Cranberry sauce + oats = better than I could have imagined!
We had trouble falling asleep last night because the space heater made the room waaaaay too hot! And THEN I woke up around 4am, freezing, and turned the heater on, and then had trouble going back to sleep. I was counting the minutes in sets of 10 until the alarm went off at 5am. Despite not sleeping well, I was up, so to the gym we went (by car today 🙁 ). I took it easy there with 26 minutes on the ET plus 10 on the Stairmaster (which was full when I got there). It wasn’t a very intense day, although I went through all the motions. Then the husband and I did some upper body lifting: pull-ups, dips, overhead tricep press, deltoid lift up, shoulder press, chest press.
Then we came home to make this wonderful bowl of oats! I haven’t ever added cranberry sauce before in fear that it would be too tart and/or acidic and ruin the creaminess of the oats. But today I decided to heat it up (the key!) and just put it on top as to not disturb the oat consistency underneath. This was awesome!!
I hear Cranberries are this week’s Blogger Secret Ingredient over at The Fitnessista and I’d like to participate but can someone explain what I need to do!? I’m not sure the details of the weekly contest and how it works! I’m going to use them in my lunch today too – am I allowed two entries?
The combo:
- 1/3 cup Windy Hill flax oats, 2% milk, water
- Salt pinch
- 1/2 large banana
- 2 tbsp cottage cheese (finished a container), stirred in at end
- 1/3 cup-ish cranberry sauce, heated in the microwave in another bowl
- 1 tbsp wheat germ
- Walnuts
- Wheatberries on top
- Drizzle maple syrup
I was supposed to be a tea day, but since I didn’t sleep well I chose coffee.
We’re expecting rain 😥 The green blob is moving closer and closer. After I go to Organic and back, I should have the rest of the day to study (and eat beans!) I am hoping to vote today, and go to a beer tasting the husband is doing if he does indeed do it, but both of those are up in the air depending on timing and weather.
Check me out on the world wide web!
Check out my thoughts on the story in this post: InGRAINed Habits.
HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL!!!!!!!!!
AND OMG IT’S MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!
zestycook says
Happy Friday Kath… Oatmeal and Cranberry – Can you really top that. I love it. Hope you have a great birthday weekend!
zesty
Jessica says
Oh wow! Cranberries and oatmeal, now you’re talking! A bet a stir in of pumpkin wouldn’t be bad either.
Beadie says
Hooray for using this weeks BSI! All you have to do is a post a recipe using the BSI and the leader of the week will choose the best recipe and then pass the torch to someone else. The winning recipe usually recieves some sort of gift basket.
caitlin says
kath – although im sure gina will see your entry(s), just email her.
i was allowed two entries for polenta week, so im sure she’ll let you do two entries for cranberry week.
good luck!!
VeggieGirl says
Not one, but TWO recipe entries for this week’s BSI???? Overachiever!! Haha, no worries, they both sound deeeeelish 🙂
Hooray for your story being on Shape’s website!!
TGIF!!
Megan says
Yeah for your birthday weekend! I love cranberries. I will have to try it in my oatmeal. It looks fabulous!
Amy says
beautiful oats! they look very seasonal 😀
Barbara says
Mmmmm those oats look very holiday-ish and yummy. Have a great B-Day weekend….!!!
🙂
Kat says
The oatmeal looks great; very yummy.
Must just be the day, I had the same kind of “going through the motions with little energy” this morning at the gym too. Of course here in Atlanta, it has been pouring rain for hours!
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
I’m going to have to get some cranberries so I can make sauce!
Have you guys considered a heating blanket to help keep you toasty?
Farah says
Hi Kath,
Sorry to hear that you had trouble sleeping….it’s weird because I couldn’t fall asleep last night either! Ended up making some hot chocloate and having cereal snacl…and reading Eat, Pray, Love! That did the trick….totally relaxed me…unfortunately it wasn’t till 2am 🙁
Hope you have a fabulos B-Day weekend!
-Farah
CM says
Happy Birthday! As an aspiring editor, I cringe whenever editors mess up a story and I’m sorry that happened to you.
Also, I was wondering where you get your wheat berries (and wheat germ). I have no clue what they are, but I’ve been looking for ways to spice up my oatmeal and it seems the berries would add a good crunch. I like Kashi’s Heart to Heart cereal on top of my oats once in a while, not sure if you’ve ever tried that!
