Cinnamon Raisin Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, milk, applesauce, raisins, butter, and vanilla.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder in place of the cinnamon, 1 ½ tablespoons peanut butter, granulated sugar, salt, water, milk, applesauce, ¼ cup chocolate chips, butter, and omit vanilla.
Eggnog Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼  teaspoon nutmeg, granulated sugar, salt, water, Eggnog non-dairy creamer, applesauce, butter, and vanilla.
Pecan Praline Baked Oatmeal: Use oats, omit cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, water, Pecan Praline non-dairy creamer, ¼ cup bananas (caramelize bananas in microwave for 10 seconds), ¼ cup toasted chopped pecans, butter, and vanilla.

Published in The News and Neighbor on March 9, 2022.