Last night as I watched American Idol draw out two long hours of results, I had some time to do some thinking.
I wanted to create a fun Friday breakfast to celebrate the approaching weekend, incorporating fresh sweet potato into my morning oatmeal. I wasn’t in the mood to bake anything or for it to take longer than 10 minutes, so I decided that finely grating the fresh sweet potato into my oatmeal would be a sneaky way to cut down the cooking time that is normally required for such a tater.
Oh, and it worked. It worked wonderfully!
And because I was already sneaking in some veggies into my breakfast, I decided that some chocolate was in order to round it out. It’s all about the balance, right?
Normally, I am not a fan of overly sweet things in the morning, but I found that just a tablespoon of cocoa powder and 1/2 square of dark chocolate was enough to turn a normal bowl of oatmeal into something quite decadent, while still being nutritious and energizing.
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Double Chocolate Sweet Potato Oatmeal
Inspired by my Carrot Cake Oatmeal and Live Well 360.
Super chocolaty without a ton of sugar, this bowl of oatmeal is high in volume and taste. The grated sweet potato is a wonderful way to sneak a veggie into your morning routine!
Yield: 1 serving
Base Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup oats
- 3/4 cup finely grated sweet potato
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup non-dairy milk (I used organic soy)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1/4-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Directions:
1. In a medium sized pot, stir together the oats, milk, chia seeds, and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Now stir in the grated sweet potato and the 1/4 cup of water. Cook on medium, stirring often, for a few more minutes.
2. Stir in the cocoa powder and cinnamon, being sure to get out any clumps. When the mixture has thickened up nicely, stir in the vanilla and maple syrup and remove from heat. Pour into a bowl and top with a bit of dark chocolate or your desired toppings.
Toppings I used: 1/2 square dark chocolate, 1 tbsp Chocolate Crunch Dessert Granola, few shreds of sweet potato for garnish.
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First, bring the oats, milk, chia seeds, and salt to a low boil and reduce heat to medium. Now stir in the finely grated sweet potato and 1/4 cup of water. Cook on medium, stirring frequently, for a few minutes.
Now stir in the cinnamon and cocoa powder, making sure to get out all the clumps!
Chocolaty goodness!
Cook for a few more minutes, stirring frequently. Now add in the maple syrup and vanilla and remove from heat. Pour into a bowl and add your desired toppings!
On top: 1/2 square chopped dark chocolate (it got all melty and wonderful!), a few shreds of sweet potato for garnish, and 1 tbsp of granola.
The result is a super chocolaty and decadent-tasting bowl of oatmeal with a ton of volume thanks to the sweet potato. It was just the right amount of sweetness for me, but of course you can always adjust to your own taste buds!
I’ve seen this blog survey making the rounds so I decided to fill it out myself (I also did this while watching American Idol last night!).
A-Z Survey
A. Age: 27
B. Bed size: King (as of 2011)…can’t believe we waited so long! I think my legs are getting longer from all the stretching I do now.
C. Chore you dislike: Scrubbing tile floors
D. Dogs: growing up- Pepper + Jasmine….RIP!! Both muts, both amazing dogs. I can’t wait to adopt my next one. I’m a huge, huge, huge dog lover. I was never a cat fan until Eric bought Sketchie! Now I love both cats and dogs, but I am still partial to dogs….shhhh.
E. Essential start to your day: Slippers
F. Favorite color: I can’t pick just one so- Blue, Pink, Orange, Green. I love colour!
G. Gold or silver: Gold…I’m old school and it looks best with my skin tone. I prefer silver for house décor though.
H. Height: 5’4.5" (but with my stilettos 5’9"!)
I. Instruments you play(ed): Well, let me just say that my best friend and I were formerly (currently!?) known as the ‘Squeak Sistas’…we rocked that Clarinet throughout school! Squeak!
J. Job title: Business owner/recipe developer/photographer/blogger/dish washer/molly maid.
K. Kids: Just Sketchie and our stuffed animals right now!
L. Live: Gorgeous green & hilly countryside…aka: The Sticks. We have 1 traffic light. Seriously. We did the big city thing for a couple years and did not enjoy the traffic headaches, pollution, and congestion.
M. Mom’s name: OSGMOM….Or Lori.
N. Nicknames: Dawn (middle name), Angie/Ange, Granola (one of my friends started calling me this when I went vegan! ha), Martha, shots, Lulu, Lil Gal, Skirts, Lids.
