Brrr…it’s a chilly morning in our neck of the woods!
I woke up around 6am absolutely freezing, so I closed the window and pulled on the blanket that was at the end of the bed. I had another 45 minutes of cozy, warm sleep with Sketchie cuddled at my feet and Eric by my side.
The only thing that pulled me out of bed (besides Sketchie meowing and tapping my shoulder over and over) was the thought of hot oatmeal to warm me up.
Last year, I made Zucchini Bread Oatmeal and it occurred to me this morning that I hadn’t finalized the recipe and posted it on the blog. I had no idea what recipe I came up with last year, but judging from the photos, it was a bit more lengthy than what I came up with today. I’m all about the Quick and Dirty recipes lately so I tried to make it as delicious, yet simple, as I could.
The most difficult part is trying not to grate your finger off while half asleep in the morning. I recommend caffeine before taking on this challenging morning task!
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Zucchini Bread Oatmeal
Zucchini Bread in oatmeal form perfect for those chilly mornings. Don’t even think about skipping the brown sugar, pecans, and Earth Balance as they bring this bowl over the top and give it an authentic zucchini bread taste. If you are feeling really crazy, why not crumble some of my favourite Oil-Free Zucchini Walnut loaf on top?
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup non-dairy milk or water (I prefer almond milk as it’s creamy), plus more as needed to thin out
- 1/2-1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt & nutmeg, to taste
- 1/2 cup packed finely grated zucchini
- 1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 2 tbsp chopped pecans
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp packed brown sugar, divided
- 1 tsp Earth Balance (or other buttery spread)
1. In a medium sized pot, add water or milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and oats. Bring to a boil and simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 4 minutes.
2. Now stir in the grated zucchini, chia seeds, raisins, 1 tbsp packed brown sugar, and 1 tbsp of the pecans. Cook over medium heat, adding more liquid when necessary, for another 5-6 minutes. Reduce heat to low if required. When cooked, remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
3. Pour into bowl and top with remaining 1 tbsp pecans, 1 tsp packed brown sugar, and 1 tsp Earth Balance. Serve and enjoy- but be careful as it’s very hot! I burned my tongue in typical excitement.
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I loved my original photoshoot so much, I decided to use the old pictures in today’s post!
Read: I was way too lazy for a photoshoot this morning.
Keep in mind, the recipe looks a bit different the way I made it today, but I was even more pleased with the outcome this time around.
In my first photoshoot, I had a lot of fun using a bread loaf pan and spatula. I wish I had that energy today! Serves me right for staying up until 12:30am last night.
In my first attempt, I didn’t add the pat of Earth Balance on top- big mistake! It really took this bowl over the edge and I was in Heaven enjoying each buttery bite with a hint of brown sugar and crunchy pecan.
and then I burned my tongue. Of course. Will I ever learn?
If you’re feeling really crazy, why not crumble some of my Oil-Free Zucchini Walnut loaf on top?
And no, you can’t taste the zucchini at all, but it does add beautiful green flecks to the oats, not to mention extra vitamins and fibre.
I’m now warmed up and ready to tackle the work week. Let’s just not make these chilly mornings a frequent occurrence, mmm kay?
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Yum. :) I’m loving the cooler weather–your post made me feel cozy and ready for fall, haha!
these look delish!! i love that we are now having cooler mornings. thankfully it warms up by 8-9. i wish it was like this all the time.
This sounds perfect for the crisp fall like morning we are having in Western NY today.
Zucchini bread oatmeal?! Angela you are a GENIUS!! Haha it’s pretty cold here in London too right now, and I could definitely use that!! I could never say no to zucchini bread anyway though ;)
Yummmy! I’m sitting at work freezing and this sounds like heaven!
It was a little cool here this morning too! I love it. Fall is my favorite time of year — bring on the warm breakfasts!
Perfect for the Fall! It was a little chilly this morning, too (although, I’m always cold). I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I love all your fall/chilly posts each fall. I am a Canadian, through and through, which means I actually love cold weather and the amazing changes that happen each season.. but I am living in California for a few years and the seasons are not too drastic. Your posts remind me how much I do love the Canadian weather, which sounds crazy! :)
I could totally see that Tara! While I’m not a fan of Canadian Winters, I do love love love Fall.
I think I need to stop buying bowls and start buying mason jars!! This looks delicious Ange. It was chilly when I woke up too – I’d had my window open all night and woke up with goosebumps! Perhaps this is Mother Nature’s way of telling me I shouldn’t have purchased pumpkin last week? ;) (I couldn’t help it – I finally caved!!)
I make a similar carrot cake oatmeal – the zucchini idea is great!
That looks so good. I’m all about adding fruit into my oats – why have I never tried veggies!?
My fav bowl is my carrot cake oatmeal: http://ohsheglows.com/2010/12/21/holiday-breakfast-in-a-jiffy-carrot-cake-oatmeal/ :)
That is SO up my alley! I will definitely try it! :)
Yum! I love chilly mornings and a hot bowl of oatmeal! Zucchini bread is one of my all time favorite quick breads! I am going to have to try this oatmeal recipe!
This is a great idea! I will have to try this. I love the little green specks :)
Yummy! This is such a great idea. I can’t wait for cooler mornings down here in Texas. It’s going to be another 100+ day here….for like the 43 day in a row. Ugh! Cooler days are perfect for oats!
This looks delicious :) I love “loafs” heh.
So yummy looking and colorful!
