I awake early to a dark and cold house.
Downstairs, I flip the switch on the gas fireplace in my living room. I am rewarded with heat and light.
I keep the blinds closed. There is nothing inspiring about looking out into the dark.
Breakfast is a gift today
I reheat some of the overnight oatmeal I made earlier in the week.
I recall my dear friend who shared the recipe.
She is intelligent, beautiful and funny.
She bears a striking resemblance to Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada but with a kind heart and generous soul.
It has to be said that while I am coping with the February weather she has been in Southern California enjoying life before heading to Mexico for a month!
Meanwhile I shiver and eat hot oatmeal!
Her recipe has been posted on my inner kitchen cabinet door for years.
Steel Cut Oats Overnight
1 cup oats
4 cups water
1 tsp cardamon
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
Bring to boil, put a lid on it, leave overnight.
This is so easy that I never have an excuse to not make steel cut oatmeal.
I store it in individual bowls so that I can pop a single serving into the microwave.
My friend enjoys her oatmeal with chopped nuts, milk and maple syrup.
I also add or substitute, at times, blueberries, chia seeds, currants and a tablespoon of Bliss peanut butter.
Eggs on oatmeal?
Speaking of oatmeal…
A gym buddy cooks her oatmeal in chicken broth and then serves it with a poached or soft boiled egg.
I tried it and it tasted great. The texture bothered me so I returned to my traditional oatmeal dish.
I like poached or soft boiled eggs over quinoa or over toast.
The microwave just beeped.
Time for some hot oatmeal and a cup of coffee before heading to the gym.
Happy day from Portland, Oregon!!
Lori Greer in Portland 
Oatmeal is a good idea! 🙂 I like it with brown sugar and heavy whipping cream. Yummy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once the chill is off the house and breakfast is on, things look brighter and cozier.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that sounds simple, safe and succulent (ok, that last was just an ‘s’ word, not something you normally associate with oats) 😀
Just the way to start a day Lori, especially with your side of the world still so cold. I can lend you 20 or 30 degree’s if you wish, I’m looking forward to our Autumn to just take the edge of the outside furnace. Great swimming weather though. Have a great day! 😀
Enjoy your gym, it will warm you up getting you ready for Spring 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually I love the changing seasons. Spring will be here before long and then summer with some uncomfortable highs.
Swimming weather sounds lovely. I used to go to a heated indoor pool even with snow on the ground. It was lovely!
Enjoy your day and think “cool” thoughts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Cooling” as we speak. We have a lovely cool breeze that arrived last night and supposed to last a few days. Now I can really enjoy a coffee on the beach and watch the wildlife. The drought and fires has pushed many birds onto the coast and into the suburbs, and we are seeing so many birds that are normally not seen. Beautiful big red and green King Parrots, Black Cockatoos and rare of rare (for this area anyway), and I admit for all the years I’ve lived “in the bush” and never seen, was a pair of Wompoo Fruit Doves. The colors stood out so much I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Actually now you have mentioned it, there is a heated pool here, I may test it out for this winter 😀 🙏🏽
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am curious, why “Steel cut” oats? We have plain oats and rolled oats here…..
❤ Jeanne
LikeLike
I believe that steel cut oats are the least processed of all. Also, I have like the relatively rougher texture.
Wish I could send you a heart but I can’t locate the icon on my laptop. Hugs, Lori
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lori, just copy and paste this heart ❤️ or if you use these next two together without the apostrophes ‘:’ ‘D’ it will create a heart on most computers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and at least 2 spaces after the last word you write before the heart. For some reason if you put the ‘:”D’ only after one space it won’t work. Must have something to do with the ascii code it represents in the computer. The copy and paste of the heart should be fine wherever you place it 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or go here and have lots of copy and paste icons 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋 🦘 🐬 🐳 🌺 🌹 🌈
LikeLike