The Beauty Of Overnight Oats, Mu Mu Muesli And 3 Easy Recipes

As far as I’m concerned, nothing is more satisfying than waking up to a piping hot bowl of oatmeal. Although I often go to sleep at night with the intention of preparing a hot bowl of cereal the next morning, I often find myself too pressed for time to make one. I sometimes cook a large amount of steel cut oats on Sundays to have throughout the week, but since I discovered the beauty of overnight oats, my hot cereal days are dwindling.

I don’t know what took me so long to discover overnight oats, but I can assure you that they are a beautiful thing, and I’m totally hooked! They are super quick and easy to make and merely require some overnight soaking in a covered bowl or jar. You can customize your own concoction with any add-ins you desire such as raisins, goji berries, cocoa powder, apples or berries. You can even add in some of your favorite jam or nut butter. I prefer my overnight oats using the ratio of 1 part soaking liquid to 1 part oats.  My favorite way to make overnight oats is with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, chia or flax seeds, mashed up banana and some vanilla. I sometimes mix in non-dairy yogurt for some extra creamy deliciousness. I also like adding some basic overnight oats to my morning smoothie for a more substantial breakfast.

In case you didn’t know, rolled oats soaked overnight in milk, juice or water (or any combination thereof) is called muesli. Muesli has been a popular health food for quite some time since it contains no cholesterol and is high in protein and fiber. Eating oats regularly has also been known to have many other health benefits including lowering blood cholesterol level, acting as an anti-depressant and reducing stress, and diminishing the chances of heart disease. Oats are also a good source of vitamin E, zinc, copper, and iron.

I’ve often wondered about the safety of eating rolled oats without cooking them, so I did a little research. I learned that the rolled oats sold in stores are usually steamed or “kiln toasted” and are, therefore, totally safe to eat. However, they are a bit chewy to eat right away, and that’s why the overnight soaking method is recommended to soften them up. I’m partial to Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats. I guess I’m a brand name person. Do not use quick-cooking or instant oats for overnight muesli, but you may opt for gluten-free oats.

Although it’s so easy to prepare your own oats at night and I highly recommend that you do so, I have also discovered this packaged brand of muesli called Mu Mu Muesli at my local Whole Foods which is quite excellent. It contains organic whole rolled oats, and organic flax seeds, raisins, dates, cranberries, coconut and almonds, and is very delicious. In fact, Vegetarian Times named Mu Mu Muesli as 1 of the 5 “Most Scrumptious” cereals in the country. Other packaged brands of muesli are often sugary and the oats are not super fresh, but Mu Mu Muesli seems to be as natural as a packaged muesli can get. I highly recommend it!

Creating your own favorite ways to prepare overnight oats is easy and fun, but I thought it would be a good idea to provide you with a few reliable recipes which I’ve been using for my own overnight oats. I hope you enjoy them!

DR. JOHN McDOUGALL’S SUPER SIMPLE OVERNIGHT CEREAL 

From The Starch Solution

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup non-dairy milk, apple juice, or water

1 tablespoon currants or raisins

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Sliced bananas, fresh berries, or other fruits (optional)

Directions:

Stir together the oats, milk, juice or water, currants, and cinnamon in a bowl or airtight container until everything is well coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, enjoy the cereal cold or heat in a microwave oven until hot. Top with fruit before serving, if you wish.

 

BANANA CREAM PIE OVERNIGHT OATMEAL

From The Oatmeal Artist

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/2 cup regular rolled oats

1/2 cup non-dairy milk of your choice ( I love vanilla almond milk)

1 teaspoon of chia seeds

1 overripe banana

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup plain or vanilla non-dairy yogurt (optional)

Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Add the first three ingredients to a mason jar (or any covered bowl will do).

Mash up 2/3 of your banana and add to the jar. Slice the remaining 1/3 into the jar.

Add vanilla extract, optional yogurt, and salt. Put the cover  tightly on the jar and shake, shake, shake (I sometimes use a covered bowl and just mix ingredients with a spoon).

Place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, you will have a delicious, dessert-like oatmeal ready and waiting for you!

 

CHEF AJ’s OVERNIGHT MUESLI (GLUTEN-FREE)

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of gluten-free oats

2 tablespoons currants

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice

1 apple, grated (Chef AJ prefers Gala apples)

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice or roasted cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla

Instructions:

Pour the unsweetened apple juice and unsweetened almond milk in a large glass and stir in the extract, spice, and chia seeds.

Place the oats and currants in a medium bowl. Grate the apple over the oats.

Pour the liquid mixture over the apple and oats and mix well. Place in the refrigerator covered overnight. The chia seeds will swell and become gelatinous and the next day will have absorbed all of the liquid and become almost like pudding.

In the morning you can enjoy this dish cold or warm in the microwave. You can also add additional fruits and almond milk, if desired.

Notes: Both apple pie spice and roasted cinnamon is available at Ralph’s and Krogers. Feel free to substitute regular cinnamon. Apple pie spice is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace (if you want to make your own spice). For a delicious variation, substitute a grated pear for the apple or goji berries for the currants.

Enjoy your overnight oats. I hope you become as hooked as I am!

Debby

xoxox

Click here for more Quick & Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas.

Click here to see other options for using Mason Jars.

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