The Veggie Table: Apple Cobbler Oatmeal
September seems to be synonymous with apples. Maybe it’s because apple picking is a favorite fall activity, or back-to-school images of apples start popping up everywhere. Whatever it is, I welcome fall and its bounty of apples with open arms (and apple-picking baskets)! Apples make a nutritious and filling snack to crunch on, with their high water and fiber content. The sweet, juicy apple is also a good source of vitamin C, potassium and folic acid. Maybe it’s true what they say about eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away!
I love snacking on crisp Cortland apples sprinkled with cinnamon or dipping McIntosh apples into creamy peanut butter. And fall is my favorite time to bake a warm apple cobbler or cinnamon-spiced apple cake. But apples are for more than just snacks and sweets. They can be included in an array of exotic side, soup, breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes.
If a recent apple-picking trip left you looking for ways to eat up your abundance of apples, look no further than the first meal of the day. Apple Cobbler Oatmeal is my favorite fall morning meal. It's hearty oats and sweet, nutty crunch make me feel like I’m eating dessert for breakfast!
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- Pinch sea salt
- 1 apple, cored and diced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon crushed walnuts
- 1/4 cup fat-free milk
- A dash of cinnamon
Cook oatmeal on the stovetop according to instructions (with a pinch of salt, if desired). Stir frequently as it boils. Add diced apple about halfway through cooking. Remove from stove and stir in brown sugar, walnuts, milk, and cinnamon.
Looking for more ways to incorporate apples throughout the day? Here are some more of my favorite recipes:
Janel Ovrut, MS RD LDN, loves experimenting with vegetarian and vegan cooking. Read her food blog, Eat Well with Janel , and follow her on Twitter @DietitianJanel . Catch up on her previous posts here .
