Baked Oatmeal
Heidi Swanson’s heavenly 101 Cookbooks was one of the first blogs I fell in love with. Her recipes are wholesome and inspired. They transcend beyond the familiar and incorporate a whole range of cooking techniques and methods that I have never attempted. She challenges me, yet at the same time brings me comfort. That’s a delicious skill. Plus she has a fabulous name.
Heidi’s new cookbook, Super Natural Every Day, recently reached #6 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Naturally Heidi has been busy doing book signings and interviews, during which she generously offered a couple of recipes from her new book for hungry fans.
I cannot wait for my copy. It is currently in the post. As is a copy for one of you, my lovely readers. Leave a comment on this post and I shall choose a comment at random - or perhaps not so at random, I haven’t decided yet, you may have to woo me... just kidding. This lucky individual will receive a copy of Heidi's beautiful book, Super Natural Every Day. I'll choose a winner in one week.
Baked Oatmeal
Yesterday for breakfast I made Heidi Swanson’s Baked Oatmeal, a recipe she recently shared from Super Natural Every Day (recipe link here). I felt it would be the perfect way to start our long weekend (and to shake Ben back into the land of the functioning after a late night out).
Heidi claims this is now her favourite way to eat oatmeal, and I can see why. This is a lovely recipe, providing you with wholesome goodness that is decorated with berries and walnuts, and spiked with a little sugar and spice…and all things nice.
I halved the recipe for the two of us and I do have a small portion leftover, which I picture having over Greek Yoghurt another morning.
I used a 9cmx21.5cm loaf tin for baking, as that is what I had on hand. The recipe gives you the option of using natural cane sugar or maple syrup. I used maple as I was in a maple kind of mood. I also used a whole egg, even though I halved the recipe. I didn’t drizzle any extra butter at the end, nor did I add extra syrup - it was delightfully sweet already.
We ate our breakfast whilst sipping freshly brewed coffee and devouring the recent Gourmet Traveller - it's the Italian issue, which always brings me great joy.
As we sipped and swooned, we planned which recipes we wish to make over this blissful five day holiday we have here in Australia. Maltagliato di pane con calamari; braised duck, Valoplicella, tomato and rosemary with polenta; and spaghetti con polpette were the ones that sent our hearts most aflutter - how lustful do they sound?
I really enjoyed my breakfast, it was a great way to start my Good Friday and I will definitely be making this Baked Oatmeal again. While Ben appreciated it’s beauty, it wasn’t his favourite. Blame the alcohol and late night McDonalds run for his assessment (while I was home alone watching movies and reading Gourmet Traveller, and was sound asleep at 10pm, thank you!...nerd)
This really is a lovely recipe. I would favour it for a special breakfast, when you want to stay wholesome but are after something a little bit more elegant than your regular oatmeal. Do give it a try, and do enter my giveaway. I so wish to share the beauty of Heidi's recipes with others. Are all Heidi's this fabulous? It seems so...
