Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal

Oatmeal ranks up there as a personal Liv Life favorite.  Be it for breakfast, dinner, or a quick afternoon snack, oatmeal's heartiness leaves me satiated, and it's nutty flavor brings a blank slate just waiting to be adorned.

I can't say the same for Liv though... while she is a fan of oatmeal, it doesn't reach a "favorite" in her ranking.  However, with the proper topping, I can move that ranking pretty darn high.

Topping oatmeal with blueberries and bananas is always a sure hit in her book, but frankly she'd prefer an old favorite - oatmeal with rainbow sprinkles.  As I'm not making rainbow sprinkles a "nutritious part of her everyday breakfast", her next request (months ago) was Cinnamon Apple.

I'd like to say I jumped right on that request, but alas, it went in one ear and out the other.  But thankfully my blogger friends have my back.

This month's Blogger C.L.U.E challenge of "Fall Fruits" sent me searching A Palatable Pastime's index for apples, pears and pumpkins.  And behold... the first thing that jumped out has put me back on the Best Mommy Ever path.

Sue's recipe for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is just what my girl-child ordered, and she loved it so much she actually had not one, but two bowls on Labor Day morning.

See?  My blogger friends have me covered, and Sue is simply amazing.  With over 40 years of cooking experience, her specialties lie with heartland and southern cooking.  She's won numerous recipe contests (understandably!), but what caught my eye was a feature on Debbie Field's e-zine.  How cool is that?  (I've had a little crush on Debbie ever since I tried her White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies when I was in college).

In any case, thank you Sue for making me a Super Mommy  in Liv's eyes again.  Your Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal recipe is so much better than anything out of a package and perfect for quick early morning breakfasts.  Liv sends her Apple Cinnamon love!

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the group made for the Fall Fruits Challenge!  
   

Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake

   

Kate from Kate's Kitchen

   

Christiane from Taking on Magazines

   

Heather from girlichef

   

Stacy from Food Lust People Love

   

Lisa from Authentic Suburban Gourmet

   

Alice from A Mama, Baby and Shar-pei in the Kitchen

   

Azmina from Lawyer Loves Lunch

   

Kelli from Kelli's Kitchen

     

Lea Ann from Cooking on the Ranch

   

Anna from annaDishes

   

Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm

   

Debra from Eliot's Eats

   

Lora from Cake Duchess

   

Kathy from A Spoonful of Thyme

   

Rebekah from Making Miracles

   

Lauren from Sew You Think You Can Cook

   

Aly from Cooking in Stilettos

   

Sue from A Palatable Pastime

Maple Glazed Candied Walnuts

"Liv... give these walnuts a try.  They're glazed with maple syrup and brown sugar and I really think you'll like them!"

"No.  I don't like walnuts."

"Seriously, I think you will like these."

"Seriously.  No.  I don't like walnuts."

"OK, fine.  I've got to finish this laundry then I'm going to finish my photo shoot of them.  You can play with the camera if you want."

"Oh!  Ok.  I'll see if I can get a good shot."

So went our conversation this morning as my girl spent a few much needed hours perhaps missing school and spending the morning home with me.  The house smelled fabulous as the glazed nuts cooled with aromas of maple and brown sugar wafting through the kitchen.

Off I went to swap the laundry and fold a quick load upstairs, and I left Liv in the kitchen to play with the camera.  She's become quite good at photography, and often gets a nice shot or two for me to use.

Some 20 minutes later I returned to the kitchen to find her sitting at the kitchen table playing on her phone and.... finishing off the last of the glazed nuts.

"Seriously??  You don't like nuts?"

"Seriously.  I like these nuts.  They're crunchy.  And sugary.  And mapley.  They're totally awesome!  Can we make more??"

"More??  I have a whole batch here."

"Ummm... sorry.  Not anymore.  I might have eaten them all...."

Yup... she ate the entire batch.  And she doesn't like walnuts.  It was all I could do not to say, "I told you so!".

Instead we reached for the pan and started again.  She did most of the work this time and now has one more recipe under her belt that she can whip out at a moment's notice.  Maple Glazed Candied Walnuts... this recipe should be in everyone's repertoire.

Photo Credit ~ Liv

Overnight Almond Oatmeal with Chia and Maple Syrup

Once again I'm way behind a current trend.  Actually, I may be so far behind that the trend is nearly past, but I've finally tried Overnight Oats.

For months my blog reader has been filled with various versions of overnight oats.  From Pumpkin Spice to Orange Cashew, overnight oats are everywhere.  But... the thought of them somehow just sort of seemed distasteful.  Would they be overly mushy?  Would they be chalky?  Would they be just plain weird?

Nope to all the above.  Amazing, fabulous, incredible, irresistible, and perhaps even spectacular.

