Whenever the phone rings in the middle of the night my heart jumps out of my chest and I panic just a little on the inside. Less so since the bakery opened since Matt occasionally gets calls that the mixer is stuck or so-and-so slept through their alarm.
Around 6 this morning he gets a call from a different zip code. He answered it and quickly left the room. I, of course, started to worry.
Then I hear the following words coming from the spare room:
CHOCOLATE……BROWNIE……SUGAR.
I knew things had to be OK and smiled. As it turns out, he was talking to another bakery owner who was inquiring about the Chocolate Bliss Cookie recipe!
Ah the life of a baker 🙂
Oatmeal was ready for me just as I woke up this morning. I had about 5 pages left in Catching Fire and took it back to bed to finish reading! Our basement can be so dark and our bedroom is SO bright in the AM, that I’m enjoying this ritual for its cheerful start.
I’ve been out of rolled oats and keep forgetting to pick up more, so when this duo of oatmeal mix came yesterday as an OpenSky product, I dumped some into the rice cooker and set the timer.
These get an RDs thumbs up for ingredients and nutrition:
Real food, and no added sugar! High in protein and fiber from the grains, chia and flax too.
Into the rice cooker went: 1/2 cup Holly’s multigrain oatmeal and 1.5 cups water. Porridge setting – go!
I stirred in a third a cup of milk when it was done. This always turns it into soup! That’s OK with me and I like the protein and calcium milk adds, but I have to think of other alternatives to keep the oats thicker and myself in my bed until it’s ready.
Topped with Mexican Hot Chocolate Nuts About Granola (was on sale at OpenSky last week – has a great spicy kick to it!) and Whole Foods peanut butter drizzle.
I have tons of things to do for the new blog (I forgot how difficult setting one up is!), a lunch date and bakery work to do today. Have a great one!
Krissy @ Shiawase Life says
Ahhhhh, to go back to bed and read in the morning….bliss!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
Looks like a great product – similar to Better Oats Raw, which keeps me full for hours with the mix of grains!
Christina says
Zip or area? After overhearing CHOCOLATE and BROWNIE, I would have wanted a brownie for breakfast. 🙂
KathEats says
Hahah – AREA code!
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie says
I agree! It would have been either brownie or brownie oatmeal on the mind 🙂
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde says
I can’t believe you only had 5 pages left of Catching Fire to read! There’s no way I would have been able to put it down before bed. You must have been exhausted by the excitement of yesterday 🙂 Hope you liked the series; I really enjoyed those books. I’m finally going to catch up with the times and read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soon.
KathEats says
I literally fell asleep! So tired 🙂 Can’t wait to start the next one!
Jen says
I’m reading thd Tattoo one now too. Slow start, but it’s starting to get a little more interesting now. Hope it picks up and lives up to the hype though!
Kim says
It will! The series is AMAZING! I liked it better then *gasp* the Hunger Game series. Not really comparing apples to apples (stories to stories?) but you get my point! 🙂
Liz says
Hi Kate,
Do you have something on your blog talking on the exprience on opening your bakery?. We are looking to open our own bakery and any tips would be great!.
You are really loving your rice cooker! I bet is nice to wake up and have the bf ready 🙂
Another question I had for u (even must be a bit late for questions) is why have you reduced the veggies on your diet? Is because you don’t feel want to eat too much of them? Or because you rather have more calcium and proteins for the baby? (Just curious, I haven’t had a baby)
Becca says
She explains this in her Itty Bitty Details post. Veggies have been making her sick!
Liz says
Oh yes, I missed that part yesterday when read the blog. Thanks. I was too excited for the news!! HA! 🙂
KathEats says
If you look for http://www.katheats.com/tag/greatharvest you will find all of the bakery related posts. You might have to dig back a little bit to find the older ones about start-up. We opened on June 3, 2011.
And yes, veggies are unappealing.
Liz says
Lovely! Thanks Dear!
Becca says
To prevent the soupy oats, what about adding yogurt to the oatmeal instead of milk? Or adding chia seeds to soak up some of the extra liquid? …but the latter would require some more waiting time.
KathEats says
Yogurt is a good idea..I’m always afraid of it separating in the hot oats, but I guess I don’t care too much about cottage cheese in there.
Amy says
Can you reduce the amount of water you use and add milk during the cooking process? (or do you not do that because you add the oats and water the night before?) I usually make my oats with just water, but I feel like I would do either water or milk, but not both, or not as much water if also adding milk. Anyway, now I’m wishing I had oats for breakfast instead of an egg scramble!
