dried figs

I LOVE oatmeal but like everyone else I grow bored with the same old preparation – so here is a twist to put some pep in my oatmeal step!  The figs & apples sweeten it naturally but I sometimes add a tbsp of brown rice syrup for the girls!

WATCHA’ NEED:

1 cup of rolled oats – real oats not instant

2 inches of dried kombu

4 cups of water

1 apple – any type

3 dried figs – you can use dates or raisins instead.

1/4 tsp of cinnamon – more if you like.

1 star anise pod

1 tsp. of ground flax seeds

Star Anise Pod

WATCHA’ DO:

Use a medium sized pot, put it on your stove adding in your oats, kombu & water.  Let it sit over night as this makes the oats faster too cook, easier to digest and allows the benifiets of the kombu to soak into the oats and water.  In the morning I get up before the kids turn on the stove to medium low,remove my kombu and chop it into tiny little pieces so the kids don’t notice it and eat it – remember KOMBU is a major immune system booster. Chop my apple into bite size pieces I keep the skin if the apple is organic – FIBER.  Chop up my figs to small pieces- removing the stems.  Add the chopped figs and cinnamon it’s a natural antibiotic and anise aids in digestion helps with gas, has a licorice like flavor used in my favorite Italian cookies- you can also add the anise the night before along with the figs.  Bring everything to a boil then lower the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes – this is when I dress the girls once they are ready so is the oatmeal, I top it with a tbsp. of ground flax which give it a crunchy texture.

I like to reheat it the next day in coconut oil and top it with my homemade almond milk – super YUM!

*be sure to remove the anise pod so no one breaks a tooth!