Breakfast

More Weekend!

Happy Monday!

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(says mow-mow the cat—he belongs to Ryan’s aunt and uncle)

Not to rub it in, but Monday is still part of my weekend! 😉 This morning I did set my alarm though for 6:15 because I don’t want to sleep in and then not be able to fall asleep early tonight. I actually ended up waking up 5:45 though and just laying in bed until my alarm went off. Oh well. I guess I’m just destined to be an early bird for the rest of my life.

For breakfast this morning I made a large and delicious bowl of oats. I used 3/4th cup oats, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup water, 1 scoop peanut butter, cinnamon and brown sugar:

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And to drink, hot rooibos tea with stevia. The bad thing about having Monday be part of my weekend is that every other normal person is at work so I sort of have to spend it by myself. I thought there was a 9:00 yoga class at my studio but it turns out its “mommy and baby yoga”…..definitely NOT me. So, I’m planning on heading over there at noon instead for a 12-1:30 bikram class.

Two questions for yall:

1.) does anyone have the exact method to making your oatmeal the night before?? I have tried before but it always ended up sort of hard.

2.) does anyone have an awesome white bean spread/dip recipe? I really want to make some because white beans are better for my dosha type than garbanzo beans but I don’t have a good recipe yet.  Anyone?!

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  • Erin
    January 26, 2009 at 7:39 am

    I don’t have any help for your questions, Sorry! But your oatmeal looks yummy and I wanted to say that Monday is part of my weekend too! Yay.
    I also wanted to thank you for all your yoga inspiration. I have made a resolution to get back into yoga myself, and I am already re-addicted. Its the best!

  • Shannon
    January 26, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Hi! I love the white bean dip from Giada de Laurentis:

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/white-bean-dip-with-pita-chips-recipe/index.html

    I hope that helps! Thanks for the tip on yogadownloads.com- I thought it would be weird to listen to yoga, but I love it! Thanks!

  • sp
    January 26, 2009 at 7:55 am

    Yes! Giada DeLaurentis and Ellie Krieger both have pretty awesome recipes. I would go for Giada’s, it has a little better flavor. Yummo! You can find it on foodnetwork.com

  • AbbeysMom
    January 26, 2009 at 7:58 am

    Jenna,
    I make a big batch of oatmeal on the weekend. I almost follow the directions exactly besides using Vanillia Silk (light) and adding some flax. The only thing I suggest is undercooking it just a bit so that the liquid is not completely absorbed. I was just looking for the “overnight oats” recipe on Friday and was not successful. If you really mean the “no bake” sort of oatmeal I am sorry to disappoint, but I hope you find one, becuase I could use the timesaver.

  • Anna
    January 26, 2009 at 8:00 am

    I’m a college student, so I like to prepare a big batch of oats at night so I can just microwave a portion in the morning before class. Basically I make them on the stovetop like normal (1 part oats to 2 parts water, plus banana/sugar/what have you) then pour it into tupperwares and stick it in the fridge. Then in the AM I scoop out the portion I want into a bowl and mash it up with a couple tablespoons of water, or however much is needed to re-hydrate it. Then I microwave for a minute or two and dig in!

  • Jasmine (Sweet and Fit)
    January 26, 2009 at 8:02 am

    I don’t ahave a good white bean dip recipe (sorry!), but I have tried this recipe from whole foods for overnight oats, I really liked it:

    http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=345

  • joyful
    January 26, 2009 at 8:03 am

    I find if I make oats before I absolutely have to add more liquid to it, microwave it, stop it, mush the liquid and the oats together, and keep heating it up, otherwise it’s like a big cold hard block of oatmeal brick.

    That cat is a cutie!

  • gina (fitnessista)
    January 26, 2009 at 8:04 am

    hey girly,
    i have no clue about the oatmeal (been wondering that myself), but i have an awesome white bean dip recipe.. i actually made it this weekend
    1 can canellini beans, rinsed
    1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt (i used goat’s milk yogurt last time and it worked wonderfully, but you can use whatever you would like)
    2 cloves of garlic
    hefty sprinkle italian seasoning
    1/4-1/3 cup sundried tomatoes (i’ve used the dried ones before, but it’s also awesome if you use the marinated in olive oil ones)
    salt and pepper
    just throw it all in a food processor and serve with crostini, crackers, or pita wedges

    hope you have a happy monday!