KathEats says
well I want them to be ready when I get up, so I don’t want to have to do anything midway through. I’m sure I’ll figure something out. Cottage cheese sure is a good solution!
Kimberly says
Yogurt doesn’t separate in hot oats, at least not in my experience. I think as long as you use a dense Greek yogurt, which has a better protein count, it’s fine.
KathEats says
I will try it!
Emily G. says
I was loving the ingredients until I got to barley – I’m allergic! BOOO!!!!! They do look delicious though!! And such cute packaging!!!!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Yummy combo! Robin’s egg blue and sunny yellow make for a very cheery breakfast setting! Your off to a great start to the day! Not such a sunny start to our day here, though the temperature is nice and crisp. Hopefully I will get started on my next chocolate adventure in baking…first attempt last week… not so good. Just needs tweaking…so much fun!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
Specialty oatmeal with no added sugar?! I need that oatmeal in my life. 🙂
I’m hosting a giveaway today for V-Day cookies form Cookie Underground, a company that makes cookies from veggies. Thought you might be interested – you know, extra nutrients for the baby. 🙂
katie @KatieDid says
oh man they called at 6! startling! Glad everything was okay. I’ve never thought to set my rice cooker overnight, something about leaving an appliance on unattended scares me but I guess I’ve done it with a slow cooker during the day before plenty of times.
Andrea @FrSeed2Stomach says
With all the knowledge you have from this blog, starting a new one has to be SO cool! I can’t wait for its launch!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Chocolate and Brownies are two words I wouldn’t mind waking up to. It would be better if I woke up to the smell of chocolate and brownies. 🙂 Yum! I love that polka dot bowl! Can’t wait to read your new blog!
Erin says
You have such a feel-good blog. I can’t get enough. Thanks for the daily inspiration 🙂
KathEats says
Thanks Erin, what a nice compliment 🙂
Khushboo says
When the new blog is up, will you still be posting thrice a day?
KathEats says
On KERF? Yes. 3 meals!
New blog will be posting when I feel like it
Kaitlyn says
Oo good! I’m glad to hear this! 🙂
nickee says
Yay!! I love the 3 food journal type posts. so many other blogs have gotten away from this and have turned into recipe blogs…which is ..eh…ok… but I prefer the food journal entries since thats why I started reading food blogs in the first place! 🙂 LOVE your pictures btw.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
We own a bunch of rental properties and anytime the phone rings between the hours of 10pm-7am, I know it can never be a good thing. I usually cringe waiting for my husband to spill the news about whatever household thing isn’t working properly. Thankfully, I’m not the one who has to (or can really) deal with it 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
What an interesting wake-up call! The oats sound delicious – love the goji berries and chia seeds in there. Need to track some down! Have a fun lunch date!
Cait's Plate says
Hmm, did I stop getting your OpenSky updates!? I haven’t seen a notice about your new products in a while! I thought maybe you just hadn’t had any…I’m going to have to figure this out!
Regardless, that granola sounds fab!
KathEats says
Hmmm – There have been quite a few newsletters going out. And there is GRANOLA coming up soon so you won’t want to miss that!
Cait's Plate says
AHHHHHH!! I just fixed my newsletter settings – somehow they changed on me! THANK GOODNESS I fixed that before the granola!! 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
That’s definitely a good wake up call! Chocolate and sugar! Have a great day Kath!
DadHTP says
Congratulations!
KathEats says
Thanks DadHTP!!!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Can’t wait to read your new blog! 🙂
Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says
I lost my rice cooker in hurricane Irene when my basement flooded with 4 feet of water! I kept telling myself that it was down there because I never used it. You have made me rethink my decision of not replacing it. Although, I am afraid I will start eating too many grains if I have one. I love them all and overeat them when I do include them in a meal. I cannot help myself, they are just so good.
Courtney@Translating Nutrition says
The phone ringing that early would certainly give me a heart attack. Glad it was about cookies 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading your new blog. I’ve got serious baby envy 🙂
MaryBe@Accidentally-Vegan says
Love how happy and upbeat you sound in this post! Babies (and babies on the way) are magical
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
YUMMY! That b-fast looks rockin’!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
phone calls in the middle of the night would freak me out too! I always feel like only bad things are happening when you get a call like that, but I guess not when you have a business that’s still running in the middle of the night!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life says
Maybe adding chia seeds to the liquid while the oats are cooking might help thicken it up? Just a suggestion 🙂
Karen says
I love that nutriional profile, especially glad there’s no added sugar and salt – so common with packaged cereals. And, the packaging is adorable!
