Naturally Confused
Originally published at KimMosiman.com on Feb. 25, 2017
After a week of climbing temperatures, all bets were on spring’s early arrival. The southbound geese, who had been congregating in Ada Hayden’s still open water, packed up and seemingly disappeared north over night. The ice thawed, the mud arrived and it started to smell “green” outside.
There was chatter about snow, but no one paid much attention…it was too beautiful to stay inside and watch the news! It was so nice, that I removed the winter covers from the porch furniture and enjoyed a few quiet meals there enjoying the warm evening temps.
Mother nature revealed in one setting of the sun that she was in fact, confused. She’d jumped the gun and offered the week of winter relief, quite by mistake….after all, it is only February.
I am a creature of habit. I eat things at what I consider to be “the right time”…
Grilled foods and salads and breakfast smoothies when it’s warm… soups and roasted foods and oatmeal when it’s cold.
Fruit flavored things in the mornings…chocolate flavored things in the afternoon… savory/salty things late at night…
I know it’s silly, but I can’t help it, it’s who I am
I woke up late this morning… it’s been a long week-
working 4 out of 5 days before 5am and fulfilling commitments 3 nights after 9pm.
I made a lot of shakes and ate cold protein laced cabbage slaw for most of my later meals.
I promised myself that if I made it to the weekend, crossing off the bulk of my “to-dos”, I skip the alarm and enjoy an uninterrupted cup of coffee (or two) and a leisurely breakfast!!
I opened my eyes, just a bit ago, to bright sunshine sneaking between the curtains… I hopped up to look out the window and discovered that my friend, Mother Nature had offered up apologies for her confusion, by blanketing the world in beautiful white snow.
Breakfast now fit into my lazy morning routine… warm delicious oats, tended to lovingly within the magic confines of my new Instant Pot… I hope you enjoy.
Have a wonderful weekend!
…be happy
Banana Bread Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
2 TBS butter
1 cup steel cut oats
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
3 small bananas, peeled and mashed
1.5 cups warm unsweetened vanilla almond milk**
1.5 cups hot water
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
Set Instant Pot on sauté. Melt butter.
Add oats and chopped nuts. Stir for 2 minutes to "toast".
Mash bananas in a bowl. Add ½ cup warm milk and stir to combine.
Stir banana mixture into oats along with remaining milk, water, and vanilla- stir well and cover with lid.
Turn IP off and immediately select Porridge setting. Reduce time to 10 minutes.
- Allow Natural Release when done. Quick release at 12 minutes if the pin hasn't dropped.
- Stir and serve with warm almond milk
- ** If you use cold liquids, anticipate a longer time for IP to pressurize
- If you don't have an instant pot- Spray crock pot insert with olive oil spray. Add all ingredients, INCREASING LIQUID by ½ cup (milk OR water) mixing well. Cover with lid and cook overnight (7 hours) on low.