Mushy?  Not at all - a lovely smooth texture with just a little bit of an oaty bite.  Chalky?  Heavens no.  Not a speck of chalkiness in the cup.  Weird?  Maybe a little... but oh, so lusciously fabulous at the same time.

I am forever totally, and positively hooked.

Figuring I should start with a basic recipe - almond milk and oats - I reached for vanilla extract for a little flavor enhancement, but not paying attention, my vanilla turned out to be almond.  And a better mistake has never been made.

Textures and flavors blend together in this "ready when you are" breakfast (or lunch as it may be) creating a simply irresistible concoction I've enjoyed daily for the past week.

Topped with a handful of chopped walnuts and a drizzle of pure maple syrup, these overnight oats are setting a trend all their own.  #love

Yes... Liv really had her oats in a jar with a little string tied on it!  I think she's getting a little spoiled... :) 

Power Pumpkin Pancakes

Pancakes... here at Liv Life, pancakes bring balance to the table.  For some 18 years I've made pancakes 3-5 times a week, and over the years I've done my best to keep that balance of a "light, fluffy pancake" with healthy ingredients that help get my kids through their mornings.

Hence, I've stuffed everything from whole grains to bananas to avocado to black beans into pancakes with mostly wonderful results (the black bean version was accepted,  but noted as "different... and not in the best way imaginable ;)

Pumpkin Pancake Instagram

Pumpkin, though, is always a hit.  Tweaking a version from 4 years ago (a special post with pancakes that brought comfort to our family), we've turned this pumpkin version in a power version - one that you can count on to get you through the morning in a healthy manner, but also one that will have the kids asking for them again for dinner.

Filled with whole grains, flax, chia and pumpkin, these pancakes bring an array of nutrients and healthy properties including fiber, vitamin E, easier digestibility and a lower glycemic index from the Organic Spelt.  Flax brings a high content of Omega-3's in addition to cardiovascular health, and pumpkin blasts us with vision-healthy vitamin A.

But it's the chia that brings on even more power.  Prized by the Aztecs and Mayans to provide sustainable energy, chia also brings bone healthy calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.  We've been adding chai to all sorts of recipes, and I'm finding I'm somewhat obsessed with this little seed that swells incredibly when added to liquid.

All these benefits leave me happy with our choice of morning meal, but add in a few dashes of pumpkin pie-like spices and you have flavors that will send aromas of the holidays through your kitchen.

Power Pumpkin Pancakes - they're what's for breakfast.  Or dinner.

Sugared Walnuts and a Walnut Roundup in Honor of National Walnut Day

I have this distant memory of chilly evenings sitting in front of a blazing fire watching as my dad carefully cracked and shelled bags of walnuts.  I loved playing with the nuts before he cracked them, fun little balls to roll around or to toss, but even more fun was turning the crank on the little hand grinder after he pried the nut out of its shell.  So many fun walnut memories, but I don't actually remember eating them.

It wasn't until I began cooking on my own that I truly discovered how much I loved nuts, and walnuts quickly rose to become one of my favorites.  And that was before I understood the incredible health benefits they bring along with their buttery taste.

As with all nuts, walnuts are high in fat and must be consumed in moderation, however, just a few nuts a day (recommendations sit at 6-7 nuts a day) can bring health benefits including high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, reduction of bad cholesterol and an increase in good cholesterol, a good source of protein and generous amounts of anti-oxidants.  Their anti-inflammatory properties aid the cardiovascular system, may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, improve memory and benefit the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.  Super Nut??  I'd think yes!

The oldest tree food known to man, walnuts have a history dating back to 7,000 BC.  Often referred to as "Persian Walnuts", the English Walnut is said to come from Ancient Persia where they were reserved for royalty.  Traded along the Silk Route between Asia and the Middle East, caravans carried the precious nuts to far off lands and eventually sea trade brought walnuts around the world.  While never actually commercially grown in England, it was the English Merchant Marines who transported the nuts from port to port, thereby gaining the nut the name "The English Walnut".

Today, 99% of the US and three quarters of the world walnut supply comes from the fabulous state of California.  First cultivated by the Franciscan Fathers in the early 1700's, the first nuts were known as "Mission Walnuts".  Trees flourished in the Mediterranean-like climates of California and by the 1870's commercial walnut production had begun near Santa Barbara.  Over the next 70 years walnut plantings moved to the central valleys and northern California locations with many of today's trees being descendants of these early plantings.  See California Walnuts for more detailed information.

