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A Monster Ate My Purple Sweet Potato Casserole Oatmeal!

October 7, 2011 · by · 9 Comments

Aaaaarrrrggghhhh!!!!

I love Halloween and am always on the look out for something slightly spooky and cool. I’ve been all about Fork and Beans blog posts this week. She’s got some amazing edible Halloween ideas. Fork and Beans, this monster is for you!

I love purple sweet potatoes because, well, they’re purple. They taste the same as orange ones but love the extra attention, making them the narcissists of the vegetable kingdom…

While you probably want to make a monster face this month, later in the winter just sprinkle some brown sugar, chopped pecans, and vegan marshmallows over the top. Even the pickiest kid can’t turn down sweet potato casserole for breakfast!

Slow Cooker Purple Sweet Potato Casserole Oatmeal
soy-free, gluten-free
2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker that’s 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

  • 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
  • 2 cups unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk
  • 1 cup chopped peeled purple sweet potato (or use a regular sweet potato)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch ground allspice
  • pinch ground cloves
  • pinch nutmeg
  • sweetener to taste (brown sugar is great, but agave, stevia, etc. will still work fine)

toppings:

  • 2 tablespoon chopped pecans (or whole ones to make monster face)
  • 2 tablespoons vegan mini-marshmallows (2 smashed with cardamom or black sesame seeds for pupils if making monster)
  • 2 tablespoon agave nectar
  • optional slivered almonds (for scary monster mouth)

The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add everything except sweetener and toppings to the slow cooker.  Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).

In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should become a more uniform consistency. If there are still chunks of potato smash them with a fork.  Add some water if it’s still a little thick. Taste and sweeten. Top with toppings and make a monster face if you’re in the mood (or just in a mood).


Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Breakfast, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Pear Applesauce Cake Oatmeal – the Oatmeal to Get You in the Mood for Fall

October 6, 2011 · by · 12 Comments


My aunt used to make the most wonderful applesauce cake every year in the fall. It was unbelievably moist and had the perfect blend of spices to get you in the mood to take a drive to look at the fall foliage. I love the color changes of the leaves.

This is my attempt to get close to that flavor. I added pears for a little twist (and because I have some ripe ones that need to be used).

You may not need any extra sweetener in this one if your pear is very sweet. My pear wasn’t and I wanted to get in an additional fall taste with the brown sugar.

** Make sure to check out my other oatmeal recipes. I have over 40 different flavors!

Slow Cooker Pear Applesauce Cake Oatmeal
soy-free and gluten-free
2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

  • 1/2 cup (40g) steel-cut oats
  • 1 1/2 cup (375ml) Unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk
  • 1/2 cup (124g) applesauce
  • 1 small pear, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 pinches (about 1/16 teaspoon) allspice
  • 2 pinches cloves
  • 2 pinches cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • sweetener of choice, to taste (I used 2 tablespoons brown sugar)

The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add all the ingredients except the sweetener. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).

In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well and add sweetener. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should be a more uniform consistency.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Cooking Time 8 hours, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Slow Cooking Basics, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Oatmeal with So Delicious Greek Yogurt

October 5, 2011 · by · 3 Comments

I love oatmeal and I love So Delicious Greek yogurt, but you want to know what’s even better? Both of them starring together in my breakfast this morning!

I tasted the blueberry and plain Greek yogurts so far, and I found the raspberry to be a little tarter. I mean tart in a good way, like closer to regular Greek yogurt. It’s perfect for a “cheesecake” oatmeal.

This may be my new favorite oatmeal. It’s creamy, tangy, sweet with a bright burst of lemon flavor and super delicious!

So Delicious sent me some Greek yogurt to try for free, but the opinions here are mine. I wasn’t swayed by their generosity, just the yumminess.

** Make sure to check out my other oatmeal recipes. I have over 40 different flavors!

Slow Cooker Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Oatmeal

2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker that’s 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

  • 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
  • 2 cups Unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • sweetener of your choice, to taste (I used 1 packet Nu-Stevia)
for topping:

The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add everything except sweetener and yogurt. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).

In the morning: Add sweetener and stir your oatmeal well. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should become a more uniform consistency. Top each serving with a liberal amount of Greek yogurt.

**See Page Link on Menu Bar to get to Slow Cooker Oatmeal FAQS

Filed Under: Breakfast, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Slow Cooking Basics, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Coffeecake Oatmeal

October 4, 2011 · by · 28 Comments

I’m back on my oatmeal obsession just in time for Vegan Month of Food. I realized fall and winter will bring even more flavors into my oatmeal mix. Plus, is it really an obsession if it doesn’t raise its head every once in a while?

In case you didn’t already know this about me, I am in love with pumpkin and winter squash. They are good for you and can be used in everything from stews and casseroles to desserts and breakfast.

