Baked Banana Oatmeal

It's getting chilly now that autumn is upon us here in Melbourne, so it is rather unfortunate that I am too fat for my winter jacket at the moment. I am spending every morning and evening shivering at the tram stop and kicking myself for eating chocolate like it was going out of fashion for the last 4 months. Aside from this little problem, autumn is my absolute favourite time of year and, like most things I love, it is mostly about the food.

As soon as it cools down I add oatmeal back into regular rotation for breakfast. Before I had the lap band I thought oatmeal was just slodge for health freaks and now I am totally addicted. It is funny how much your tastes can change after surgery, but it is mostly about seeking out foods that are easy to get down-- especially at breakfast time.

I normally keep sachets of instant oats at work for a quick breakfast, but my other favourite way to eat oats is baking them. In fact, it's almost like eating cake for breakfast... almost. I like to make a big dish of baked banana oatmeal and I have my healthy breakfasts ready for the week. Then I just warm up a piece in the microwave and serve it with a dollop of Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of honey and I am in heaven!

The finished product

Served with Greek yoghurt and honey

BAKED BANANA OATMEAL adapted from Kath Eats Real Food

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 3 bananas
• 1.5 cups skim milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cups of toasted walnuts
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Method

1. Slice two bananas and set aside 
2. Toast ¼ cup of chopped walnuts and set aside
3. Combine the following dry ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp of cinnamon

4. Combine the following wet ingredients:

• 1 egg, beat
• 1 mashed banana
• 1.5 cups skim milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well

6. Spray an 8 inch dish with oil or line with baking paper
7. Pour half the batter into dish and then top with banana slices
8. Pour the remaining batter on top of banana slices and top with toasted walnuts
9. Bake in an oven at 190 for about 30 minutes