Tasty Tuesday - Baked Oatmeal

On cold wintry mornings like today it's nice to have a hot bowl of cereal to warm you up but sometimes we do not have time to make or even eat hot cereal like oatmeal. This recipe is great because you can make it ahead of time and keep it stored in the fridge. Just pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and you have oatmeal on the go! This is far healthier, tastier and more inexpensive than the granola or cereal bars you get in the grocery store.

Baked Oatmeal
2 c. uncooked oats
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 c. fat-free or lowfat milk (To add richness I sometimes substitute the milk with low-fat buttermilk.)
1/2 c. Egg Beaters (or 2 eggs)
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce (can substitute low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt, or mashed banana)
1/4 c. Brown sugar (or sugar free sweetener like splenda)
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8x8" pan with cooking spray. Combine wet ingredients and then add in dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour mixture into pan, and bake for 35-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This divides up into 6-8 servings or bars.

This recipe is very versatile - Try adding raisins, chopped apples, nuts or even canned pumpkin.