Oatmeal #134: Rollin’ the Pizza December 15, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Lunch, Recipes.Tags: bread, pizza
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Today’s lunch:
Pizza on homemade pizza dough–with oatmeal–because that’s how I roll 
And I roll good dough, yo.
The bread turned out pretty thick ’cause I added too much water and so it was hard to roll the dough as flat as I wanted. Otherwise I would have had more surface area to play with while making pizza!
I’ve been smellin’ pizza every week when I go grocery shopping and I couldn’t take it any more!
Pizza dough – makes 3 thick pieces
1.25 cups ww flour
0.25 cup quick oats [I used 2 tbsp pancake mix in this 'cause I was curious what it'd be like--made no difference]
enough water to make a dough–0.5 cup – 0.67 cup?
0.25 tsp salt
0.75 tsp EVOO
0.75 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp yeast
Mix and let sit 2 hours.
Knead dough on floured surface after 2 hours and shape into balls. Place onto baking pans or whatever you want [I used aluminum foil] Roll them out however thick you want. Cover and let sit for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake for 7 mins.
I was gonna add pepper and oregano to the dough but I forgot! And when I remembered–I didn’t feel like walking all the way to the kitchen 
Don’t know if I can call this “oatmeal” experimenting ’cause there’s only 0.25 cup of oats in there, but I don’t have the funds for gluten free baking and… don’t tell me what to call my pizza! You don’t know me!
I also had a salad on the side:
It’s just the extended version of my pizza topping Coleslaw & frozen mixed veg.
And that’s oregano, parsley, and pepper sprinkled on the side. Pepper has become my new favorite condiment/spice–it gives vegetables so much flavor, and the smell reminds me of spicy butter! I’m so tempted to add it to my banana oatmeal. That’s how much I love it.
Final shot:
I think watching Iron Chef America has brought out the inner food stylist in me. They need to do a battle with oatmeal–and I bet someone will make oatmeal ice cream–they use the ice cream maker for the strangest things on that show! I think they made veal sorbet or something like that once?! Mind-blowing.
1 exam down, 1 more to go next Monday!
6 days til I get to go home!
Oatmeal #133: Pomegranate December 13, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Lunch.Tags: blackberries, muesli, pomegranate
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Today:
Haven’t had overnight oats in ages! Decided to have some after buying some pomegranate–another thing which I haven’t had in ages. The first time I ever had it was in grade six and then I haven’t eaten it since because 1. doesn’t seem to be in BC grocery stores 2. prep work! Nooooooo! 3. see reason #2.
But after seeing pomegranates repeatedly being thrown in my face by the grocery store’s weekly flyers for 2 weeks, I finally caved and bought one. Plus I needed some excitement in my life–because try as I may, studying for exams just isn’t exciting enough.
Night before:
0.5 cup oats, 1 tbsp flax, 2 tbsp wheat bran
0.5 cup homemade yogurt [didn't do it right--too watery!]
2 tbsp store bought plain yogurt, 2 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp water
chocolate powder, ground ginger, cinnamon
Day of:
~0.25 cup pomegranate seeds
8 blackberries
I was going to add nuts too–but I forgot!
In case you’re wondering where all the blackberries went:
Check it out! A blind upside-down shot! All this action is so overwhelming!
On a side note, I love clear bowls! I just wish I had a glass table too because taking those shots were a pain in the #!$#!$.
Final shot–playing around with the picture decorations:
I wanted to use ribbons or beads or something but sadly all I have are textbooks and USB cords…
Oh, and yesterday I finally created an oatmeal page! I really think you guys should check it out. Because it is colorful and awesome.
Physiology exam tomorrow during some time in the morning at somewhere on campus!
1 week and 1 day til I get to go home!
Souffle in a Microwave December 8, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Lunch.1 comment so far
Today’s lunch
Further proof that the microwave is the most awesome kitchen appliance ever. I cook everything in it–oatmeal, oatmeal pancakes, vegetables, noodles, eggs, soup, and now–mac n’ cheese souffle.
Actually, I’m not sure if I can call it a souffle, but it’s not a casserole or a pie or a quiche either…but–french word people! It’s fancy! It’s awesome.