Mariposa says
yummmmm… that breakfast looks more like dessert!
my sister makes a cranberry apple “tart” with oatmeal sprinkled on top.. your breakfast looked just like that!
Ali says
The cranberry oats look amazing! I can’t wait to try them with the cranberries I bought yesterday!
🙂 Enjoy your special weekend!
Caroline f says
yum!! I love love tart cranberries:) I’m planning on making some of your cranberry sauce as soon as I spot them at the store! This breakfast looks delish!
-Caroline 🙂
Caroline says
PS
Happy birthday weekend!!!
-C
Andrea says
happy friday + bday weekend! bfast looks perfect this morning 🙂
Lisa says
look at those muscles in that pic! haha you still look toned and feminine though. I think I always get scared I’ll get too bulky since i dont have a tiny frame. which I’ve realized is pretty dumb and wont happen haha
Amy says
Happy Birthday Weekend!! My birthday is today (I’m 31-eekk) and us Scorpios are the smartest bunch around 😉
I hope you are doing something special for your big day 🙂
Amy
Lauren says
Hope you have a great birthday weekend! love the cranberries in oatmeal!
Betsy says
i bought cranberries this past weekend just to make cranberry oats, which i’ve never made before. i can’t wait to make the sauce and put it in my oats!!
mags says
hi kath!
just out of curiosity, do you still wear your HRM when you work out? i know that you have gotten away from counting calories and i’m just wondering if you still track exercise calories. i have gotten away from counting food calories as well (and LOVE it!) but i still work out with a HRM and find myself getting hung up on the number of calories i burn and not being happy with my workout if i don’t burn a certain number. just wondering what your thoughts are on this! happy birthday!
Rose says
Great idea for both cranberries AND your oats! I am so behind on the Blogger Secret Ingredient contest – need to post another one next week…
Congrats again on being featured in Shape. You are definitely an inspiration – wow, I can’t believe your transformation!
Kristie says
Mmm cranberry sauce? What a great idea! I’m not a huge fan of it alone but I can see it being a great oatmeal addition!
I specifically went out looking for that article in the Shape magazine when it first came out. Congrats haha!
Bridget says
Happy Birthday weekend!! I like to celebrate my b-day for several days, so I hope you have a good one!
Allison K says
That first pic looks like dessert! A berry crumble or cobbler or something delicious. Yumm. Happy Friday and Happy Early Birthday!
Anne says
that is definitely one of my favourite oat combinations, along with a spoonful of almond butter
also good with a base of baked apple oats (add in a chopped apple instead of banana while cooking), it totally feels like a holiday breakfast
Justy2003 says
Yay birthday weekend! 😀
They still didn’t have cranberries at the store 🙁 I want some so I can make this sauce again!
Have a great Friday!
Katie Mc says
Happy Birthday weekend! I have a warning about space heaters, they can seriously raise your electric bill. My brother decided to use a space heater instead of paying for heating oil in college upstate NY. He got a $400 electric bill for January. They apparenly use a ton of electricity so it may be a better idea to use your heat and only turn it on in the zone of your house that you are in. We turn the heat off downstairs. Just a suggestion. I love adding craisins to my oatmeal.
Lee says
Wow kath cool article! you should be SO PROUD!!!!…what good news!congratulations and happy early birthday!
Megan says
There ia an award waiting for you on my blog!
Megan says
There is an award waiting for you on my blog!
Katie Mc says
I don’t know if you planned your white bean recipes yet but I love:
escarole and white bean soup
cassoulet
pasta e fagioli
hummus-sub white beans for chick peas
white bean and chicken chili
in case you are looking for ideas.
B_Hlthy says
Does anyone know the last day when the BSI recipe has to be emailed by ?
thanks!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!!
SmA033 says
Happy Birthday wknd!!!!
Biz says
B-Hlthy: go to www.fitnessista.com
Recipes are due by Sunday, October 26th by midnight. You need to post on your site, and then email your recipe to her at:
Fitnessista at gmail dot com
Happy Birthday weekend Kath!
You and your readers were so kind to leave me a comment on my site for my dear FIL on Wednesay, well today is my mother-in-laws 72 birthday!
She is my #1 fan, and if I don’t post my breakfast by 10:00 a.m., she’ll send me a side email asking “you haven’t posted breakfast yet. . . I’m still waiting!”
Thanks all! (and for the record, that’s the last birthday shout out for my family!)
