Cooking With Food Storage - Oats

Why?  Oats are another basic food storage item with a long shelf life of 30 years if stored properly.  They are easier to prepare for breakfast in one way or another than some of the other food storage options.  And at a whopping 5 cents per bowl, when oats are purchased in bulk, powdered milk is added during the cooking process and a little sweetener is added it makes both nutritional and frugal sense to add these into your diet a little more often.  These make good cookies too but have lots of other everyday uses!

Recipes:

Cranberry Granola (adapted from Brandy Simper at theprudenthomaker.com)
I have several granola recipes that I like but the thing about granola is that while they're all good the "add-ins" make a difference in the cost of making it.  Some of them take longer to make than others too.  I like this recipe because it is both easy to make and has relatively few ingredients making it one of the less expensive and less time consuming things to make and enjoy in my kitchen.  And that lets me enjoy more time outside of my kitchen while still sticking to my budget.  I usually triple or quadruple this recipe, storing it in an ice cream bucket in my freezer or fridge.  It's gone immediately otherwise.

3 cups oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. vegi oil
1/4 c. honey
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 cup total of "Add in's" are optional but choose at least 1;
1/3 c. almonds/walnuts/wheat germ
1/3 c. raisins or dried cranberries
1/3 c. chocolate chips (your children will LOVE you if you opt for this treat)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix all ingredients except "add in's".  Spread on a cookie sheet.  Bake 8 minutes, then stir and bake 8 more minutes.  Remove from oven, stir and cool.  Add your optional "add-ins" and store in an airtight container.  Will keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator or longer in the freezer.

Serving Suggestion:  Serve 1/2 cup over homemade vanilla yogurt (see Cooking with Food Storage-Powdered Milk)
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Baked Oatmeal from Savoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites
Just as good as a cookie dipped in milk.
3 cups rolled oats
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. dried cranberries, raisins or other dried fruit
1 c. milk (try powdered milk)
1/2 c. butter (or 1/4 c. butter + 1/4 c. applesauce)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
*** Optional toppings; chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, honey, maple syrup
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and dried fruit in large bowl.  Mix together milk, butter, vanilla and eggs in smaller bowl.  Add the liquid mixture to dry mixture and whisk to combine.  Pour into a deep 9 inch pie plate or an 8x8 baking dish, lightly sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Serve with milk and optional toppings.
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Chewy Granola Bars - 2 dozen
I love granola bars and they make quick breakfasts for kids running late on early days with a glass of milk.  Some brand names are bland, they are all rather expensive and then there's all that packaging!  I've tried numerous recipes and in the end, these are my pick for a great tasting granola bar that cuts easily and holds together neatly even when wrapped in a cloth napkin for a car ride breakfast.

1/2 cup butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. oats
1 1/4 c. crisp rice cereal
2 cups total of options; nuts, raisins, craisins, chocolate chips
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Add honey, vanilla and egg; mix well.  Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture.  Stir in oats, cereal and 2 cups of optional ingredients.  Press into a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.  Cut into 2 dozen bars.
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For something more unusual, try Chicken Fried Steak found at theprudenthomemaker.com.  Don't tell anyone there's no chicken and see if they can guess that they are really eating oats!