If you would like to introduce the amazing health benefits of oatmeal into your regular diet but are having a difficult time finding a tasty way to do that, try my
Cherry-Almond Baked Oatmeal.
Oatmeal is an "all-purpose" food. It's a healthy food for ages 1-100 with properties that benefit a diabetic diet. Oatmeal is chock full of important nutrients that promote healthy growth of bone, muscle & teeth. It's full of vitamin B (necessary for a healthy nervous system & for starch metabolism), vitamin E (removes free-radicals that cause damage to the body's cells & resultant aging), calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus & both soluble & insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber slows down the body's digestion of starches & prevents a sharp rise in blood glucose levels after eating. Cooking the oatmeal in milk adds the benefits of additional calcium & protein.
Enough of the biology lesson, let's get to cookin'!
Assemble your ingredients:
1 large granny smith apple, finely chopped
3/4 cup dried cherries
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
3 cups milk (I use 2%)
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon almond extract
Prepare your baking dish & preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
I like to use a vegetable peeler to quickly remove the peel from my apple, then chop it with a knife.
Combine the first 7 ingredients.
Evenly spread dry ingredients in your prepared dish.
Bring milk, brown sugar & butter to a boil. (This photo was taken with the spices in the pan, but I've since moved them to the dry ingredients because they do not incorporate well into the boiling mixutre.)
When the mixture boils, remove from heat & stir in almond extract. Pour hot mixture over the dry ingredients in prepared pan. Stir gently to combine & even it out.
Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until milk is absorbed & oats are tender.
Serve & enjoy!