In the next few weeks you can look forward to some winter squash slow cooker recipes along with more delicious oatmeal flavors that are worth getting out of bed for! (There may even be pears and apples involved too.)

Happy Fall!

** Make sure to check out my other oatmeal recipes. I have over 40 different flavors!

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Coffeecake Oatmeal
soy-free and gluten-free
2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

  • 1/2 cup (40g) steel-cut oats
  • 1 3/4 cup (437ml) Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (or plain plus 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)
  • 1/2 cup (124g) pumpkin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
coffee cake topping
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or other sweetener if you don’t use refined sugar)
  • 3 tablespoons pecans or walnuts, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

The night before: Mix toppings in a small container and cover until the morning. Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later (optional). Add all the ingredients except the toppings. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).

In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should be a more uniform consistency. Top with coffee cake topping.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Cooking Time 8 hours, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Slow Cooking Basics, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker White Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oatmeal – For Mikey

August 16, 2011 · by · 1 Comment

For those of you who haven’t heard Jennie Perillo, creator of  In Jennie’s Kitchen, lost her husband Mikey to a sudden heart attack. She had been meaning to make him his favorite peanut butter pie, but never got around to it. She asked other bloggers to make one last Friday. This is my belated version.

Most white chocolate is not vegan, but Peanut Butter and Co. White Chocolate Wonderful is.

Slow Cooker White Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oatmeal

2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker that’s 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add oats and milk. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).

In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should become a more uniform consistency. Mix in peanut butter and sweetener. Top with crushed graham crackers.

**See Page Link on Menu Bar to get to Slow Cooker Oatmeal FAQS

Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Breakfast, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Lemon Ginger Oatmeal

August 15, 2011 · by · 7 Comments

A quick note from your friend, Steel Cut Oats:

I know it’s summer, but I’m really starting to miss you. We both know that your Doctor thinks we’re a good team.  It’s about time for this little break to end.

So, as soon as you can, try this creamy, lemony oatmeal with a little ginger kick! It’s even made with your favorite – Unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk.

Just wait, you’ll see just how much you missed me too!

Slow Cooker Lemon Ginger Oatmeal

2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker that’s 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

  • 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
  • 2 cups Unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons candied ginger, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons sweetener (I used 1/2 packet Trader Joe’s stevia)
  • For serving: extra chopped candied ginger and lemon zest

The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add oats, non-dairy milk, and candied ginger. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).

In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should become a more uniform consistency.  Stir in lemon extract and sweetener. Top each serving with extra chopped candied ginger and lemon zest if you like.

**See Page Link on Menu Bar to get to Slow Cooker Oatmeal FAQS

Filed Under: Breakfast, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Slow Cooking Basics, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome HBD Readers!

June 24, 2011 · by · Leave a Comment

My kheer oatmeal recipe was posted on Healthy Bitch Daily today. So I wanted to welcome all you new viewers! (And remind my regulars it’s time to try it out again.)  Also there was a mistake in the recipe printed on their site and I wanted to make you aware of it.

The oil is completely optional and only used to coat the crock in for easier clean-up. If you are concerned about clean up, spray the crock with a little oil before adding the ingredients to the crock. You would never need a teaspoon of oil to do that. If I use oil at all I use a spray bottle and do a quick spritz.

A healthier way, that uses less calories, is to not use the oil at all. Even if you spray your crock with oil some oatmeal will still stick to the sides. To clean it out (with or without oiling to begin with) just fill the crock with water in the morning. It will come out easily that evening. I fill mine with water, then drain off the excess water and give my dog the oatmeal that was stuck to the sides. She loves it and it’s good for her coat.

You can see more oatmeal FAQS here.

So I invite those of you new to my site to try some my other oatmeal recipes:

Filed Under: crockpot, Gluten-free, Love Your Oatmeal Celebration, Overnight (8+ hours), Recipe Link, Slow cooker, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Iced Thai Tea Concentrate

June 13, 2011 · by · 6 Comments

Cooking in the slow cooker is the perfect choice on these hot, sweaty, summer days because it doesn’t heat up your house like the stove top does.  I love how inexpensive this recipe is compared to just one glass of tea at a Thai restaurant and this one is vegan, of course!

This is my second try at this recipe. I didn’t like the first batch because the spices were too subtle and got lost in the non-dairy milk. The first time I also used a whole vanilla bean and all the flavor cooked out. But I really feel like I got it this time. I added a beet to get that reddish hue that you think of when someone mentions Thai tea. But don’t worry it doesn’t make the tea taste like beets.

I love the way it’s sticky-sweet almost like a popsicle and how the orange flower water adds a floral punch to the creamy non-dairy milk. I think I have a little crush on it and it’s going to be replacing my normal iced chai for a while.

