Pumpkin “Muesli” with Banana + Almonds
Thought I’d do something different today – I made a cold oat mixture, somewhat of a muesli, for breakfast! I started craving this when I saw it on BikerGirls’s Blog the other morning. Her’s looked SO good. Mine was delicious, but I think I will play around with it and try soaking it all overnight too. I’m afraid to do that because what if I wake up craving hot oatmeal!? I suppose I could just microwave it 🙂
I mixed together:
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup skim milk
- 1/4 cup hemp milk
- 1/2 a cup greek yogurt (Trader Joe’s)
- 1.5 cups canned pumpkin
- 1/2 a small banana
- Cinnamon
- A sprinkle of raw sliced almonds
- A drizzle of maple syrup
Pros:
- It tasted so creamy and delicious
- I’m STUFFED (probably from all that pumpkin!)
Cons:
- It was too easy to eat this fast. I need a way to slow me down. Peanut butter on a spoon really helps a lot with my hot oats, so maybe I should apply that concept to this.
- It lacked a crunch. Maybe I’ll add a different nut blend next time?
My bowl, plus 2 oz of skim milk in my coffee, was about 400 kcal, 10 grams fiber and 23 grams protein. The maple syrup didn’t really add anything (I only tasted it in one bite) so I’ll leave that out next time.
Snack + Workout
We decided to get up and head to the gym when it opened at 7:30 this morning because we’re headed to the Matthews Farmer’s Market for some entertainment.
I had a cup of tea and a small bowl of cereal with hemp and kiwi before we left (about 150 kcal snack).
Workout was good – 45 minutes on the ET and upper body work with the hub. Plus some abs. I watched that show Made on MTV – what a strange show. I can’t believe what some of those girls were saying to this other girl who wanted to make the dance team. They were SO MEAN. And so stereotypical.
And if you can see his shape through the screen, there was a HUGE DEER in our yard this morning!!
See y’all for a late lunch 8)
P.S. This is the 3rd Saturday in a row where there has been no sunshine. What the hell, April!?! I always feel bad for all the springtime brides when we have bad weather Saturdays.
VeggieGirl says
I too saw that muesli on BikerGirl’s blog – looked wonderful!! I love your Pumpkin “Muesli” with Banana & Almonds combination as well!! Maybe try adding walnuts or pecans for “added crunch,” this those nuts are crunchier than almonds.
Oh goodness, ‘Made’ is DEFINITELY a strange show – typical MTV show, these days ;0)
I do hope that the sun comes out where you are, soon!! In any event, enjoy your Saturday!
Romina says
I was quite intrigued by that muesli too! It looks delicious. Sometimes it’s fun to eat oats cold. =) (Without spending the extra money and buying “prepared” muesli)
Suzanne says
oh no – it’s not sunny there today? It’s very nice and sunny here in Jersey – maybe it will be heading your way soon? Here – * I’m sending you some sunshine over the internet waves* 🙂
I just got back from my first Boot Camp class – it was great! But I must say that the Spinning class I took last week was definitely harder and more intense.
That pumpkin muesli looks yummy – unfortunately, we have to go grocery shopping today because our fridge/pantry is barren. So I had some Kath’s oatmeal and peanut butter – which was delish as usual!
Betsy says
it’s pretty here…sorry it’s not pretty in NC!!!
I was watching Made this mornign too while getting ready to run. I had mean girls in my high school…but not that mean!!!!
I think i’m going to start making muesli for my breakfasts in the summer cause I don’t know if I can do hot oats when it’s 90 degrees out. happy saturday!
Yaz says
~In Defense of Kath~
I just receive the may issue of women’s health magazine and read an article on what certain skin fruits one should be eating. Cucumber skin and kiwi fur, as the husband likes to call it, is on the list.
Kiwi fur helps combat staph and e.coli…
So for those of you who though kath was being odd for eating the fur, start eating up (if u want). 🙂
Cudos to K & M for their healthy choices.
By the way M, I think your hilarious!
bikergurl says
Yay! My first mention on someone else’s blog (that I know of
) I love that you have a better stocked pantry than me and can try out different combos. I can’t wait to move home (next week) so that I can do that too 🙂
Hope the sun peeks through for you!
mel says
no sun here either! I went to the farmers market in the rain this morining! boo! but I got some great goodies!! kath and everyone- what is the best way to cook eggplant? I was thinking of roasting it and putting marinara on top like eggplant parmesan but I dont know how to season it, how long to roast it, what temp, etc !thanks guys! happy saturday
mel says
also, does someone have a ratatuli (sp?) recipie?
Ally says
That breakfast looks delicious.
We have two loud dogs in our background so we never get deer!
Ella says
Your breakfast looks delicious! 🙂
I have a question –
I use simple ol’ Quaker Oats (not instant, i get the big bulk container), and on the back it says 1 serving is 40g dry and 150 calories. I’m assuming that is 1/2 cup dry (am i right on that?) so this morning I used 1 cup dry, which I assumed to be 300 calories. the thing is 1 cup dry made a huge amount of oatmeal! I barely finished it, now I’m stuffed! Is 1 cup dry plain Quaker oats really only 300 calories?! If so that’d be awesome!!!
Have a great weekend!!!
Liz H. says
Ella, that is a ton of oatmeal!! haha, but I think you’ve got it right. Calories will increase depending on what you add to it. I usually have 1/3 dry oatmeal, and 1/2 cup of yogurt and cottage cheese mixed on the side and that fills me up! I can’t image a whole cup, but great if you’re hungry:-)
Becca says
I wish I could send you the sun that is here today Kath! Its making it very difficult to be motivated to go into work in a few hours…have a great day.
mel says
ella, thats right! I usually have 1/2 cup dry (150 cals) and I mix in a banana, milk, some pineapple and I am full!! sometimes I mix in some pb!