I looove those squatty wide jars!! I could definitely dive head first into one of them. My mom + I had a zucchini bread baking tradition every year. I’ve been meaning to make a GF version. Thanks for the reminder. ;)
Goodluck, I know if anyone can do it, you sure can!
hmmmmm I’m just starting to warm up to zucchini (as in if zucchini and I were dogs we’d be sniffing each other, but that’s it so far) … I’ve used it as pizza topping a lot lately, and in bread, but I can’t be sure about this oatmeal you’re peddling ;) hehehe
This isn’t something I ever would’ve thought of doing with zucchini! Those jars are seriously adorable too :)
I can’t wait til chilly mornings start up in out neck of the woods! Warm oats sound so good on those cold mornings!
Amazingly delicious! Can’t wait to try it! What a perfect early autumn treat! :0) Thank you!
This looks amazing! My grandma gave me a fresh zucchini picked from her garden yesterday and I’ve been trying to decide what to do with it because if I make a loaf of zucchini bread, I eat the loaf LOL! This looks like a great alternative!
I have a huge zucchini leftover that I’m not sure what to do with! Thanks for the inspiration :) I think I’ll try the bread!
Looks gorgeous – do you think it would work if you made it the night before?
I’m sure you could warm it up with a splash of milk the next morning :) Just leave the toppings off until just before serving.
Angela you have outdone yourself! I love how healthy this is and how delicious it looks! I’m trying to eat clean foods more and this is definitely going to be added, I don’t know if the Earth Balance would be considered clean eating though lol. One can splurge ;)
Yum! I love zucchini bread! It was just this side of chilly this morning in PA today, fall is in the air. (Already?!) Definitely going to give this a try, getinmahbelly!
Isn’t it crazy!? The nights are getting cooler too I’ve noticed. I cannot believe it’s August 22!
You know, I’ve never, ever had zucchini bread! My mom never made it for our family as a child, while we lived in Southeast Asia… I wonder if it’s a North American dish? Hm, which reminds me that she never made carrot cake, either. Guess I’ve got to give your zucchini bread AND carrot cake oatmeal recipes each a try! They’re both great ways to get veggies in before lunch, hm? :) Are there any other veggie-inclusive sweet desserts out there I’ve missed out on, I wonder?! (Is pumpkin pie the only other one? //Never had that either.)
one of my favs (and positively reviewed by readers) is the carrot cake loaf found here: http://ohsheglows.com/2011/04/20/whole-grain-vegan-carrot-cake-loaf-with-lemon-glaze/
Thanks for the suggestion! I better get baking… :) I’m sure I’ll love it, since I absolutely adore carrots – in all forms. And none of your recipes have failed me yet!
Yum this sure looks warming and delicious! I’ll make sure not to skip the sugar and nut topping, I trust you! Live getting veggies in first thing in the morning.
YUH-UHM!!!! This looks delish! I just posted an awesome cherry zucchini bread recipe but after making 2 loaves this weekend I’m definitely ready to try something new. This is SO on my list!
Cherry and Zucchini is a great combo! I’ll have to try that out :)
I’ve never cooked/baked using zucchini. I might have to see if I can pick one up at the grocery and see if I can make something out of it.
Ahh I cannot wait to try this! And to think i was just wondering what to do with that zucchini I just bought at the farmer’s market :)
This is so unique! My favorite thing you’ve posted recently. :)
Thanks Amber :)
Oh, this is just what I was in the mood for! Yum! Although the weather here in California isn’t cold by any means, it definitely is getting cooler and I see more leaves on the ground..boohoo! By the way, I made your cookie dough blizzard over the weekend for my kids (okay, for me) and we devoured. Who need Dairy Queen!?
haha nice ;) Glad it was enjoyed Sarah!
I make a zuchinni granola and end up eating it raw too! Thanks for the great breakfast idea!
What a great way to use zucchini!! I would have never thought of that! I can’t believe it’s already chilly in your neck of the woods..not quite in Colorado!:)
You are a genius, Angela!
What an awesome idea! Sneaking some veggies in my breakfast would be great!
Wow. I haven’t been this excited about an oatmeal idea in a long time! I love that you get in a serving of veggies and it looks and sounds amazing! Thank you for the awesome recipe, I will be doing it as soon as it cools off here!
This is such a delicious idea! Do you think the zucchini would be ok grated the night before?
I can’t see why not…just keep it in an air tight container/bag. :)
This sound amazing! Just my luck, I have a zucchini in the fridge at home.
I didn’t eat oatmeal for breakfast and now I want it for lunch. YUM. This looks AMAZING.
I made a zucchini bread oatmeal several months back and posted it – it’s pretty similar. I love how much they taste like the bread. I also topped mine with homemade blueberry “jam,” which was absolutely fabulous. :)
We too have that crisp fall air this morning and I absolutely LOVE it! Its still beaming sunlight though so I got a glorious morning walk/ run in. It’s making me a tad excited for class to start back up again in a week, ahh! This looks so comforting, I’m excited for all the fall recipes to start appearing all over the blog world again… pumpkin, chilli, cornbread- those are my favorite fall flavors.
I was just searching for this on your recipe page the other day! I ended up making a version of your zucchini bread with raisins and walnuts – totally addictive! Thanks for posting this as well, will definitely be trying it out :)
This looks fantastic! I am all about zucchini bread things – I made your oil free loaf a few weeks ago and have been pulling it out of the freezer one slice at a time so it won’t go bad!
I have a feeling these chilly mornings are going to be more frequent sooner than we’d like to think! Your oatmeal looks fabulous :)
Yum! That looks and sounds delicious! I just LOVE zucchini .. and zucchini bread always holds a special place in my heart because my grandfather used to make it …
Mmmm I just love zucchini oatmeal! The only catch is that it’s not always in my fridge and I end up eating it before I can even think of breakfast haha.
I have so much zucchini!! What an amazing idea! :D definitely gonna have to try this one
Yum, what a great idea! Although I’m a little scared of grating my fingers off too! I love your spoons too, by the way.