Fig Newtons must have superpowers.  How else could they transform from a cookie to oatmeal? ;)  Not that this morning's breakfast tasted exactly like fig newtons, but it sure tasted quite similar to the original, figgy goodness (and it's really the thought that counts, right?


Fig Newton Oats (serves 1)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
3 dried figs, chopped
Tiny dash ground ginger
Tiny dash ground cinnamon
Sweetener, to taste (optional, I didn't add any)
Coconut frosting (aka coconut butter :)

Directions:
Combine the oats, water, and almond milk in a small pan.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook until creamy (about 5-10 minutes).  Stir in the walnuts, figs, spices, and optional sweetener.  Scrape into a bowl and top with the "frosting."

Fig newtons transformed:

So, you can now have cookies for breakfast, not fill bad about it, but still have an amazing breakfast (I mean, who doesn't want cookies for breakfast? :)


Now, I've got to show you this picture.  I'm going to a friend's how tonight, and we all have dress up like a certain character.  We didn't get to pick who we were, but I guess my friend knows me well - I was deemed the personal chef:

Haha - I'm so excited for tonght!

The daily question: Do you like fig newton's?
Both my dad and I love them!  Thankfully, I just found a way to enjoy them in a more healthful fashion :)

First, the oats:

I dedicate the following bowl of Almond Joy oatmeal to Heather of Heather Eats Almond Butter as it was her birthday yesterday!

I cooked 1/2 cup rolled oats in 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup almond milk.  When they were done, I stirred in a spoonful of almond butter and then poured the oats into the bowl. Next, I topped it with coconut butter and sprinkled it with carob chips (of course, chocolate chips would work too).  Mmmmm... Heather's birthday allowed for a delicious breakfast for me :)


Happy birthday, Heather!  I hope it was as wonderful as you deserve!


Now, for the flops (I'm telling you, that smoothie was bad luck ;)


Flop #1 : I attempted a pumpkin-peanut butter cup:

It seemed logical.  I mean, anything involving pumpkin and peanut butter has to be at least decent, right?  Wrong.  The little cup above literally had no flavor.  At all.


Flop #2 : I tried my hands at empanadas.
Before being baked (looks kind of like a stegosaurus):

Done and on my plate:

Talk about bland - that little boat above was even worse than the pumpkin-peanut butter cups!  I wanted to use the trash can as a hoop and play basketball with the empanadas, and my dad suggested that I use them as a defense weapon against burglars.  In the end, however, I kept them.  I still don't know what came across me - I guess I just didn't want to waste them.  But now I have nine more of them to eat!  I spot some suffering in the near distance ;)  
Of course, my mom was so sweet about both flops.  She said that the pumpkin cups were all right (with an encouraging smile), and she told me that the empanadas were pretty good and maybe just needed a little salt.  (Aren't parents the best comforters?)

One (or two) final pictures:

My horsey!!!!!!!!

The beautiful Rockies!!  



The daily question: Have you had any food flops lately?
Mine normally come about because I try to make the food too healthy, the food sticks to the pan (this happens to me every time with waffles!), or sometimes, it just plain doesn't work.

Deep in the darkness where the trees were lined with frost and the ponds were covered with a thick film of ice, there was a girl faced with a terribly conflicting decision.  She desperately wanted pesto, yet she longed for oats.  There is only one choice for a person to make in a position such as that - make Savory Pesto Oats!  Not only do they satisfy every party in question, but they will also warm you from the inside, should you ever find yourself in a position resembling the one above.


Savory Pesto Oats

Ingredients:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup rice milk (or other milk)
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons pesto 
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 ounce goat cheese, crumbled

Directions:
Combine the oats, milk, and water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer until the oats are creamy, around 7 to 10 minutes.  Remove the oats from the heat and stir in the pesto, nutritional yeast, and garlic powder. Pour oats into a bowl and top with goat cheese.

To make vegan: either omit the goat cheese or replace it with a vegan cheese.

The ingredients:

The result:

Yes, it is as good as it looks.


The daily question: What's your favorite oat combination?
For me, any oat combination makes for an excellent meal!