O. Overnight hospital stays: None yet…*knocks on wood*
P. Pet peeves: Stinky feet, finding another person’s hair in a hotel bathroom, pesticides on produce, finding used bandaids on the ground/swimming pool, when post office loses my parcels, Tigerblood, thinking I have a food in the fridge and finding out it is GONE!
Q. Quote from a movie: ‘You guys look like a bunch of ice cream cones!’ (Any guesses?)
R. Righty or lefty: Righty, but I used to try to teach myself how to be ambidextrous when I was young. no such luck.
S. Siblings: Sister Kristi, half-sis and half-bro: Kerrie and Chris, Step sis and step bro: Jennifer and Michael.
T. Time you wake up: Between 7-7:30am. Bedtime is 11:30-12:00 (we are both night owls and LOVE to stay up late, especially on weekends!).
U. Underwear: Oh I didn’t think this was that kind of questionnaire!
V. Vegetables you don’t like: Chard. That is the only one I can think of, so I guess I’m doing good!
W. What makes you run late: Traffic, Blogging, unexpected clothing freak-outs. I’m usually early though and hate to be late.
X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, pelvic area (when I had pelvic strain from running in 2009), Head (I fell on the ice and hit my head in 2008…outcome still unclear!).
Y. Yummy food you make: I’m really loving my spin-off oatmeals lately.
Z. Zoo animal favorites: The animals that are released back into the wild!
PS– My current American Idol Favs are: Paul, Pia, Haley, and Casey! What about you?
If you’d like, copy and paste this survey below and have a go at it! I love finding out about you guys.
This looks and sounds delicious! I’ve just been told I’m allergic to potatoes, but sweet potatoes are in! Heck ya! I wonder if sweet potato chocolate chip cookies would be any good? Totally trying it. Thanks for the inspiration :)
One thing I hate about AI = the really long shows to find out something they could tell you in two seconds, ha. Oh well! At least it’s time you can use to be productive, as you did ; )
Love learning more about you. Your mom has a great name ;) I am 5’3..one reason I love to wear heels. Always tell people I am still waiting for my growth spurt, haha
This breakfast looks fun. This is slightly unrelated, but I had to tell you how much I love your chilled double chocolate torte. (The comments were closed on that page). I made it for my husband for Valentine’s day and we both loved it! Plus, having extra chocolate “pudding” hanging around was a nice treat.
Also, I finally just tried your VOO for the first time, and my mom and I really enjoyed it! We think it’ll be especially good for the spring and summer when a cool breakfast is welcome. Thanks for all the great recipes.
Thanks for letting me know Catherine!
I just ready your A-Z and my middle name is Dawn too, I have a half sis, half bro, step sis, step bro too! Twins??
haha cool!
I enjoyed your survey!
I am all over this recipe. It is so me. :) Hearty, healthy, and delicious
This year on Idol is amazing, so good this year!
What a great idea for sweet potatoes! Love it!
I did the quiz on my blog last week. It’s been fun reading everyone’s answers. Pet Peeves and how people tackle the Underwear questions have been fun.
Someone else’s hair, yes gross!
And also slow, aimless, meandering people that hog the sidewalk and don’t have any clue Im on a mission and trying to get past them.
Grating all that sweet potato = arm workout
All the choc melted on top = worth it :)
I definitely need to make this ASAP but I need a new box grater because I only have a wimpy small one these days! Love the A-Z…think it is time I fill out mine too!
That sounds like a delicious oatmeal recipe! And I love the name Dawn~So pretty and refreshing. I’m big on names and their meanings! :D
A. Age: 26
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore you dislike: Cleaning out the fridge – blech!
D. Dogs: none! Live with 2 cats but neither are mine.
E. Essential start to your day: Listening to the radio while I get ready.
F. Favorite color: Red wine :)
G. Gold or silver: Gold
H. Height: 5’11 – I’m tall!
I. Instruments you play(ed): Violin, then flute, then trombone(!) and that lasted the longest
J. Job title: Editor/Blogger
K. Kids: none
L. Live: Washington, DC
M. Mom’s name: Lucy
N. Nicknames: Bethy Bubbles (cringe)!
O. Overnight hospital stays: I had my appendix out when I was 18. Same room/same bed as my brother one year earlier!
P. Pet peeves: Crunchy chewing when I’m trying to concentrate
Q. Quote from a movie: Anything from Closer. I think that script is so well-written!
R. Righty or lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Older brother Richard, Younger sister Louisa
T. Time you wake up: 5:30 – eek!
U. Underwear: I like it
V. Vegetables you don’t like: I love all veggies.
W. What makes you run late: Metro delays
X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, ankle – 3 times!
