Copycat Starbucks Oatmeal

I am a huge oatmeal fan. I never had this at Starbucks and wanted to try it mainly because I liked the idea of the banana being incorporated into the oatmeal.

I adapted the recipe using almond milk and caramel extract so it's not a true copycat from Iowa Girl Eats.



Ingredients:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats (not instant or quick-cooking)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)
1 banana, sliced and divided
1 Tablespoon brown sugar (or more or less)
1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed (optional)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract ( uses Watkins Caramel Extract)
1 Tablespoon each pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds (or whatever you have on hand)
2 teaspoons each dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried cranberries (or whatever you have on hand

Directions:

In a medium size saucepan combine the oats, water, milk and half of the banana.

Cook on medium heat until bubbling.

Stir and cook until creamy and the oats have adsorbed all the liquid which should take about 5 minutes.

Use a spatula to mash the banana.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the brown sugar, flaxseed  meal and the caramel extract.

Add to your bowl and top with remainder of the banana and the raisins and nuts.


Featured on Five Friday Finds April 10,2015 ( which BTW was our 39th wedding anniversary)