It wasn't until a little older and a trip to a chain bakery that I discovered a trend in food, the oatmeal bar. Similar to a salad bar, but filled with dried fruits, nuts, assorted sugars, chocolate chips and fresh fruits. I remember ladling hot oatmeal into my bowl and topping it with some blueberries, bananas, brown sugar and nuts. I sat down at small table and took a spoonful and thought, this doesn't taste at all like the instant cinnamon and brown sugar kind, but what did it taste like? The first thing that came to mind was paste, maybe even cardboard, yes, cardboard. What went wrong, the ingredients were great, but the main part of the dish needed some attention. Here is what I think sowcases oatmeal in all its glory, my recipe for Cinnamon-Banana Oatmeal....
Serves 2
2 cups milk ( I use 1%, or you could use half milk and half water)
2 cinnamon sticks
Dash of salt
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon clove
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
1/2 cups golden raisins
In a medium saucepan, bring the milk, cinnamon sticks, vanilla and salt to a simmer. When bubbles begin to form around the edge, add the oatmeal, brown sugar and spices. Let the oats simmer until they are tender and have soaked up all the milk. When this happens, fold in half the sliced bananas and the raisins. Distribute among two bowls and top with remaining banana slices. Enjoy!