Cat says
I know the story was a little messed up as you mentioned earlier, but you still look great in it and the story is still empowering to those looking to get healthy! Maybe you’ll get some new readers from that. 🙂
As for the beans… maybe a bean dip will be in your future… beans, plain yogurt… herbs/spices?? Hope the bday weekend is off to a great start!
B_Hlthy says
Thanks Biz!
Hil says
Oatmeal + Cranberry = Yum. It’s one of my favorites. I like to take dried cranberries and cook them in my oatmeal…they get all plumped up and delicious.
Mel says
I still can’t get over the difference in your pics, it’s amazing!
Happy Early Birthday!
ttfn300 says
you got some tips on the BSI above, but i did want to say happy birthday!!! have a great weekend 🙂
Marianne says
Don’t fear putting cranberries right into the oatmeal – I quite enjoy cooking my oatmeal with frozen cranberries in there. They get perfectly cooked, and you get burst of tart cranberry goodness throughout the bowl.
HangryPants says
When I “hosted” the BSI I just asked that people link to my site and then I kept track of the recipes.
magpie says
happy friday and bday weekend 🙂
Yay for wheat germ! It’s awesome!
runjess says
Have a great birthday weekend.
Thanks for linking to that article. I meant to get the magazine, but never did and just read it for free instead! I related when you said that learning to cook for yourself is important to maintaining your healthy lifestyle. I blogged about the same thing just yesterday.
Christy says
Hope you have a great birthday weekend Kath! You totally deserve it! You are an inspiration to me and my struggle trying to lose the 40 pounds I regained after 5 years. When I get discouraged about having to lose the weight AGAIN, I read your blog and it gives me hope. I am trying to do it with balance this time around instead of relying on unhealthy extremes. Keep up the fantastic work! 🙂
sharon says
Happy Birthday, Kath!! I really hope you have a wonderful day and the sun decides to shine for your special day!
Oats look great 🙂
Moran says
Happy soon-to-be Birthday, Kath!
And congrats on another featured article!
coco says
Love the mix of texture and colors (red sauce, green bowls and placement)!
Can’t wait to see how you celebrate your birthday!
gina (fitnessista) says
hey! thanks so much for the shout out and i love your BSI inclusion in the oats!!! the cranberry sauce looks delicious 😀
happy birthday weekend!! hope it’s amazing!
Kath says
Thanks for all the birthday wishes!
Andrea (Off Her Cork),
The problem is we’re both hot from about 9pm-3am and then we both get freezing until we wake up. Do they make electric blankets with timers? I think we just need to turn on our programmable thermostat that is off all night and turns on at 4:30am so it’s toasty by 5.
CM ,
I get my wheatberries from EarthFare’s bulk foods section. They are called “hard red winter wheat.” If your local health food store doesn’t have them, try http://www.bobsredmill.com.
Wheat germ is usually on the cereal aisle.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!!!!
mags ,
Funny you should ask me today because I forgot my watch at home for the first time in a while! I had my strap near my bed so I could pull it into the covers and warm it up before getting out of bed 🙂 So yes, I do still wear it. I use it more to gauge my intensity since it can vary so much day and I like to know about how far I ran (which I do judge by calories burned) when I run outside. I do look at the calories as a goal, and if I have a light day I do eat lighter – or heavier I eat more – but I consider that just going with the ebb and flow of weight maintenance (even without seeing the calories burned, you’d probably still have a good idea of how hard you worked). But ultimately my hunger has the final word. I no longer eat because I “have calories left” if I don’t need a snack nor do I go hungry if I think I “didn’t burn enough.”
Katie Mc,
Thanks for the heads up. We had this guy last year and I don’t think we noticed an energy increase, but I’ll pay more attention.
And thanks for the recipe ideas!
Christy ,
Thanks and good luck to you!
Kath
Alexia says
Your breakfast looks yummy! Your lunch title is a mouth full!
Have a great birthday weekend!
Very cool you are on the Self site!
Mara says
Happy birthday weekend!!!
I make a similar stuffed acorn squash for thanksgiving every year. Mine has cranberries, walnuts, orange, and a bunch of cinnamon. I’ll have to try yours for sure!
bobbi says
Happy Birthday WEEKEND! I made cranberries this morning and can’t wait to try them in my oatmeal. I tried them in my mini-meal snack today and it was devine! Greek honey yogurt,cottage cheese, little home made granola and some cranberry saunce on top..mmm..