Whenever I make oats, it’s a given that I add the following:

almond milk
water
vanilla
cinnamon
banana

I’ve been making oats like that for well over a year now, but I’ve been eating oats for over half of my life. It was only about 3 years ago that I started eating rolled oats and not instant. Hellloooo life change! When I would make rolled oats, I would stir in butter, brown sugar + peanut butter. Now I never stir in my toppings. I love the glob of nut butter on top most of all!

So, the other night I wanted to try making savory oats for dinner, so I could use my smoked paprika almond butter. I can’t do savory oats for breakfast, and I’ve only made them 1 other time, ever. I wasn’t sure how it would go over, but wanted to give it a try.

I was also out of almond milk, so I had to make the oats with water only. I wasn’t too hopeful at this point!

Into the pot went:

1/2c rolled oats
1 1/4c water

That’s it! It cooked and I whisked. It smelled amazing. How could oats + water smell so good!? I tasted. I loved! Plain oats were SO GOOD. I love the flavor of plain oats! Not that you can’t taste the “oat” flavor with cinnamon/vanilla/almond milk/banana/etc., but it came out so much more just being cooked in water. They were extremely creamy and actually had a milky flavor, even though there was no milk stirred in.

Now time for the toppings.

Sunny side up egg, 1/2 avocado, smoked paprika almond butter, s+p.

I would have to call this dinner success. I couldn’t get over how well the plain oats + smoked paprika almond butter went together. It is a bit weird to think of eating savory oats for dinner, but just think of it as any other grain.

Savory Oats

1/2c rolled oats
1 1/4c water [or half water + half milk]
s+p

Combine in a small pot and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until desired consistency is met.

Toppings:

1 sunny side up egg
1/2 avocado
smoked paprika almond butter

This was, fabulous!

So the next morning for breakfast, I made plain oats again. I was craving the delicious, nutty, sweet, flavor of the plain oats cooked in water.

Check out what the morning light looks like with NO light bounce. Crazy shadows and light. Very harsh looking.

I was shocked after taking that photo, then putting the light bounce up and taking this photo! They were taken 1 right after the other.

The plain oats, again, were outstanding. I used only water, but if I did have almond milk, I would have used half water + half milk. I didn’t miss the cinnamon, vanilla or banana at all.

Plain Breakfast Oats

1/2c rolled oats
1 1/4c water [or half water + half milk]

Combine in a small pot and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until desired consistency is met.

Toppings:

1 banana
almonds
coconut almond butter
jelly

Such amazing flavor just from plain ol’ rolled oats!

House update! I was on a major roll building cabinets yesterday. Check this out!!

8 of the cabinet frames are complete!

I also built a few drawers, which are incredibly sturdy. So far, I am very pleased with the quality of the cabinets and ease of putting them together. I know it will still take a while to put on all of the hinges, attach door hardware, connect doors, and add shelves, but this was a great start!