Slow Cooker Iced Thai Tea Concentrate

  • 6 cups (1500ml) water
  • 1 red beet , quartered (optional for color)
  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks, about 3 inches long
  • 4 whole star anise
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
  • 10 teabags black, green, or roobios (or about 8 to 10 teaspoons of loose tea in a very large tea ball or muslin tea bag)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons orange flower water
  • 1/2 to 1 cup (100 to 200 g) sugar (or other sweetener like maple syrup, stevia or agave nectar, or leave unsweetened if you prefer)

This is much easier to clean up if you put the spices in a re-usable muslin tea bag. It takes more work to get all the cardamom seeds out without it. You can throw the whole bag into the slow cooker and it’s easy to take out. Then just rinse the tea bag out and let it dry before you put it away. It will be waiting for the next batch of tea concentrate you make.

Put water, beet and spices (or all of the spices in a spice bag) in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours.

Remove spice bag and beets. Add in tea bags to the slow cooker and turn to high. Let seep 5 to 10 minutes depending on how concentrated you want the flavor to be. Remove teabags and add vanilla, orange flower water, and sweetener.

(If you didn’t use a spice bag, before adding extracts and sweetener – pour into a pitcher while straining out the spices through a piece of cheesecloth places in a funnel to remove the rest of the whole spice.)

Store in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. Use about 1/2 glass concentrate to 1/2 glass non-dairy milk. I like to use So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut milk which comes as no surprise, but unsweetened vanilla almond milk works well too. It’s also good with slow cooker evaporated coconut milk too.

Yields: About 6 cup (1500ml)
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 4 hours

Adagio Teas - the most popular and best reviewed destination for tea online.

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Cooking Time 4 hours, crockpot, Drinks and Syrups, Gluten-free, Slow cooker, Soy-free, Staples, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker DIY Chai – One More Time Iced…

April 26, 2011 · by · 6 Comments

I want to be the little voice in your ear this morning that tells you to make some chai concentrate! I posted this recipe in the winter, but it’s just as good if not better in the summer.

You may already have some in your fridge, but it’s my recipe and I somehow forgot that iced chai is my favorite drink in warm weather. So I thought I’d repost it for new readers (and as a reminder to you guys who have stuck with me awhile).

The slow cooker is a perfect choice for warmer weather since it doesn’t heat up your house like the stove top or oven. It may seem premature to have a summery post in April, but it was almost 90 degrees over the weekend. I was in need of a cooling drink that gives you a little boost of energy! I also love how cheap this is to make, especially when you compare it to the price of one of the boxes at your local Whole Foods!

To make an iced chai fill up a glass with ice, then add the chai concentrate (1/4 to 1/2 of your glass depending on how strong and/or sweet you made it). Fill up the rest with your favorite non-dairy milk. Of course, my favorite is So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk. If you leave out the sweetener the Vanilla So Delicious Coconut Milk adds the sweetness plus a hint of vanilla.

Do It Yourself Chai Concentrate

  • 6 cups (1500ml) water
  • 5 slices fresh ginger
  • 7 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 10 whole peppercorns
  • 8 whole allspice berries
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds
  • 10 teabags (black, green, or roobios)
  • 1/2 to 1 cup agave nectar (or other sweetener like maple syrup, stevia or sugar, or leave unsweetened if you prefer)

This is much easier to clean up if you put the spices in a re-usable muslin tea bag. It takes more work to get all the allspice berries and cardamom seeds out with out it. You can throw the whole bag into the slow cooker and then take it out just as easily. Then just rinse it out and let it dry before you put it away. It will be waiting for the next batch of chai concentrate you make.

In the morning: If you can’t find cardamom seeds, you can open up cardamom pods and extract them yourself. Put water and spices (or spice bag) in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

After cooking: Add in tea bags to the slow cooker and turn to high. Let seep 5 to 10 minutes depending on how concentrated you want the flavor to be. Remove teabags and add sweetener if desired. Take out the cinnamon sticks. If you didn’t use a spice bag, pour into a pitcher while straining out the spices through a piece of cheesecloth places in a funnel to remove the rest of the whole spice.

Store in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. It can be frozen as well.

Yields: About 6 cup (1500ml)
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 5 to 8 hours

Adagio Teas - the most popular and best reviewed destination for tea online.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Cooking Time 6 hours, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Drinks and Syrups, Gluten-free, Slow cooker, Soy-free, Staples, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Romaine Strawberry Salad with Roasted Asparagus and a Surprising Crouton

April 22, 2011 · by · 1 Comment

I posted a new salad over at Busy Vegan that’s perfect for Easter brunch or even just to celebrate spring! It’s a Romaine Strawberry Salad with Roasted Asparagus and a Surprising Crouton made from a hot cross bun! Plus it has a home-made Strawberry Mint Balsamic Salad Dressing that’s super easy to make and uses Crofter’s Strawberry ‘Just the Fruit’ Spread.

Filed Under: Busy Vegan · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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