Liv's favorite Baklava

So what do you say... will you join me today, May 17th, in celebrating National Walnut Day??  Receiving a pound of California walnuts from Lester Farms out of Winters, CA, (Thank you Farmwater.org for organising!) visions of our favorite Baklava flitted through my head, quickly followed by banana nut breads and toffees topped with ground nuts.  However Mother Nature took a hand in our recipe decision, and with the local fires here in San Diego (we were within 1 mile of the Poinsettia Fire at one point) my baking plans went up in smoke.  Easy enough to remedy though with a simple recipe that I should have thought to share in the first place.

Sugared Walnuts... a must have recipe for anyone who is a walnut fan.  Perfect for tossing into a salad or topping a freshly baked sweet potato, but more importantly, ideal for simply eating out of hand.  We've made these sweet nuts for years and have even packaged them in jars and wrapped up for gift giving over the holidays.  Bring a cute little jar of these beauties as a hostess gift and you'll definitely be invited back!

Our Sugared Walnut recipe appears at this bottom of this post, but in honor of National Walnut Day, I couldn't help but bring you more wonderful recipes I've come across in my walnut research.  Have a favorite among the bunch?  Have one to add?  We'd love to see your recipes in the comments below!

National Walnut Day Round Up

May 17, 2014

Sweet Recipes

• Nectarine Parfaits with Walnut Crumble and Lemon Cashew Cream (Raw, Vegan, Paleo) from Gourmande in the Kitchen

• Cinnamon Walnut Biscotti from Everyday Maven

• Dark Cocoa Superfood Granola from Cupcakes and Kale Chips

• Homemade Larabars from 52 Kitchen Adventures

• Date Nut Bread from Donuts, Dresses and Dirt (a must read post... she touched my heart with this one!)

• Carrot Oatmeal Cookies from Yummy, Healthy, Easy

• English Walnut Toffee from A View From Great Island

• Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies from Recipe Renovator

• Chocolate Walnut Babka from Karen's Kitchen Stories

• Caramel Walnut Squares from The Kitchen is My Playground 

• Wild Violet Granola from Farm Fresh Feasts

• Double Chocolate Protein Bars from Ravie Nom Noms

• Baklava from Liv Life

• Banana Ice Cream with Toasted Walnuts and Chocolate Swirl from Seasonal and Savory

• Cocoa Dusted Glazed Walnuts from Gourmande in the Kitchen

• Healthy Apple Cobbler Muffins from Two Healthy Kitchens

• Maple Walnut Scones from A View From Great Island

• Quinoa Coconut Walnut Crunch from Jeanette's Healthy Living

• Dark Chocolate Chunk Walnut Cookies from Flavor Mosaic

• Picnic Cake from Baking Love

Savory Recipes

• Sweet Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Caramelized Walnuts from Taking on Magazines

• Bulger Wheat Salad with Pomegranates and Walnuts from An Edible Mosaic

• Swiss Chard with Raw Walnut Taco "Meat" from Tasty Yummies

• Fresh Green Bean Walnut and Feta Salad from The Kitchen is My Playground

• Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip from Seasonal and Savory

• Celery Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette from The View From Great Island

• Lightened Walnut Salad from Yummy, Healthy, Easy

• Raspberry Brie and Goat Cheese Pizza from Because I Like Chocolate

• Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Toasted Walnuts from EA Stewart

• Maple Walnut and Sweet Potato Hummus from Cupcakes and Kale Chips

• Apple Walnut Rainbow Chard Salad from An Edible Mosaic

• Rosemary Roasted Honey Walnuts from The Cafe Sucre Farine

• Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad from Flover Mosaic

• Ancient Power Oatmeal with Chia, Flax and Walnut from Liv Life

Ancient Power Oatmeal with Chia, Walnuts, and Flax

We all know how good oatmeal is for us... but do you ever just get tired of it?  My son told me the other day "Don't ever serve it again!!  It's just SO boring!"  I'd say that's a challenge issued.  And so we've spiced up our oatmeal, made it more interesting and even made it healthier.

Long known to have cholesterol lowering benefits, (Oats, oat bran, and oatmeal contain a specific type of fiber known as beta-glucan - and since 1963, study after study has proven the beneficial effects of this special fiber on cholesterol levels), antioxidant compounds unique to oats, called avenanthramides are now being said to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.  And if that isn't enough, according to The World's Healthiest Foods, oatmeal also has the potential to stabilize blood sugars, enhance immune response to infection, lower type 2 diabetes risks, and protect against postmenopausal breast cancer.  #superfood 

After reading all these oatmeal benefits I felt even more inspired to kick up our daily oats, and stirring in a tablespoon of chia seed brought not only an interesting texture balance, but calcium, antioxidants, omega-3's and protein (chia is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids).  And then we added a little flax meal.  Adding more omega-3's, flax also benefits the cardiovascular system in addition to bringing anti-inflammatory benefits.  Don't forget about its boost to digestive health as well!