Again, every happiness to you and Matt…I haven’t stopped smiling since I’ve heard your news! 🙂
clare @ fittingitallin says
Mexican Hot Chocolate was my winning flavor from their contest! It’s definitely different – very good on top of banana “ice cream”. Glad you like it!
KathEats says
Oh fun!! It was good 🙂
Ida says
With all the late-night calls and early morning wake ups for the bakery you guys will be well prepared for a baby’s schedule!
Lindsay @ Running the Windy City says
The flavors of those oatmeals sound delicious! Cranberry Almond & Goji Berry… yum!
Hilliary @Happily Ever Healthy says
That oatmeal sounds delicious! Cannot wait to read your new blog!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Glad that the middle of the night phone crisis was nothing more than chocolate, brownie, and sugar….whew! 🙂 I grew up in a house where if the phone rang in the middle of the night for my dad, it was not a good thing and quite that easy so middle of the night calls are never good. But chocolate ones are at least palatable, sort of 🙂
Annie says
Congratulations, Kath!!!
I am so excited for your new blog. Your blog here is so bright, happy and cheerful; it’s what I look forward to every morning. Plus, I get so many wonderful ideas from your food pics! Kath, I have no idea how you can make oatmeal and cereral breakfasts so gorgeous Every. Single. Day., but you do and I love it. All your different bread, though, kills me; I wish I was on the same coast so that I can buy 10 loaves from your shop a day, because this carboholic’s getting tired of drooling over my keyboard, haha!
Thanks for sharing your creations every day. 🙂
KathEats says
thanks Annie 🙂
Megan says
In my next life…I want to own a bakery! Even if it involves hearing about chocolate chips early in the morning!
Victoria says
Congratulations Kath and Matt!
I cannot wait to see the new blog! How exciting to hear about your pregnancy along the way!
Ps- Enjoy every moment, and thank you for sharing !
🙂
laurie says
I just want to thank you for all the thought and effort (and beautiful pictures) you put into your blog. It is the first thing I check in the morning and the last thing I check at night. I lOVE coming here and I really appreciate your happy, positive attitude and healthy outlook and lifestyle! I’ve been with you since the beginning and you’re blog has really inspired me and blessed my life!
KathEats says
Thank you Laurie!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Mexican hot chocolate granola sounds fantastic!!! I’ve never heard of a flavor like that!
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
your oatmeal looks delicious! question for you regarding flax… (it made me think of it when i saw it was in our oatmeal) i read somewhere that whole flax seeds aren’t as good for you as ground flax because the nutrients don’t absorb into your body as well. do you know if this is true?
KathEats says
That is indeed true. Flax must be ground to get the nutrients out. However, whole flax won’t hurt you and still acts as good fiber!
Stephy C says
Ok, totally off topic, but I missed your posts for about the past week.
Congratulations!!! So wonderfully happy for you! Yay! Woohoo! Yippee!!! 🙂
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
Your breakfast looks amazing… I really need a rice cooker!
Jenny says
Wow. If only more products had an ingredient list like that.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I am so pumped about the new blog – I love everything and anything that has to do with pregnancy/babies, so I can’t wait!!!
Aria says
Just wanted to say a (late) Congrats on your bun in the oven 😉 I’m so excited for you & Mayfair can’t wait to read the new baby blog!
Aria says
Correction: I’m so excited for you & matt and I can’t wait…
Dumb auto correct! Haha 🙂
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning says
I am very, very jealous of your morning!!
I used my rice cooker for the first time last night to make savory oats for dinner. They were definitely VERY fluffy (and delicious)! I’ll be experimenting with grains all throughout the week, and can’t wait for the weekend when I can set it to cook my oatmeal while I’m at the gym!
Claire says
The life of a baker sounds pretty fantastic. What better way to wake up than to hearing about brownies? 😉
Hope you get to enjoy this amazing weather today!!
Sarah says
always excited to hear about new oat product! thanks.
Sara says
You blog posts on oatmeal cooked in your new rice cooker has made me seriously consider getting one too!!! Can you tell me where you got your rice cooker? did you have to order it online??? Thanks so much! LOVING all your breakfast posts as usual!! Hugs!
KathEats says
I ordered it from Amazon.com – easy as pie. Love it!
Sara says
Thanks, Kath! I’m off to amazon now to check prices :))))
Sara says
So, I researched the exact rice cooker you got from amazon, and found it on ebay for $128, so I’m super excited!!! It’s my Valentine’s present from the hubby. 🙂 so sentimental, i know, but I’m so excited and can’t wait to have my own rice cooker make oatmeal for me in the morning!!! Please keep the rice cooker blog posts coming, they are so inspiring! blessings!