  • molls
    January 26, 2009 at 8:16 am

    gina’s recipes looks really good, but i also wanted to put in my rec for giada’s recipe. it’s great, and i usually add a tiny bit of rosemary to mimic the cannellini soup i ate so often in italy. enjoy your day!!

  • fitforfree
    January 26, 2009 at 8:22 am

    steel cut oats are easy to make ahead of time . . . and on the white beans, I always just blend a can with some veggie broth, garlic, black pepper, and adobo seasoning — it’s simple and good!

  • Laura
    January 26, 2009 at 8:27 am

    i love this white bean hummus from molly wizenberg. it’s delish.

    http://orangette.blogspot.com/2005/05/little-family-large-appetite.html

  • Jenny
    January 26, 2009 at 8:30 am

    I love that dollop of pb on top…I’m curious about overnight oats too!

  • Paige
    January 26, 2009 at 8:31 am

    I use the quaker oatmeal packs for my oats. They call for 1/2 cup of water (milk) per packet. When I make my oats the night before (2 packets), I always add about 1/4 cup of water more than called for. When I heat the oats up the next morning at work, they are perfect! If I don’t add the extra water (or milk), they are hard and too thick.

  • Sarah W.
    January 26, 2009 at 8:31 am

    I think whole foods.com has arecipe for white bean dip!!!

    also Trader Joe’s has a DELISH white bean & basil “hummus” which I think would be totally easy to re-create at home! i’m guessing its just white beans & basil blended up? doubt theeres any tahini in that one

  • Anna
    January 26, 2009 at 8:38 am

    Use your Mondays to run errands while everybody else is at work! It’s such a nice feeling to walk into a nearly empty store that would ordinarily crowded during the weekend.

  • brandi
    January 26, 2009 at 8:41 am

    I wish I had today off! 🙂

    If I make oats in advance, I usually do a big batch in the crockpot with steel cut oats or mixed grains (check http://www.freewebs.com/hwc1973 for a few recipes I’ve used in the past).

    I always add some water to heat them up, then some milk on top or mixed in, too.

    As long as you add some more liquid when heating them in the morning, they should be fine.

    Enjoy your day!

  • Sarah (Tales of Expansion)
    January 26, 2009 at 8:44 am

    yay, enjoy your weekend day to yourself!!
    i usually make my oatmeal ahead of time — either in the crockpot or on the stovetop. when i’m ready to eat it, I sometimes rehydrate with a little water or milk and heat it in the oven (20 mins at 375) or on the stovetop, stirring with a wooden spoon. (I am microwave-less, but you could zap it, too!)

  • VeggieGirl
    January 26, 2009 at 8:45 am

    Enjoy the rest of your weekend, dear Jenna!!

  • Meg
    January 26, 2009 at 8:56 am

    Love the cat! I kind of feel like that this morning!
    Happy Monday!

  • zestycook
    January 26, 2009 at 8:57 am

    Cute pics Jenna – Nice looking oatmeal. Have a great Monday.

    zesty

  • Kate
    January 26, 2009 at 9:00 am

    I wish I could help! I’m such a cheater-i never make overnight oats:( I’ll be honest and say I’m totally clueless on the subject! By the way, that cat looks JUST like my cat growing up-he is so beautiful!

  • Moran
    January 26, 2009 at 9:05 am

    What a gorgeous cat!!
    On warmer days I make my overnight oats (put the mixture in the fridge overnight) and they come out just like when I cook them – only cold! What I find is that in the morning when I take them out there is a small layer of liquids at the top. If I want it soup-y I leave it there (and then mix with my usual add-ons) or I just throw them out.

  • lizzie
    January 26, 2009 at 9:05 am

    Def. the white bean dip from Giada! It is soooo creamy and yummy

  • K
    January 26, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Giada has a recipe I believe. You may want to check food network’s website. Another website that I like is myrecipes . com. Hope that helps!

    Enjoy your “weekend” 😀

  • Amanda
    January 26, 2009 at 9:21 am

    I’ve been a lurker for quite awhile, but I just had to recommend this white bean dip from epicurious: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Creamy-White-Bean-Dip-108270
    I made it for a party awhile ago and it was absolutely fantastic.

  • Mel
    January 26, 2009 at 9:24 am

    I have the same issue with overnight oats too! They always turn out hard!

    I know how you feel about your “weekend”, I have the same exact problem. I miss spending it with people, but it’s nice to get my errands done when everyone else is at work!

