Kids Cuisine

I have to admit that I seldom make hot breakfasts for my family. With the hustle and bustle of most mornings, adding breakfast prep and clean-up is far from being desirable. Each of us in the family has our own preference of breakfast foods. My 3 year old prefers a bowl of cereal with milk, my 7 year old prefers a toaster waffle and a glass of juice, my husband prefers a bagel with smear, and I tend to prefer a cozy bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal. On the occasions where I do branch out and make a big hot breakfast, it isn’t as well received as I would like, so I rely on the old standbys to fit the bill.

But there is one breakfast, newly discovered, that the whole family will happily consume. Not only is it a hot breakfast, but it could be a cold breakfast, and you can also make it ahead, keep it in the fridge, and pull out one serving at a time to be microwaved. I stayed away from this recipe for so long knowing that my kids don’t really enjoy a bowl of oatmeal in the morning. But bake it up in a pan with dried fruit and nuts and it becomes a desirable breakfast. Baked Oatmeal is a certain crowd pleaser in our house that everyone enjoys eating.

Baked Oatmeal
3 cups milk — plus more for serving if desired
6 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons margarine
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 apples — peeled, cored, and chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries, raisins, or other berries
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans