Morning all!
I tried my hand at making Fig Oatmeal this morning. I basically substituted 3-4 baby figs for the banana. While they figs taste pretty sweet, they didn’t sweeten the oats nearly as much as a banana does. But it was still good. They also curdled the milk some, but by the time the oats were done cooking it was fine. They were extra thick too, which was good because that means more chew!
The Combo:
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/3 cup 1%
- 1/3 cup water
- 3-4 baby fits
- Vanilla + salt
- Cup blueberries
- Cinnamon
- Walnuts
- Stonyfield yogurt + maple icing
I also had a small cup of coffee a little later leftover from the husband’s pot.
I had to take my car in for it’s 90,000 mile service check-up this morning. Waaaaa. It’s gonna be a hard one on the pocketbook. I HATE car stuff.
Karen (my mother in law) and I are headed up to Davidson today to do some biking and have lunch. I’m enjoying having some freedom to do things like this – the weeks are really closing in on me until school – and scary Organic Chem – starts up. 2.5 to go.
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Have fun today!
Jenn says
hey everyone, what is your best guacamole recipe? ive never made it before and want to try! thanks!
Heather says
Have fun at Davidson today! The oats look yummy- I’ve actually never had a fresh fig before.
Jenn- I usually just mash up an avocado, and add some chopped onions, cilantro, tomatoes and LOTS of lime juice. And chopped jalapeno if you like it spicy. Easy!
VeggieGirl says
Fig oatmeal?? Delish!
Have a wonderful Friday with your mother-in-law!!
Betsy says
figs in oatmeal sounds like such a great combo. i love figs sooo much, i might have to see if my market has some fresh ones to try this out!
oh-and i’ve always wanted to do girls on the run. i had totally forgoten about it-time to take a look again!
C says
Have fun at Davidson!
I wonder if I can find fresh figs around here, I always see them dried but not fresh.
Maria says
I’ve said it before, but I think it’s really nice how well you and Karen get along. I hope to have such a positive relationship with my mother-in-law one day!
Also — figs should be SWEET — at least 3x as much as a banana, like syrup, really. I submit that you haven’t had a real one until you pick them mid-afternoon on a Greek island. Brings back memories of scoring them with my grandpa at my family’s summer home as a little girl! They are literally like oozing balls of honey and taste heavenly mixed into balkan yogurt.
Mmmm….
Ruby Red Vegan says
Oh Kath, you gotta believe me when I say this: Next time make your oats with banana and figs, together. You’ll be in for a huge treat! That’s actually my favorite oatmeal combo, topped with walnuts or nut butter.
Cars are so expensive. Poo on those car dealers, always making you think you need another pricey service done.
And organic chem. Yikes is all I have to say! But you’re smart and a good studier, so I know you’ll make it through just fine.
JJ125 says
RE: Guacamole
I never measure stuff when I cook so for guac, I just use ripe avocados, a squeeze of lime, chopped red onion, jalapenos (I like my guac crazy spicy), chopped fresh cilantro, salt and pepper, and a drizzle of EVOO. I like my guac very chunky so I just roughly chop everything and mix… you could definitely do it in a food processor. You could also add tomatoes but I don’t like them so I don’t. Sometimes I will add a can of black beans to the mix (drained and rinsed then pat dry) if I want a more substantial dip. Very easy and very yummy!
Grounded Fitness says
relax as much as possible while you still can. i miss summer vacations. ah, to be in school again…
i’ve never tried any sort of fig ever. i should get on that.
www.everygymsnightmare.com
Claire says
First of all, cooking with the MIL sounds fun! Secondly, if you go at organic the way you did your classes this summer, you’ll be fine. All I can say is Follow the Electrons!
Mary Beth says
if you want my two cents…orgo was WAY easier than genchem. though it was a lot more memorization and LOTS of flashcards (which i know you love) it was WAY more interesting and applicable so i absolutely LOVED it, though i hated gen chem. so don’t stress at ALL!
Jenn says
honestly, orgo is much easier that intro chem. it doesn’t get that hard again until Physical
Liz H. says
SH-Thanks for the recommendation! The menu looks great.
I am always open for more recommendations for restraunts in the downtown Toronto area…my boyfriend gets to go to two baseball games, so I get to get spoiled going out to eat! haha
Trina says
Jenn,
A REALLY good and different way to make guacamole:
Mash up some avocado, add some chopped onion, roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, and the secret ingredient!!
Instead of LIME juice, use ORANGE juice!! (squeeze an orange don’t just pour orange juice in, haha)
My husband’s family owns an avocado grove in Cali and they have so many ways to make guac. But this seriously is a delicious way to change it up. Don’t do this one if you are looking for a traditional guac recipe though…
Sami says
I <3 figs.
I know they’re really really good for you too.
I can’t remember which vitamins and stuff they have but I know it’s a ton, lol.
Sarah says
A delicious and healthy twist on guacamole- mash avocado and cottage cheese together. It’s mild, packed with protein, and soooo good. I add lemon juice, salt, pepper and sometimes cumin or hot pepper. Yum Yum!
Nancy says
I am very insulted. I emailed you that your bike was to small and you deleted my email. My comment was to help you not hinder you.
Justy2003 says
I need to try fresh figs…I don’t think I’ve ever had them…except maybe in a Fig Newton! They had them on sale this last week…it may be time to pick some up!
Nancy: Not to butt in or anything, but I remember seeing your comment and Kath replied to it. Maybe you’re looking under the wrong post? It’s here: https://www.katheats.com/?p=6522#comments
OZlem says
LOve your website and love that you respond to questions etc. I also love that your presentation is delicious. Love your plates, bowls etc.
You are inspiring me everyday to eat healthy and thank you for that.
I wanted to say that I also buy dates (from the refrigerated section) at TJ’s and chop up to use in my oatmeal in the morning. It really sweetens the oatmeal in the absence of a good banana or without added sugar. Just an idea.
I buy from the regrigerated section and store it in my fridge as well.
I bought Chobani and was actually pretty happy with it. But I do not buy fage on a rehgular basis – too expensive for simple strained yoghurt I think. Have you tried the TJ’s version of Fage less epxnsive??/ Just an idea.
Thank you!!
rachel says
i feel your pain on the organic chem…my high school chem teacher used to tell us about the organic chem classes at UW madison where i go. “where they weed out the med school students from everyone else!” and one of the lab managers at the nutritional sciences building here also was telling me about it, saying she got 30%s on most of her tests…and shes a lab manager … soo i’m right there with you on that one. blech.
caitlinbo (see bride run) says
oooo fig oatmeal! that looks divine and different!
Tina says
Mmmmmm… figs. I need to get my hands on some ASAP! 🙂
Tracy says
OZlem-
How many dates do you add to your oatmeal? Just wondering cuz I tried it once and was disappointed because they seemed to disappear! I love them blended into a vanilla or chocolate smoothie!!!
Tracy
Sarah says
Nancy- Kath actually responded to your comment. Maybe you didn’t see it?
Teddy says
So funny, I was just talking about how much I LOVE figs yesterday. My dream house would include a fig tree 🙂
Teddy
magpie says
Yum, those figs look great. Enjoy your last few free weeks!
Re: guacamole – I have a great recipe on my blog, link: http://magpie707.blogspot.com/2008/07/classic-guacamole.html
Jillian says
Hi Kath,
That fig + oatmeal combo sounds pretty tasty. I’m going to try it this weekend!
tfh says
I actually prefer dried to fresh figs– maybe because I get my figs in Virginia rather than Greece! I also like the fact that the dried don’t shrivel that much and aren’t so much smaller than fresh.
Anyway, I’m curious– did Karen influence the husband to be health- and fitness-conscious, or was it the other way around? Either way, very cool! Have fun.
Andrea says
ahh my roommate just did ORGO this past semester. it was challenging for her (she’s incredibly bright) but if you study and keep up with the material you will do just fine! also, i’ve been keeping a food journal on my computer that I call “KERF” (ha I’m a loser). but it’s been helping me soooo much. the title keeps me motivated! thanks for everything you do!!
angelcubbie says
Does anyone know if for stuff like frozen vegetarian chick’n cutlets or boca burgers if I can let it defrost in the fridge if I plan on eating it that day? It says to keep frozen on the box until ready for use, but I’m wondering if it would be ok to let these types of things defrost in the fridge at work until I’m ready to use them for lunch later that day. Has anyone tried this?
Thanks!
JD says
angelcubbie,
Do you not have a freezer at work? I would not put them in the fridge.
ppp says
kath or anyone – i am looking to lose about 5 lbs (i am 5′ 7″ and 145 now), and calorie king suggests 1200 kcal per day (that includes negative cals for exercise) but that seems low; am i wrong?
thanks!
Serena says
ppp – calorie king told me the same thing – 1200 calories after exercise, and especially on rest days, that seemed very low. then i did a test at the dr to find out how many calories i burn just standing around and it was 1555 (I am 5’5″ and 135 and wanted to lose 8-10 lbs.) So the dr told me that 1500 is a better number for me. I think calorie king is pretty good but does not take in personal attributes – you could probably up that number and still lose weight.
rhodeygirl says
ppp- i am 5′ 7″ and 138 lbs and ck also gives me 1200 cals per day, but when i eat about 1500 a day i lose weight, i maintain my weight at about 1800 (on days with no exercise). ck has no way of knowing your body composition or metabolism so I say just listen to yourself. start somewhere (like maybe 1500) and if you lose weight with that keep it up, if you gain or maintain then lower it a little bit until you lose at the pace you like.