Can I just say I love mac n’ cheese with eggs?! This is totally unhealthy but I don’t even give a crap ’cause it’s so yammehhh.
Basically it’s just:
0.5 cup macaroni + 1 egg + ~0.5 cup water microwaved for 2 minutes.
Topped with parsley, oregano, cheese sauce powder [in the mac n' cheese package], curry powder, pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms [not in the photo]
If oatmeal hasn’t occupied #1 spot in my heart, I would have mac n’ cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Oh and I went to my first ever spin class yesterday morning at 6: 15 a.m.. Furthermore? It was a 75 min class. Lemme tell you I didn’t know biking can be so difficult! I was dying in the first 15 minutes. x_X Also didn’t help that my bike seat kept rocking back and forth and I had no clue how to fix it.
I’m going again today 45 min class this time–with my housemate. Whoo!
Also–How I Met Your Mother is my new favorite show! Marshall = best character!
Breakfast for Lunch, Lunch for Breakfast December 6, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Breakfast, Lunch.Tags: banana, coconut, corn, pumpkin, yogurt
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Breakfast food for lunch!
I recently got back into adding corn to my oats! It gives the whole thing texture and chewiness–which is always awesome. I started craving corn during one of my overnight sessions at the lab–further proof that sleep deprivation does strange things to you. But I’m all done running people for this semester so it’s full sleep ahead [haha--look at me! I'm funny! 
] from now on!
0.5 cup oats, dried milk, chocolate powder, ~0.5 tsp ground ginger
2 tbsp wheat bran, 1 tbsp flax
0.5 frozen banana [not pictured]
1 tsp unsweetened shredded coconut
0.25 cup corn, 0.25 cup pumpkin
~0.5 cup plain yogurt
pumpkin seeds
Frozen banana and yogurt together is the BEST! I used to cook my oats with the banana in it but ever since I started freezing the bananas and having it on top instead, I can never go back! Cooked banana tastes too bland to me now!
And guess what I had for breakfast yesterday?
Mac & cheese! [with an entire raw red pepper] It was glorious.
I haven’t had this stuff in ages and when I saw boxes of this stuff on sale for $0.50 I had to buy some [3 boxes, to be exact]! My exam time meals are going to be so freaking magnificient.
2 weeks and ! day til I get to go home! Physiology exam next week–haven’t started studying yet–oops.
Oatmeal #132: Veggie Muffins I December 2, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Lunch, Recipes.Tags: carrots, coconut, goji berries, muffin
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I’ve been craving muffins as a meal lately, and I love veggie muffins, so I thought I’d make some! It’s always nice when you can make fun foods into something that’s also nutritious
And since I’ve been staying up so often to run sessions at the lab, motivation to make healthy things is pretty much non-existent, so it’s nice to just throw a frozen muffin into a toaster and serve with yogurt and fruit for a quick lunch! [Lunch because making oatmeal for breakfast is never too much effort! ] Besides, I can’t scarf salads down on a daily basis–vegetables are always more fun in muffins and pastas!
Oh yeah, this recipe is based on all the Morning Glory Muffins I’ve seen around the net! But I don’t have pineapples or anything like that and I wanted to add oatmeal so I ended up with my own version.
Carrot Coconut Goji Oat Muffins
makes 6 huge muffins
1 cup whole wheat flour
0.5 cup quick oats
1 tbsp each of wheat germ & flax
2 tbsp ground pecans or other nuts [optional]
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
0.5 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 packet sweet & low [or sub 1 tbsp sweetener of choice]
0.25 cup brown sugar or sweetener of choice
1 egg
1 tbsp EVOO
0.5 cup milk
~1 cup grated bb carrots
0.5 cup goji berries, soaked in milk
0.25 cup unsweetened coconut
Mix everything and let sit for 3-4 hours.
Bake at 350F for 20-25 mins
It is awesome stuff. Best when it’s heated and served with plain yogurt! I’m planning to bake another variety using zucchini tomorrow morning when I get back from lab! So! Excited! Maybe I’ll bake some coffee muffins for next semester so I can be wired for more overnight sessions at the lab! Whoo! MUFFINSSSS!