  • Melissa S.
    January 26, 2009 at 9:39 am

    I don’t have any suggestions on the question front, but i wanted to say that Meghann (from graduatemeghann) and I went to Press 101 this weekend and we loved it! We def agree with you that their sandwiches rock!

    have a great monday off! I also have it off for an extended weekend! yay!

  • sara84
    January 26, 2009 at 9:40 am

    Hi Jenna..
    What I usually do with my oats is the at night pour 1/2 cup oats with 1/2 cup water and let it soak overnight. Then in the morning, I heat it up with 1/2 cup soymilk. Its the perfect consistency and cuts the cooking time in half.
    Hope this helps!!!

  • haya
    January 26, 2009 at 9:42 am

    I make a big batch of regular oats every sunday – 2 cups rolled oats, 2 cups milk, 2 cups water, 2 bananas. then i portion out into 5 or 6 1 cup containers to eat for breakfast at work.
    i microwave for 1:25 – no need to add extra liquid, i find, but i might prefer things thicker than others. top with my granola etc. eat! it’s quick, easy and delicious.

  • Anne P
    January 26, 2009 at 9:45 am

    I have to jump on the Giada recipe bandwagon – it’s SOOOOOOOOO freaking amazing, one of my friends used to make it a lot for our girly get togethers.

  • TanyaT
    January 26, 2009 at 10:00 am

    Tosca Reno has a white bean dip recipe, I just can’t remember if it was in her Eat Clean Recipes, or the Eat Clean Families book. I just remember you mentioned a while back that you had purchased one or both of her books. Love Clean Eating!

  • Serena
    January 26, 2009 at 10:10 am

    Everyone seems to love Giada’s recipe – I didn’t look at it, but Dr. Weil has a great one. I love his cookbook w/ Rosie (can’t remember her last name – Oprah’s chef) – it’s called the Healthy Kitchen and promtes recipes that contain maximum health benefits in each ingredient. Here’s his recipe: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/RCP00252/White-Bean-Spread.html

  • melissa
    January 26, 2009 at 10:15 am

    your oatmeal looks amazing.
    I made a whitebean dip/spread that was quite good a few months ago http://fitnessnyc.wordpress.com/pure-food/

  • CLB
    January 26, 2009 at 10:17 am

    HI Jenna,

    I make my oats every night for the next day. I use equal amounts of oats, water and soy milk. I also throw in a dash of sea salt and some vanilla, cinnamon and flax. I sometimes add pumpkin and then I will add some almond extract. Let that sit in the fridge all night, bring it to the office and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. At the last minute I also throw in a portion of cottage cheese for added creaminess and protien. It is now the only way I eat my oats and I have my husband hooked too.

  • Sarah (lovINmytummy)
    January 26, 2009 at 10:18 am

    I think your cat ate my cat.

    Looks like you got your bean dip questions answered, so I’ll let you try those other 33 before throwing my hat in the ring.
    Have a good Monday!

  • maritza
    January 26, 2009 at 10:21 am

    Overnight oatmeal.
    1 cup(s) Steel cut oats
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    1 tsp ground cinnamon
    3 cup(s) water
    2 large banana(s)
    spray the crock-pot with Pam
    Chop up the bananas very little and mix; but its not necessary for it to be pulp. Sometimes I like a chunk of banana here and there.
    Mix in the cinnamon
    Mix in the vanilla extract
    Mix in the light brown sugar
    Mix in the dry oatmeal
    Mix one cup of milk or water
    Then mix in the remainder fluid
    Close the lid
    In the morning: You have to mix all of the ingredients really well since it may be drier up top or on the bottom.
    Serve and enjoy!

    I will use only one cup of milk and two of water if I use milk.
    I will also use less water or milk if I have a cup of blueberries instead of banana. I bought a small crock pot. The first time I did this I used a regular size crock-pot and burnt it. I also bought an electric socket timer. I set it to start at 2 am and end at 6am so that the oatmeal is still warm at 7am but not too hot so that the kids can eat it. It took it me like two months of tweaking the time to get it just right for the steel cut oatmeal. Its five points in Weight Watcher for one cup

  • Beth
    January 26, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Jenna,

    I LOVE this white bean dip from Susan Ciminelli’s book, The Ciminelli Solution – a book for healthy skin. It’s delicious!

    2 cups canned organic white beans, rinsed and drained
    1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary (LOVE this!)
    1 head roasted garlic (I use a bit less than this)
    2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    Juice and zest from 1/2 lemon
    Sea salt
    Freshly ground white pepper

    I hope you try it out!

