Caramel Apple Pie Oatmeal (no sugar, low-glycemic)

    Our family stopped eating cold cereal for breakfast about three years ago. 

    Was it really that long ago that it took 10 seconds to make breakfast for my family each morning?

    At first, our motivation was that cereal was just getting too expensive - even though we weren't buying sugar-laden cereals in the first place.

    But then, we realized that it would be so much better to have a healthy hot breakfast every morning, one that rotated around simple, wholesome ingredients.  And we had friends who were trying to find buyers for their farm fresh eggs.  Yum!

    While it would be quick and easy to fry or scramble eggs each morning - which we did for over a year - we eventually got to the point where we were kind of sick and tired of eggs every morning. 

    I know, I know, first world problems...but it is what it is.

    ☺

    I will confess that there are mornings I really would prefer to have boxes of cereal in the house.  But that's just plain laziness.  I'm going to call it what it is.  Too lazy to get up early enough to fix a hot meal for everyone...too lazy to do the extra dishes vs. 4 bowls and 4 spoons (if we had cereal). 

    Thankfully, eating a low-glycemic diet has helped us figure out how to make a variety of breakfast foods that work well in the mornings.

    Here's one we just love!  Caramel Apple Pie Oatmeal works well for those on a low-glycemic diet, as long as you use old-fashioned oats and 30-calorie almond milk with it.

    And it only takes about 10 minutes, from start to finish, to make enough for you and 1-3 others:

Serves 2.  Double recipe if you want to make enough for four people.

• 1-2/3 cups unsweetened or vanilla almond milk (30 calories/serving)
• 1/8 tsp. full-mineral sea salt (like Redmond RealSalt)
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats (no quick oats)
• 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger (optional)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. caramel extract
• stevia extract powder or liquid stevia drops

    Core and chop one medium to large Granny Smith apple into 1" (1 cm) cubes.  Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan, except vanilla, caramel extract, and stevia.  Stir well and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce heat to medium-low or low and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are softened.  Remove from heat.  Add vanilla extract, caramel extract, and stevia (to taste), stirring well.  Cover and let stand for 2 minutes before serving.  Sprinkle with additional ground cinnamon, if desired.

    If you are eating the Trim Healthy Mama way, you'll want to add a dollop of 0% Greek yogurt on top or on the side to boost your protein with this meal.

4.9 grams fat; 34 grams net carbs per serving.

Here's a free printable recipe page for your recipe binder:

Click on the page, above, to download and print out your FREE Caramel Apple Pie Oatmeal recipe for your recipe binder!

    I have to update what I did tonight so my husband and oldest daughter could have some of this very quickly in the early morning tomorrow! 

    Thursday mornings are very, very early for my husband and my daughter since he takes her to Toastmasters at 5:45 a.m. or something. (I'm still asleep, so I don't remember exactly when it is...and she doesn't quite have her driver license yet.) 

    So tonight, I chopped up an apple, added some erythritol (maybe 2 Tbsp. per apple), and about a teaspoon of apple pie spice, and 1/4 cup water, and simmered those apples down for about 25-30 minutes on the stovetop on medium-low. There were still some juices left after 30 minutes, so I barely sprinkled some glucomannan into the apple mixture and stirred for another minute or so until it formed a thicker sauce.

     I placed the delicious smelling apple pie mixture into the refrigerator to cool down. Early in the morning, they'll just need to place a big spoonful of the apple pie mixture into their oatmeal and cook it really quick in the microwave. Easy - and delicious! 

    What's your favorite quick and easy breakfast recipe?

FREE printable low-carb "Healthy & Trim" grocery shopping list for ANY grocery store!

Trader Joe's FREE printable low-carb "Healthy & Trim" grocery shopping list!

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