Y. Yummy food you make: Got to agree with oats
Z. Zoo animal favorites: Giraffes, polar bears
oh this looks like such an amazing way to start the day! :) chocolate and sp?? mmm hhmmm!!
Yum! I can imagine how great of a texture the SP shreds gave the oats.
I love your pictures that you take for the recipes! Everything is lined up nicely :)
I had oatmeal for the first time in 2 weeks today (I am on a cleanse and reintroduced non-seed grains into my diet today!) and it was so good. No chocolate yet, but I’ve been on a wicked sweet potato streak lately…so this would be fantastic.
A-Z Survey
A. Age: 27 — you seem so much more accomplished than me, though!
B. Bed size: Full, as of this autumn — before that my husband and I shared a twin!!
C. Chore you dislike: putting fitted sheets on the bed
D. Dogs: I’ve never had dogs…or cats, until recently — my kittys’ names are basil and pepper
E. Essential start to your day: tea
F. Favorite color: A nice deep green
G. Gold or silver: silver…although I wear white gold, too
H. Height: 5 ft 7 inches
I. Instruments you play(ed): Flute and oboe
J. Job title: Homeschool Enrichment Guide
K. Kids: Just my kitties and students!
L. Live: Portland, Maine
M. Mom’s name: Deborah
N. Nicknames: L-train, L-Boogie, L-dog, darling, honey, Ellie.
O. Overnight hospital stays: None yet! Let’s keep it that way
P. Pet peeves: when people don’t use their blinkers!
Q. Quote from a movie: “Just when I thought I was out, they sucked me back in!” – Godfather III
R. Righty or lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: A 21 year old lovely sister
T. Time you wake up: When the sun comes up
U. Underwear: Oh I didn’t think this was that kind of questionnaire!
V. Vegetables you don’t like: Corn. and potatoes. but i love sweet potatoes.
W. What makes you run late: too many things to do!!
X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, arm, and lungs
Y. Yummy food you make: spicy curries and masalas.
Z. Zoo animal favorites: goats?
I’m really glad you posted this recipe because I was actually craving sweet potato for breaky the other day! YUM! You made a great call on this one LOL. Yay the “ABC’S of Me”..I plan to fill that out shortly too. Such a cute survey.
xo Jess
Ha! I just saw that movie and cracked up at that line! Legends of the Fall!
P.S. My Alaskan aunt and I swoon over your blog regularly. Thank you for so many fabulous posts!
Kindred spirits! My bestie and I used to laugh and laugh at that movie growing up. We were a bit obsessed!
Thanks for your kind words :)
The oatmeal looks wonderful, I can’t wait to try this – thanks for the recipe!
Chard is not my fave either, I usually end up stir frying it.
How delicious and comforting does this oatmeal look?! I could definitely enjoy this for breakfast! :) When I am finished ‘detoxing’ I will have to try it!
I haven’t don’t one of these in ages-
A. Age: 19
B. Bed size: European Queen (if only it were as big as regular queens)
C. Chore you dislike: all of them?- actually just cleaning the stovetop
D. Dogs: bella- but she had to go to a new home because she didn’t get along with my beloved vivian (aka my cat)
E. Essential start to your day: coffee!
F. Favorite color: burgundy
G. Gold or silver: silver, or rose gold
H. Height: 6′
I. Instruments you play(ed): guitar, a little piano, and the triangle
J. Job title: student, photographer, makeup artist
K. Kids: my ever growing eeyore collection
L. Live: in Paris, but crave the countryside
M. Mom’s name: momma kerri
N. Nicknames: Jordan, sweetheart, klylie
O. Overnight hospital stays: a couple…
P. Pet peeves: myself,
Q. Quote from a movie: “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return”
R. Righty or lefty: righty
S. Siblings: sisters: rebecca sarah and mary
T. Time you wake up: depends on when I have class- between 6-10
U. Underwear: …
V. Vegetables you don’t like: gonna have to agree with you on the chard- oh and cooked spinach
W. What makes you run late: makeup, when I can’t find my shoes.
X. X-rays you’ve had: too many to name- i’m a bit of a clutz
Y. Yummy food you make: I’m also really loving your oatmeal spinoffs- but does it still count if its a yummy food YOU make and Ijust copy?
Z. Zoo animal favorites: reptile house.
haha of course! ;)