Food Storage Friday: Apple Almond Oatmeal

Before making this breakfast I had never actually made oatmeal other than of the instant variety. I like that this recipe uses a crock pot, has few ingredients and they are all ingredients that I have on hand anyway. I liked that it has almonds in it because a breakfast of just oatmeal doesn't have enough protein to get you through the morning. I also like that the apples make it so there isn't much sugar required. Plus you wake up to your house smelling like cooked apples.

Apple Almond Oatmeal
Food Storage Ingredients
1 cup steel-cut or old-fashioned oats
1 cup apple juice
1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp brown sugar

Fresh Ingredients
1 & 2/3 cup of apples, peeled and chopped
1 cup water

1. Combine ingredients in a small slow cooker. Cook for 8 hours on low. Makes 3 servings.

A few notes: Yes, I realize that the picture looks just like ordinary oatmeal, which is less than appealing, but I promise the cooked apples very much improve it. I'm sure that I could have very easily used dried apples instead of fresh and just added more water, but we have lots of fresh apples here so that's what I used. If you are making for more than 3-4, this recipe can be doubled or tripled. I could have easily doubled it in my small $5 slow-cooker. I really liked the almonds, my daughter didn't. Perhaps next time we will try it without and I can just sprinkle them on afterward.