And on a side note–2 weeks and 5 days til winter vacation!
Served With a Side of Sleep Deprivation November 30, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Breakfast.Tags: banana, coconut
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Saturday’s breakfast
At the lab! Second day of torturing people running overnight sessions in a row–keepin’ awakin’ by watching TV and blogging at the same time! I tried to study but it’s all boring me to sleep…
Anyway I haven’t had coconut in my oatmeal for a while now and kind of miss it! So I decided to buy some and look! There it is on the oatmeal!
0.5 cup oats, 0.25 cup water, 0.25 cup milk
1 tbsp wheat germ, 1 tbsp flax
0.5 banana
0.25 cup plain yogurt
bit of cocoa and coffee powder
pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds
1 tsp coconut
Duuuude I love banana oatmeal and all, but after having frozen bananas, I can’t go back to the heated and stirred in version! There’s just something about frozen bananas that’s so awesome. And if you pair it with yogurt, the awesomeness explodes because it just can’t be contained in one tiny little bowl! But a random frozen half of a banana doesn’t look so photogenic so I decided to suck it up and nuked the thing.
And yes…there are a lot of pictures of this one bowl! I can’t resist good lighting dudes. And I also really really did not want to study…
Oh and I should note that mixing cocoa and french vanilla coffee together in the oatmeal makes the best smell ever! It smells like those chinese egg waffle things that I used to be obsessed with when I was a kid. I kid you not!
Last photo!
Oh my god I’m so hungry right now…I don’t bring food with me to the lab because my participants can’t eat so I shouldn’t eat so as not to stress them out…[I feel like I mentioned this before...] And I always have the biggest oatmeal craving that starts around 3 or 4 a.m. and then combines with a growling stomach all the way until 7 frickin’ a.m.!!!! 
1 hour and 21 minutes til I can go home and eat!
Apple & PB November 21, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Lunch.Tags: apples, figs, peanut butter
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It’s my new favorite combo!
For some reason PB& banana doesn’t seem so appealing to me lately…maybe I have PB&B burnout? I put frozen banana + strained plain yogurt in my oatmeal instead now!
And I took a break from bread baking this week due to having to volunteer at COR and run participants at the sleep lab!
I did my first run this morning and I nearly died…got about 1 hour of sleep in between coming home, eating a huge breakfast [I have to food deprive my subjects because I'm studying water intake!], grocery shopping, and running off at 11 a.m. to run practice sessions for my other participants!
I was actually late for my 11 a.m. appointment 
And anyone who has ever had an appointment with me can tell you that I’m always the one who’s 10 minutes early for everything! Rawr.
Anyway, so I didn’t get around to lunch til 2: 30…but man this makes up for all the sleep loss!
PB&A served over crunchy whole wheat toast and cinnamon!
And to prove to you of my new love for PB&A:
This is what I had for breakfast on Nov 16 [Monday]! I guess in this case it was PB&A&F [fig!]
0.5 cup oats, water, milk
1 tbsp wheat germ, 1 tbsp flax
1 gala apple, 1 chopped dried fig
cocoa, dollop yogurt
sunflower & pumpkin seeds, PB
It was good!
Semester countdown: one month until winter vacation!
Oatmeal 131: Spiced Sweet Potato Bread November 17, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Recipes.Tags: bread, ginger, sweet potato
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This is what I do when I have to stay up all night:
Baking, cooking things, and trying not to set off fire alarms!
I’m a volunteer for the Campus Observation Room this year and I had an on-call shift from 12 – 4 a.m. on Saturday night, so instead of using this extra time to study, I dirty up the kitchen counter!
This is my second attempt at sweet potato bread, and I used a modified version of my Oatmeal Bread recipe, subbing sweet potatoes for the wheat germ and flax!
Spiced Sweet Potato Bread – 12 slices
1 packet or 1 tsp sweetener of choice [I used Sweet&Low]
1.5 cup lukewarm water
1.0 tsp instant yeast
3 cups ww flour
0.75 cup quick oats
1 medium sweet potato, mashed
0.25 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger [I used 0.75 tsp--but the flavor doesn't show up much with this amount!]
