Nourishing Baked Oatmeal -- Phase 4

Many people find that even when they enter phase 4 of maintenance that they still have to watch the amount of grains, sugar and starch they consume. If you are the type that can handle some this is well worth the eating! Even if you choose this is too much for you, your family will love it!

Nourishing Baked Oatmeal

The night before:
6 cups Thick Rolled Oats (old fashioned oats)
2 cups milk
2 Tbsp Kefir, yogurt, whey, or lemon juice
1 cup warm water

Place all these ingredients in a bowl, stir to combine, cover and leave at room temperature over night.

In the morning add:
4 eggs
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup Coconut Oil melted
1 cup Honey or real maple syrup (or you can use 1/2 c and some stevia if you want to reduce the sugar)

1. Stir well to combine.
2. Pour into a cookie sheet that is at least 11 X 15 in size.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes until set and slightly golden.
4. Serve with milk or cream.
5. If there are left overs, press some sugar free or regular chocolate chips into the oatmeal "bars". Return them to an oven that is about 200 degrees for about 5-10 minutes to allow the chocolate to soften. Spread the chocolate with a spatula. You may also sprinkle over the melted chocolate  chopped nuts. Allow bars to cool and cut them into "granola bars. 

Variations:

1. If you enjoy raisins or dried cranberries add 1/2 - 1 cup  to the soaking mixture and increase your water by 1/2 cup. The raisins/cranberries will plump up with the oats over night. Dried blueberries are lovely too.
2. You may add 1 cup of chopped nuts: walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, etc to your mixture in the morning right before baking.
3. To increase the protein content I have even added 1/2 cup of vanilla protein powder to the mixture in the morning when adding all the other ingredients. It adds a lovely richness and then turns my "granola bars" into a healthy protein bar that my family gobbles up!
4. If you do NOT cook for a crew this recipe can easily be cut in 1/2 and baked in a 9" X 13" pan, or reduce it by a third and bake it in a 8" X 8" or 9" X 9" pan.