  • Sharon
    January 26, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Oh, I am going to try some of the suggestions for overnight oats!

  • Shelby
    January 26, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Do you want to actually cook the oats the night before? Or make overnight oats? I find that when I cook them the night before, they always turn out hard and rubbery. So I make my overnight oats like this…
    COMBINE:
    1/2 cup oats
    spices (cinnamon, sugar, anything you can think of!)
    pinch of salt
    3/4 cup of water or soymilk (enough to moisten it with some liquid left over)
    I put that in the fridge overnight (you could put this mixture in a container and bring to work). Then in the morning I heat it up in the microwave for 3 minutes (stirring every minute and sometimes adding some water to help it get creamy). When it’s nice and hot I add my toppings and eat!

  • Melanie
    January 26, 2009 at 11:03 am

    I made blueberry baked oatmeal a few days ago and I take to work for breakfast for a few days. It’s very good and warms up easily in the microwave! You can use any fruit you’d like too. This is a big favorite of mine – I just use oats, vanilla silk, stevia and fruit. or you could add peanut butter somehow if you would like as well.

    Enjoy your day off!

  • Fitzalan
    January 26, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Here is how I make my overnight oats:

    1/2 cup of oats
    1/2 cup of milk
    2T of water

    Soak overnight.

    In the morning, add 2T of yogurt, some cinnamon, some banana (etc what ever toppings you want.)

    Perfect and creamy!

    sweets&sweats.wordpress.com

  • rhodeygirl
    January 26, 2009 at 11:47 am

    1. make it as usual and put it in a tupperware. in the morning, reheat it in a bowl with a bit of liquid (i use water, but you could also use milk). after every minute take it out and mix it a little. it should be perfect in 2-3.5 minutes!

    2. puree cannellini beans, olive oil, salt and garlic in a food processor. enjoy. i use one can beans to 2 tbs olive oil, a dash salt, and lots of garlic (2-4 cloves, depending on the size).

  • rhodeygirl
    January 26, 2009 at 11:53 am

    oh and i forgot! you can add fresh basil or some rosemary if you like it. AND don’t forget to rinse the beans first!

  • Danielle
    January 26, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Sorry I don’t have any answers for your questions.
    But just wanted to say hope you enjoy your day off!

  • Emily
    January 26, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Jenna,
    Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Cooking has 7 ways with steel cut oats. Her overnight oat base goes like this:
    Boil the water, add the oats, stir them in and remove from heat & cover. Leave overnight, and the next day reheat how much you want to eat (you *may* need to add more water) then top with whatever you fancy. One of her suggestions is raw honey and chopped fresh figs, and it is delicious! It’s a great book.
    Have a great day off ~ enjoy your yoga class!
    Emily.

  • Lisa
    January 26, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Sorry Jenna, don’t have any answers for you. My oats are always rock hard when I bring them to work in the morning:(
    I do have a couple of questions if that’s ok:
    1) What tea are you drinking at night for good sleeps? I’ve been suffering a bit of anxiety/insomnia…yuk!
    2) You’re such a big reader I wanted a recommendation. I love, love, loved Eat, Pray, Love. Anything similar you could recommend?

  • Amelia
    January 26, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    I’m curious about overnight oats too! That would be a big time saver in the mornings.

  • Becca A
    January 26, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Jenna,
    all I do for overnight oats is let the water/milk soak into the oats overnight (along with flax or any mix-ins, usually banana). I usually add a touch more liquid than needed so I don’t have to add more in the am and then just microwave it for a minute and a half to two minutes…I don’t even stop midway to stir it. It works pretty well for me.

  • Heather
    January 26, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Hey Jenna,
    I’m a long time reader but I don’t comment very often. I couldn’t help but to think of another food blog when you mentioned white bean dip. Check out “Noble Pig’s” recipe, she says is the best she’s ever had. http://noblepig.com/2009/01/09/yummy.aspx?ref=rss

  • Maggie
    January 26, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Have you tried Gina’s breakfast cookie? (The fitnessista.) It’s pretty awesome and you make it the night before.

  • runjess
    January 26, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    I would love a day to spend by myself each week. Just had my first weekend alone in two months and it was delicious.

  • Kate
    January 26, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    Hi Jenna! Here’s my favorite white bean dip:

    http://recipes.health.com/recipes/1713093-white-bean-and-roasted-garlic-dip

    I’m making it this Sunday!