Dreamy Apple Pie Oatmeal

It isn’t very often you will find me jumping on board for the latest foodie fad. I am one who like to add a new twist to the old tried and true staples my family loves. I found a new fad that seems to have done just that. I have fallen in love with these overnight refrigerator oatmeal recipes. They are super easy to throw together and have at least 101 different variations to experiment with. The only one golden rule to hold fast to, that is the ratio of 1 to 1. You want at least 1 cup of liquid to the one cup of oats. After that the possibilities are endless. One of the loved variations is the apple pie oatmeal. Start out by peeling and cutting your favorite bag of apple, just like you would for a crisp or pie. We like the pink ladies here but granny smiths or any firm apple will fit the bill. A work of caution soft apples will cook down to an apple sauce consistency so if you are looking to be able to have a bite of apple with your oatmeal steer clear. One the stove on a medium heat cook the apples with just enough apple cider to cover the apples along with a ½ cup of brown sugar 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon a sprinkle of clove and the juice from 1 orange. You can also use a tablespoon of frozen concentrate if you like. Simmer this until your apples are soft and the liquid from the cider has cooked off leaving you with what looks like apple pie filling. Set aside and let cool and try to resist eating it with a spoon. It is for the oatmeal after all. In a large bowl combine 5 cups of oatmeal, use the long cooking here or the steel cut oats, quick cooking oatmeal gets goopy fast. Add 4 cups of milk and 1 cup of cream or yogurt and add 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Mix together and add the apple pie filling and stir. I use the little ½ pint mason jars and throw em in the drawer in the fridge. You can eat it cold if you are in a hurry. My boys like it warmed up and served with a splash of milk over the top. Breakfast can be difficult for those who are trying to eat clean. This is a quick and easy breakfast that fits the clean eating bill to a T. Enjoy.