One of the things I believe in, and enjoy doing, is serving others. It brings me great joy to do something for someone else. One of the ways I volunteer is by bringing breakfast one day a month to a home that offers support and temporary care for pregnant women. I am one of their nutrition volunteers and I love it! I get to bring healthy meals to these women and share with them ways to make breakfast healthy and delicious. And on some mornings I even get to hold one of their tiny newborn babies while the moms eat – double joy :)

This month I am trying a new recipe for them, so I tested it out on my family this weekend. It’s a recipe I ‘doctored up’ (code for made ‘clean’) from another base recipe. It’s a baked oatmeal casserole. My family loved it – having no leftovers was a sure sign of yummy goodness. I know I’ve already shared one oatmeal recipe here, but this one is a great addition to the collection and it’s easy to make for a large group just by doubling it. Plus, your kitchen fills with the wonderful aroma of the baking cinnamon and apples… more joy.

Many oatmeal recipes are lacking one of my must-have breakfast elements – protein. But for this one, I’ve added chia seeds to the already listed walnuts, boosting the protein content. Serve this with a side of whole milk Greek yogurt and you’ve got a great amount of protein to get you going for the day, and keep you full until lunch. Leftovers keep well in the fridge to reheat and eat throughout the week.

Enjoy!

Oatmeal Casserole {print here}

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

¼ cup coconut sugar

1 tsp. aluminum free baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 TBSP chia seeds

½ tsp. Celtic sea salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

¼ cup 100% maple syrup

1 ½ cups + 3 tbsp. almond milk

1 ½ TBSP coconut oil (melted) – plus extra to line baking dish

1 tsp. real vanilla extract

4 ounces unsweetened applesauce

½ c. toasted chopped walnuts (coarsely chopped)

2 apples, cored and cut into ¼ inch pieces

Heat oven to 350F. Rub coconut oil on bottom and sides of a 7”x11” baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine first six ingredients (dry)
In a separate bowl, whisk next six ingredients (wet)
Add liquids to oat mixture and stir to combine.
Stir in walnuts and apples
Bake until gently browned, about 35 minutes
Serve warm with a side of whole milk Greek yogurt.