1 tbsp flax for sprinkling
About half an hour before, microwave or cook the sweet potato. I nuked it for 4 minutes, then cubed it.
Once the potato has cooled, mix all ingredients together, except the flax.
Let sit for 1 hour.
Fold dough after 1 hour.
Shape dough and put into bread pan or baking pan. Brush top of the dough with water or milk and sprinkle flax on top.
Let sit for 3-4 hours. [I let it sit for 2 hours, but the addition of sweet potatoes seem to slow the yeast down, so I'd recommend letting it sit longer]
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake 20-30 minutes.
Yay! I actually got more servings this time because I waited longer before baking. Next time I’m going to wait even longer before popping into the oven!
The bread was slightly sweet and has a chewy center, and crunchy crust! Definitely a bread that tastes good after a good toasting. I think next time I’m going to add more ginger, ’cause I could barely taste it.
School semester is almost over! 2 weeks left! 5 weeks and 6 days til I get to go home!
Repetition, but Different Presentation! November 10, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Breakfast, Lunch.Tags: banana, figs, goji berries, grapes
6 comments
My breakfast invites you in:
I had this breakfast two days in a row because grapes were on sale and I want to eat them before they go bad! And also because I like grapes and don’t eat them often enough
0.33 cup oats, water, milk
flax, wheat germ
7 grapes, 0.5 small banana, 1 fig!
sunflower seeds
1 tbsp PB
This is what I had the day before [nov 8]
Same thing, but with goji berries, cocoa powder, chopped up grapes instead of halved ones, and no sunflower seeds! I chop the grapes up because: 1. easier to eat 2. there are seeds in them and I don’t want to be spitting out seeds while I’m supposed to be enjoying breakfast!
And then I got camera happy:
The weather was so nice and warm the entire weekend! Lots of good light for photog-ing
Yummehhh!
I also had a huge cup of tea [green tea?] with my meal but my cup is too big and would ruin the composition of the photo! I can’t wait to go home for the holidays because I would have nice bowls and cups to play with instead of all these white ones!
And here’s what I’ve been eating for lunch ever since Friday [? or Saturday?]:
Coleslaw, frozen spinach, corn, tofu, bell peppers, grape tomatoes
parm, curry powder, mustard
apple
green tea
But I bought feta cheese [$0.99 per tub!] I can add that to the mix as well! Whooo!
AND MIDTERMS ARE FINALLY OVER! 6 weeks and 6 days til I go home for the holidays!
Oatmeal #130: Bread! November 9, 2009
Posted by oatmeal in Recipes.Tags: bread, flax, wheat germ
3 comments
Oh what is this, an update 2 days in a row?
Look what I made 2 days ago!
My first loaf of bread everrrr!
This is actually my second attempt at bread baking, but the first time I baked sweet potato buns!
I’m so glad I decided to buy yeast at the grocery store–I think I have enough yeast to last me through the year, which means I never have to buy bread again! And I get to procrastinate bake some more!
This loaf turned out crunchy on the outside, and chewy and soft on the inside. And the smell was nutty and sweet! Too bad I didn’t have a bread pan, because otherwise this could have been sandwich bread!
Whole Wheat Oatmeal Bread
makes 12 thick slices
1 packet sweet & low [or 2 tsp sweetener of choice]
1.75 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp instant yeast
3 cups ww flour
0.75 cup quick oats [or ground rolled oats/oat flour]
0.25 cup flax
0.25 cup wheat germ
0.25 tsp salt
Mix everything together until it forms a dough.
Let sit for about 2 hours.
Fold the dough and let it sit for another hour.
Fold again. Wait another hour.
If you haven’t already, transfer the dough to a baking pan or pour it into a bread pan.
Shape the dough to your liking.
Sprinkle some oats or seeds on top of the loaf if you like. Might be helpful to brush a bit of eggs or water on top to help the toppings stick [I didn't do that, but I should have!]
Let the dough sit another hour.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Ta da!