Top all these wonderful nutritional benefits with a handful of fresh fruit, a sprinkle of cinnamon (cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar, reduce LDL cholesterol levels, has natural anti-infections compounds, and can help reduce pain linked with arthritis) and a spoonful of chopped walnuts (more Omega-3's, benefits to diabetes and heart disease, can increase your sperm count, and may help in warding off dementia), and you have one extraordinarily heathful and tasty (non-boring) bowl.  Oatmeal is back on our table.

Ancient Power Oatmeal with Chia, Walnuts, and Flax
Filled with ancient grains and fiber-filled oatmeal then topped with fruit and nuts, this oatmeal is raised to another level.  Stir in a little vanilla flavored almond milk and you have a dish even your teenagers will get up for!
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4 cups water
1 cups steel cut oats
3 Tbs ground flax meal
1 Tbs chia seed
fruit
cinnamon
walnuts
vanilla almond milk (we like Silk brand as it does not contain carageenan)

Bring water to a boil in a large pot on the stove.  While waiting for water to boil, pour the steel-cut oats into a small bowl.  Add the chia and flax, stir to combine.

When the water is boiling, add the oat mixture.  Reduce heat to medium low and stir.  Allow to simmer lightly until the water has been absorbed (about 25 minutes).  Stir occasionally

Ladle into serving bowls and top with your favorite fruit, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a spoonful of chopped walnuts.  Serve with milk of your choice (we love ours topped with vanilla almond milk!)

Liv Life Note:  If you think far enough ahead, start your oats before you go to bed! Simply bring the water to a boil and add the oat mixture.  Turn stove off and cover.  Go to bed.  When you wake in the morning, most of the water will have been absorbed and you just need a quick heating and maybe a little water added to have your meal ready faster.

Baklava - Dreaming of Greece

Vacation... we wait so long for it to get here.  We plan, we shop, we pack.  Then in just the blink of an eye we find ourselves back at the computer with memory cards full of photos and our minds full of memories.

Only days back from our Adriatic adventure, my entire family has found our thoughts often drifting back to our vacation as we randomly drop comments about a memorable day or event, a funny conversation with a new friend, or a fabulous new found food.  Liv's thoughts have returned time and again to a sticky piece of sweet Baklava served to us by our new Greek friend, Iakis, on his boat the Nautilus.

Our day in Greece remains incredibly memorable as we discovered a new land filled with a happy hospitality and a verve for life that is remarkably contagious.  Arriving in port, we spent much of our day on the Nautilus cruising the Corfu coastline and swimming in the crystal turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea.  Iakis, the boat's Captain, smiled from his heart as he welcomed us onboard, and his generosity never dimmed throughout the day.

Touring Corfu after our day on the boat, warm smiles followed us from shop to shop as we purchased trinkets for home.  The clerk in the first souvenir shop eagerly provided sample after sample of olive oils, kumquat liquors and citrusy lotions, all the while sharing bits and pieces of his life on the island of Corfu.  Leaving the shop he didn't just shake hands, but gave quick hugs with "nice to meet you" sentiments that go far beyond someone simply wishing to sell their wares.

The next stop had us visiting an olive wood shop lined with walls filled with every sort of wood item you can think of.  Vases, jewelery boxes, figurines, salt and pepper mills, etc. etc. etc.

While the shop itself was fun to browse, it was the shop owner/clerk who made my visit particularly special.  Approaching us with a welcoming smile she proceeded to help me choose various items, but never pressured me to buy a thing.  Laughter was commonplace and we enjoyed learning about her life on Corfu.

After I had made my choices I asked if she would mind if I took a photo.  I had meant of her wares, but she immediately struck a pose and said "Sure!!  Just like Cindy Crawford!"  Turns out to be a fabulous photo, and yes... eat your heart out Ms Crawford.

The Olive Wood Mini Shop and Workshop - Corfu, Greece

Taking a quick tour of the workshop behind the store, Ms. Sagidadinos gave me a brief history of her husband and his apprenticeship  beginning at the age of 10 years-old.  Definitely a stop (and a shop) I will remember forever.  Keep an eye out for The Olive Wood Shop on Filellinon Str. if you are ever in Corfu Town, and give Mrs. Sagidadinos my best.  Again, parting with hugs and cheek kisses, we were on our way.

The last stop found us in a quiet little patisserie on the hunt for Liv's new found love - Baklava.  Greeted by teen clerks with more welcoming smiles, we soon had a to-go package of sweet treats for my girl and our day in Corfu Town came to a close.

Now home, our memories of Corfu Town, Greek hospitality and Baklava remain forefront in our minds.  I came away with a wonderful impression of the Greek community, however I shouldn't have been surprised as one of Liv's best dance friends hails from Greece.  A warm and generous family, like our new friends in Greece, their smiles rarely dim.