Nick says
I agree that breakfast needs to be something a little more solid. Oatmeal does the trick for me, or pancakes or crepes (which I JUST posted and think you’ll love)! Where was it that I just read that tests show calorie for calorie, liquids fill you up a lot less than solids. Essentially you could fill up on cheeseburgers faster than milkshakes, but overall you’d be getting a lot more calories from the milkshakes.
– The Peanut Butter Boy
Molly says
Kath-
Have you ever added cocoa to your oats? I wanted some pumpkin oats this morning, and i LOVE the combination of chocolate chips & pumpkin, but was out of chocolate chips. So I decided to add a bit of unsweetened cocoa to the slightly sweetened pumpkin oats. I’m not sure if I liked it. Any ideas? Maybe it would be good with banana oats.. or latte oatmeal — mocha latte oats? Ha.
Molly
Laura says
I know what you mean about the last couple of Saturdays being dreary! The sun came out here in Atlanta around ten, so maybe it’s headed your way!
KristinS says
Kath– I made pumpkin pancakes this morning and thought of you!! 🙂
babycakes says
The only way I eat my oats is plain/dry/uncooked (straight out of the canister) I totally love them this way! I know it sounds weird to some but I wouldn’t eat them any other way (Bob’s Red Mill, organic). Cooked oats just don’t appeal to me.
Kath, I love that you always light a candle for your meals. I do the same and it makes for such a nice/calming/relaxing atmosphere. I hope the sun comes out for you this weekend!
Cara says
That is soo cute that you got to see a deer in your own backyard!
Jane says
haha that MADE episode was filmed at my sister’s high school. And that girl britney (“the captain of the dance team”) was instructed to act like that by MTV! She is a sweet girl in real life. =)
breakfast looks yummy!
Angie says
Ah, rainy April.
A quote to start your afternoon…
April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
T.S. Eliot
kim says
And another quote from a prince lyric. “Sometimes it snow’s in april…” Heh heh heh. Not today. It’s 70 and sunny here on Cape Cod. Pull out the flip flops and hit the beach.
Liz H. says
I am jealous! We just got hit by a blizzard (Alberta, Canada)! I’m sitting here studying and looking out onto my deck which has about a foot of snow on it…uggghh
Ella says
thanks for the reply about the oatmeal you guys 🙂 Good to know the oats were 300!
yeah, it *was* a large amount of oatmeal! But I just topped it with a few sliced strawberries, so that was what made the cal amount still low. 1 cup of dry oats is good if you want a big, not-too-flavourful/interesting breakfast… but I always use 1/2 cup if I’m gonna put in all the fun mix-ins that definitely add up the calories!
Kate says
I found a great cold oatmeal recipe from one of the food blogs I read (of course I can’t remember which one!):
Soak 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup milk, dash of salt and dash of cinnamon overnight. In the morning, stir in 1/2 cup plain yogurt and add your favorite mix-ins. I love adding mashed banana, almonds and a tsp. of sugar. SO good!
On a side note, does anyone have trouble digesting hemp milk? I’ve ended up with an awful stomachache both times I’ve tried it 🙁
Christina says
Hey, I found your blog from another blog!
I love pumpkin oatmeal. I hadn’t thought of making it with muesli before.
A nice medium between hot and cold oats is to place the oats in the bowl, then pour boiling water on the oats just enough to cover. Let it “steep” for at least 5 minutes. Use less water if you want a chewier texture.
Kath says
Yaz,
Love your post! I saw that article too and actually was going to blog about it but I forgot!
mel ,
If you click on “eggplant” in my tag cloud you should get some ideas 🙂
Ella ,
You’ve got the nutr. panel correct. 1 cup is a lot – but I bet it was scrumptious!
Molly ,
I have added unsweet cocoa powder before, but I don’t think I would it with pumpkin. Banana and PB for sure!
Jane ,
Wow, so she was acting!? I don’t think I could be that mean if someone just told me I had to!
Angie ,
Love the poem!! Thanks for sharing!
Christina
Tracy says
Kath, I have an inspiration for your oatmeal or oatmeal pancakes creations. I was thinking how baked pumpkin oatmeal reminded me of pumpkin bread and thought how about zucchini bread? Think about “spiced zucchini walnut bread”. There’s a recipe on epicurious.com. I hope you come up with something! I may experiment myself, too!
Christy says
I have to say I love how you make meals such an event, with the placemats, napkins, candles, flowers, it really makes one focus on the whole event of eating and not just shoving food into our mouth in front of the TV. I’m going to try it and I bet it will make a difference. So, Thanks!
Kath says
Thanks Christy! I little candlelight and an inexpensive placemat goes a long way 🙂
Kath
Meredi says
Kath, I found a recipe where they put steel cut oats in yogurt overnight, along with some spices (I put in cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) and a sweetener of some kind (I think I put in agave nectar). It might give you the crunch/chew that the rolled oats didn’t. I quite enjoyed it, and now that I’ve seen your pumpkin rendition I might try it too! 🙂
Kath says
Meredi ,
Good idea with the steel cut – I would just think that they wouldn’t absorb as much liquid so the portion would be quite small (my “big issue” with steel cut oats). Guess I just need to experiment!
Kath
Lida says
The muesli sounds great! I totally understand the need to eat more slowly, and I tend to inhale my yogurt and cottage cheese. To prevent this from happening, i usually add either chopped or whole nuts (as opposed to slivered), and a handful of grapenuts or really small but crunchy cereal.
Your blog is great! I just started reading, which explains why i’m looking at all the old posts…