Perhaps you've ever wondered at my blog's name?
Perhaps not, but for the two of you that might be curious, this blog is named for my personal love of oats and my husband's affinity for eating them with a fork!
We're very literal people, apparently.
I can remember when the idea for this blog was but a small nugget in my head.
Around that time, my life was a lot different. I was enrolled in nursing school, awaiting its commencement, all while still completing my preliminary courses, buying a house, starting a family, and holding down a job at the local Whole Foods.
At the same time, my husband was beginning his career as a fireman, working his normal shifts in addition to overtime, keeping him away from our home and family for days at a time.
I can remember working one of my typical night shifts at Whole Foods and chatting with one of the other employees (a man with a wife and four growing kids), when he said to me how he and his wife found it silly for her to have a job.
'Why?', I inquired.
'Well,' he said, 'she would have basically been working for money to pay someone else to be at home with our children.'
This really struck a chord with me at the time, as I wasn't quite sure how I was going to manage working as a nurse with having children.
Around that time, I also stumbled across a few random food blogs, one of which, explained how she had begun.
It kind of became a pipe dream of mine to stay at home, watch our kids, and have a little food blog, but somehow, it became a reality.
With my husband's support, I opted out of nursing school, and, two and a half years later, here I am!
While many things here have changed over the past couple of years, one thing remains a constant: my love for oats!
There's nothing better than a sweet, creamy bowl of oatmeal topped with your favorite fruits, nuts or seeds, a bit of maple syrup, and a splash of cold milk. It's a meal I can eat anytime of day!
Perfect 7-Minute Vegan Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 c. dairy-free milk
- ¾ c. water
- ¾ c. quick oats I used Country Choice Organic Oats
- ¼ t. sea salt
- ½ t. vanilla
- MY ADD-INS:
- ½ c. chopped apple
- ¼ c. raisins
- ¼ t. cinnamon
- TOPPINGS:
- 2 T. raw walnuts
- maple syrup or stevia as desired for sweetness
- dairy-free milk as desired
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, simmer the milk and water together.
- Stir in the oats and salt.
- Bring the mix to a light boil, then quickly lower it to a simmer.
- Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Stir in the vanilla, along with the above add-ins (or your desired mix).
- Cover the pan and let stand for two minutes.
- Top with walnuts, maple syrup/stevia, and milk, as desired.
- Dig in!
Notes
Nutrition
Adapted from this recipe
I can easily sit and eat this deliciousness for dinner while my husband has a steak. No prob. Just watch the milk!...
Lol. 🙂
What meal could you eat anytime of day?
Mike @TheIronYou
I don't eat oatmeal anymore but that bowl looks so awesome it makes me crave it big time 🙂
Mary
Gah! We are mental companions.
Totally the thought process me and my husband had a while ago even though we are still pre-kids.. and the same timing while I'm still in school. Loving nutrition classes and I'll finish it off but you have to wonder if it's worth it, what's more important than family at the end of the day?
Also, cinnamon and raisin in oatmeal is totally my scene.
Lauren
Haha! Maybe with nutrition, you will have more a bit more freedom? With nursing, it was a pretty rigid schedule, and for the first year, I had to work 12-hour night shifts, which would have been super hard. We are definitely like-minded with our oatmeal, I love raisins! 🙂
Amanda
I'm so glad you started blogging and how wonderful that you are able to be home with your girls! I really enjoyed reading a bit more about your background. <3
Lauren
Thanks so much, Amanda! I'll always be grateful for the help you initially gave me when I first began. 🙂
Kristina
Love this post! And the oatmeal recipe looks absolutely delicious!! 🙂
Lauren
Thanks Kristina! 🙂
Miss Polkadot
That's a cute and funny story behind your blog's name. Before reading further in the post I wondered if it was - why not? - because you stirred your oatmeal with a fork during the cooking process. I'm all about wire whisks for that but had people look at me in surprise when I mentioned that. Really, though, what else would you stir your oats with?? (:
And I'm with you on the oats - or oat bran for me: I could eat a bowl of them any time of the day. Actually, my lazy dinner most nights is just that because I eat a warm savoury lunch.
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Nothing like a good bowl of oatmeal!
It's so great that you have found a way to stay at home with your kids while doing something you're passionate about. That's the dream! 🙂
Justine
Just commenting to say that I have, on several occasions, tried searching for why this blog is named what it is! Lol
Lauren
Haha! That's hilarious, Justine. 😀
Tisela
I could eat any breakfast food any tine do the day, specially eggs and pancakes (GF) now. Love your blog no nonsense approach and so informative and creative! Keep it up.
Lauren
Thanks so much Tisela! 😀