(p.s. i’m irbas21 on ck)
BethT says
Rhodeygirl, I added you as a friend on CK. I’m relatively new there and would like to “meet” people 😀 I’m beequeen on there if any other CK users want a new friend!
Kath says
Mary Beth,
Glad to hear you actually LIKED orgo!! My grandmother-in-law did too! I have a gut feeling I will too….and I despised General Chem because of the irrelevance so maybe I will appreciate orgo more!?
OZlem ,
Thanks for your comment 🙂
I have had dates in oats = awesome! But it’s been a while. And yes, TJ’s Greek yogurt is awesome, but I just don’t get to TJ’s that often!
tfh ,
Karen has always liked eating good quality food and fresh veggies – and she takes bike trips to all corners of the country, so I guess she rubbed off!
Andrea ,
Awww I’m flattered 🙂 They say food journals make people [insert impressive statistic here] much more successful at weight loss and maintenance.
ppp ,
Are you sure CK intended the 1200 to be after exercise?? I’m pretty sure they mean for that to be a NET amount (before) exercise, as it’s probably close to your BMR. Regardless, I’d treat it as a NET number and add back anything you burn through intentional activity.
Kath
Jenn says
what ever happened to Kiala!!?!?!?!
adria says
oh man, good luck with that organic chem. i hated that section in the science courses i’ve taken. i can’t imagine having a whole semester of it! i guess i will be taking it too here soon.
caitlinbo (see bride run) says
jenn – seriously, where is kiala!? she was so funny!
caitlinbo (see bride run) says
and if i ate 1200 calories i would chew off my arm!
lol
MKM says
Oh no – Organic Chem!! :S
I’m taking that in the fall and am kind of nervous, too!
I have heard from past Organic students that it takes a lot of studying and that flashcards are a must for lots of different reaction types, but I’m sure you’ll do as wonderfully in Organic as you do in all of your other classes 😀
R. Leigh says
I agree with Mary Beth and Jenn- orgo really isn’t so bad! I actually really liked it, at least a whole lot more than gen chem. You’re bright and motivated so I’m sure you’ll be just fine 🙂
Can I offer a little bit of advice that helped me get through two semesters of orgo + lab? Practice reaction mechanisms over and over and over and over again. I would copy the “electron-pushing” mechanism for a type of reaction with simple molecules, then try to do it again from memorization, and then try again with more complex molecules. After I had mastered the basic mechanisms (SN1 and 2, E1 and 2) everything else just “clicked” and made sense!
Good luck! And I hope your lab(s) is(are) as much fun as mine were- we did reactions with yummy smelling products like vanillin and this one that smelled EXACTLY like banana runts 🙂
Kath says
R. Leigh,
Thanks for the tips!! I could use all I can get. I love flashcards, so I guess that will be my study method of the year 🙂
Kath
sarah says
hmm, i thought organic was MUCH worse than chem! i think it depends whether you like numbers & formulas (i do) or spatial stuff (trying to ‘fold’ 3-d compounds in space to visualize reactions — NOT SOMETHING MY BRAIN CAN DO). but with your great work habits, i am confident you will be great at it! personally, i will be happy if i never have to visualize a chemical compound again.
ppp says
hmm well CK gives me 1200 kcal and then after i input food and exercise it tells me how close i came to that goal – so i assume the 1200 is to include exercise…
if it was meant to be the kcal before exercise, then i burned 200 kcal exercising, wouldnt that mean i consumed only 1000 calories a day which is too low??
i hate calorie counting!! too much math!!;)
Ozlem says
Hey Tracy – I pit and then chop 2 dates into my oatmeal (I use one pack of Kashi oatmeal+1/2 pack of hemp oatmeal) I also add 1/2 banana and use just water. Although I do want to try pb some day. TJ’s dates are huge though and they really do not disintegrate in my oatmeal.
I increased the oatmeal to 1 and 1/2 pack because my 2 year old daughter sneaks in and starts eating with me and 1 pack was not quiet enough for the two of us 🙂
BTW I see that KAth uses steel cut oats which I have and used and they are actually less expensive but Kashi fills me up better higher in fiber and protein so I tend to use Kashi more.
Thank you!!
Kath says
PPP,
You might want to read my FAQ on NET calories. That will explain the method. But I would say to make 1200 your net, so if you burn 200 through exercise you should eat 1200+200= 1400 that day.
Ozlem ,
I used old fashioned rolled oats 🙂
Kath
Johanna B says
Don’t know how I got back to reading this post. Yes I do. I was looking for oatmeal combinations to try. Anyway one of the ingredients on this one is : “3-4 baby fits” I’m sure you meant figs.
KathEats says
Haha – you are correct!