KathEats says
Steal!!! way to go!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
Yum, mexican hot chocolate granola! Sounds amazing!
Kathy says
What do you do to your peanut butter to get it to “drizzle” into your morning oats? Mine is always big gloppy spoonfuls. What’s your secret?
KathEats says
The secret is buying brands that are in the liquidy side. Whole Foods is one of them!
beth says
Could you just drink the 3rd of a cup of milk on the side? That way you get the nutrients but don’t turn your oatmeal to soup.
KathEats says
Another great solution 🙂
Deirdre @ Oh Well Whatever says
Have a great day. Where was the orange juice this morning? I was obsessed with oj when I was pregnant. Never drank it before and don’t drink it now but could not get enough while I was pregnant!
KathEats says
Didn’t have any – had water instead. But I did have some after my workout!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Ahhh I hate that feeling when you think something is wrong. Maybe you could stir Greek yogurt in your oatmeal? It would still be thick and not soupy 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Holy yum!!
Am I the only one missing out on Hunger Games???
KathEats says
Yes. Read them!
TeenyLittleSuperChef says
Isn’t it sad that we now have to classify foods like oats as “real” because there’s so much fake crap out there trying to be passed off as real food (ahem, Twinkies). I looked at the ingredient list on the side of a packaged baked good the other day and could barely pronounce any of the words listed. Kinda sad, huh? Oh well, I’m hoping someday we can go back to the time when there was no question as to what something was made from. If it said dried plum, it was just that. A dried plum. Not a plum with a bunch of sweeteners and preservatives. Ho-hum. Sorry to go off on a little tangent, but stuff like that really irks me sometimes. Your oatmeal looks absolutely delish, by the way. I love porridgy oats much better too. Kinda like an hot oat smoothie 🙂
Williamsburg Baby says
Very excited to hear you are expecting. I’m also due in August, and am about 14 weeks along now. Also dipping my feet into the brave new world of baby blogs (though I’m not sure about the baby bump photos just yet.) Your healthiness during your first trimester is pretty darn impressive. I’ve been craving sour patch kids like mad!
KathEats says
Sour Patch Kids sound pretty good to me!
Lauren says
You’ve Inspired me to make my own blog! Check it out if you get a chance! any suggestions?
also you said you got the oatmeal from open sky but I cant find it on there?
Thank you so much for the inspiration!
KathEats says
Congrats Lauren!
Hillary says
This is going to sound so lame, but I don’t think I could ever eat my breakfast in bed because I’d never get the motivation to get back OUT of bed!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
I’m always afraid of the phone ringing in the middle of the night or early morning. I always assume the worse. I’m glad it was only a bakery emergency for you!
Holly’s Oatmeal sounds wonderful! The flavors and ingredients are my favorites!
Nancy says
I love your blog and am even more excited now that we’ll be able to follow you through parenting. Just wanted to let you know that its ok with me if pregnancy/kid stuff comes up on the blog despite what was said in the comments yesterday 🙂
KathEats says
🙂 I’ll definitely be writing about it within the context of life (like today’s lunch post) but I’m saving the more topical posts and updates for the new blog.
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
hehe life of a baker indeed!
Holly says
Kath,
You are adding too much water to my Oatmeal cut back and trust me it will be real thick! Or do what I do and do half water and half milk. But your adding about a half of a cup too much liquid. Thanks for the plug. Holly of Holly’s Oatmeal
KathEats says
Hi Holly,
This was the right amount for a rice cooker – it was a fine texture when it was finished. It’s just that I added milk at the end, which made it too runny. My mistake.
Holly says
Kath,
Their are no mistakes everyone cooks things difference do what you like! I cook mine in low fat milk because I like it real creamy. Some people tell me they use heavy cream, some even use butter can you tell I’ve been in the South. Do what you like its great just that people are eating more grains.
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Oatmeal in bed sounds like a great idea!
Blessing @ Working Mom Journal says
By the way my husband is in need of those granola, he’s been bugging me to get more. How can I get those? Pretty please?
KathEats says
OpenSky deal – likely the last week of Feb. If you get my newsletters, you’ll be prepared!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Thumbs up for nutrition! Thumbs down for potential contamination with nuts. 🙁
Angel7 says
I have never seen Mexican Hot Chocolate Nuts before. They look good!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
I feel like I say this all the time but I like that linen. Is it new? 🙂
~Christy says
Ah the creative projects — both internal and external — can wipe a person out! Hope you’re having fun with both 🙂
Jess@atasteofconfidence says
I hate middle of the night calls. They make me nervous. Glad yours was just about chocolate!