Winter oatmeal is the best when it’s cold outside!
Here in the midwest last week, temperatures dipped down as low as -50 degrees F. Talk about frigid. Brr! Businesses closed, schools were closed for the entire week. Everything pretty much came to a standstill.
I occupied myself experimenting with butterfly pea flower powder, which turns tea and food a bright, cyan-hued, blue. The powder is the crushed petals of the butterfly pea flower. It actually changes hue as the pH of whatever it’s mixed with changes. So lemon juice added to butterfly pea flower tea will make it turn more purple.
I found whole, unmilled oats at a local grocery for just a couple dollars a pound and had them milled there. Oatmeal made from fresh oats is delicious! I added a bit of the butterfly pea flower powder to make it blue.
So the polar vortex came and everything was frozen. And then, just like that, it was 50 degrees F and everything was melting and it smelled like spring. It was just lovely. I put my boots on with my pajamas and took the blue oatmeal outside for photos.
And here are some of the pretty pictures.
So much ice was melting the trickling sound was resounding.
Under the ice, there was green … just waiting to stretch. It’s amazing how resilient life can be.
Good advice for a wintery day from Paulo Coelho.
The butterfly pea flower powder makes a beautiful blue tea, too!
One more, just because it’s so gorgeous.
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On to the recipe.
Winter Oatmeal
Winter Oatmeal is the best. It will keep you warm and satisfied.
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly milled, whole oats
- 2 cups coconut, almond, or hemp milk or water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp butterfly pea flower powder
- 1 sliced banana
- 2 tbsp dried fruit and/or nuts
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Instructions
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In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, put the oats, cold coconut milk, and salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
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Let the oats simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning.
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When finished, stir in the butterfly pea flower powder and mix well. The oatmeal will be bright blue.
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Top with sliced bananas, dried fruit, nuts, and, of course, maple syrup.
Slow Cooker Directions
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Freshly milled oats or rolled or steel cut oats can be made in the slow cooker! Just add the oats, coconut milk, and salt and cook on low for 7 hours for firm oats. For more well-done oats, let them cook on low for 8 hours.
Finish the same as regularly cooked oats.
Hello! I’m Lisa, a vegan artist, photographer, author, Vegan Life Coach Educator, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. I love showing others how simple and delicious a plant-based diet can be. I draw and paint, cook, write, take lots of pics, eat lots of chocolate, and practice gratitude daily.