Teacher in the Kitchen: How to make baked oatmeal

Almost every teacher I know is also a bit obsessed with food. Teachers want easy, quick, healthy recipes to make for their families on weeknights. They want to know tricks for making cooking easier, quicker, and healthier. Teachers want to have tasty leftovers to enjoy during their leisurely* lunches, and they want to find ways to do it all on a budget!

They also want to be able to bring the potluck/treat-day dish that everyone talks about. 

Up until about 3 years ago pasta, grilled cheese, and frozen pizza were pretty much the extent of my cooking repertoire. When I was 33 and pregnant with my second child, my husband was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. We had to change almost everything about our eating habits, so I taught myself how to cook. 

This summer I'd like to share with you some recipes and tricks that I find useful. 

I love making baked oatmeal. It's perfect for any meal. The leftovers are tasty. You can put it all together in about 15 minutes. It's healthy (at least this recipe is). Kids will eat it.

This recipe can be played with quite a bit and still turn out reasonably well. I got it from my sister, and when she wrote it down her directions actually said things like: maybe 1/2 c brown sugar, I just add whatever I think.

Mix these Ingredients:

4 c of oats (doesn't matter if they are old fashioned or quick)

1/2 c of brown sugar (try less if you want, you can always put more on once it's in the bowl)

2/3 c applesauce

2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

2 c of milk

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 c frozen fruit 

Put the mixture into a 9x13 pan and bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.

Ways this can be varied:

I don't use pumpkin pie spice. I use about a teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves and maybe some ground ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. 

You could chop up an apple instead of the frozen fruit.

I've used very ripe, mashed bananas instead of applesauce, or to reduce the sugar.

You can substitute some flour if you are a little short on oats.

If I don't have brown sugar, I've used white granulated sugar.

*UPDDATE: just made it with a 1/4 c of apple butter and mashed banana instead of applesauce. WOW!*

Click on the image for a printable PDF.

If you are a teacher-blogger with a recipe, tip, or kitchen story that you want to share I hope you'll link up below. Please use this graphic in your post. There's a little space, so you can add a little thumbnail if you'd like. In true "Not very fancy" style, I did not pay to have thumbnails included in the linky, but I will promote your post on social media. :)

*sarcasm

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