Adding Protein Powder to My Oats

I do love hot, cooked cereal for breakfast on a cold and frosty morning.  And I am always trying to come up with add-ins or toppings that will help it stick to my ribs till lunchtime.

In the past I have used egg white stirred into the cooked oats and I have topped them with a variety of nut butters, and yogurts.  Today I came up with something I hadn't tried before, and it turned out very well.

I added a scoop of vanilla protein powder into our cooked oats... I happen to have a soy protein powder on hand, but whey or any kind you have would be fine.  The powder did absorb some of the moisture so the mixture became very thick, and the vanilla was a nice flavor addition. 

My powder has 3 WW P+ per scoop.

If you use a plain protein powder, stir in a spoonful of vanilla extract, too.

If you are making them just for yourself, halve the ingredients.

Protein Packed Oats with Raisins
Makes 2 servings

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 Tbs raisins
• yogurt or milk for topping
• Dash of cinnamon

1. Put the water and oats in a small saucepan and set over HIGH heat and cover.
2. When the water boils, turn the heat to LOW and simmer for about 4 or 5 minutes.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let rest on a cool burner for 5 minutes.
4. Stir the protein powder, raisins and vanilla (if using) into the oats.
5. Divide the mixture between 2 serving bowls.
6. Top with yogurt or milk and a dash of cinnamon.

Per serving, without toppings.
Weight Watchers P+ = 4.
Calories 167; Protein 10g; Carbohydrate 30g; Fat 1g; Fibre 2g.

Stir the protein powder and raisins into the cooked oats.

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Now I am wondering if I should try the chocolate protein powder...

The Captain Makes Omelets

The Captain would always prefer whole eggs to just egg whites in an omelet.  When he takes the breakfast shift during the week, and decides to make omelets, he uses a little gadget we picked up a few years ago.  It is a microwavable omelet pan.

The instructions that come with it tell you to fill up one side of it and then fold it in half and cook your egg, etc. inside the closed container.  It makes one omelet at a time.

The Captain prefers to make 2 omelets at a time, so he uses the pan open-faced and places the ingredients for each omelet, in each half and cooks them both at once.

You can use any add-ins you like... peppers, spinach, tomatoes.... but don't use fresh mushrooms.  They make the resulting mixture too wet and soggy.

Microwave Omelets
Makes 2 servings

• 4 whole eggs
• 1/8 cup chopped onion
• 1 Tbs real bacon bits
• 2 small tomatoes, seeds and centres removed, chopped
• 1 ounce light cheddar cheese, thinly sliced or shredded
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Lightly beat the eggs and then pour half of the mixture into each side of the pan.
2. Cook on MEDIUM-HIGH for 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
3. Remove the pan from mike, stir each side a bit, and then cook for another 1 minute.
4. Remove the pan from mike and distribute 1/2 of the bacon bits, tomato chunks and cheese, over egg mixture on each side.  Cook for another 1 minute and 45 seconds.
5. Plate and serve. Season with salt and pepper.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 6.
Calories 220; Protein 19g; Carbohydrate 4g; Fat 14g; Fibre 1g.

Don't use the HIGH power setting.  It makes the eggs rubbery.

I find the omelet alone a very filling breakfast, but The Captain likes to have toast and 'red' jam with his!

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Dreamy Creamy Coconut Oats

I found something new at a local grocery store yesterday and picked it up to try in our  oats. It is called Coconut Dream and comes in the same style tetra paks as Almond Breeze.



I bought the unsweetened original flavor, and after bringing it home, I calculated the Weight Watchers Points Plus values for it. I was pleasantly surprised that is is only 1 P+ per cup.

Today I used it to cook up our morning oats and they turned out very creamy and had a slight coconut flavor. Very nice. The bit of fat it contains really helped the oats satisfy me till lunch time.

If you want an even more intense coconut flavor, add 2 tsp of cocunut oil to the cooked oats... and add 1 more WW P+ too, per serving.



　
Creamy Coconut Oats
Makes 2 servings

• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 2/3 cup Coconut Dream, unsweetened original
• 2/3 cup water
• Toppings of your choice

1. Bring the water to boil in a small saucepan and then stir in the oats and Coconut Dream.
2. Cover the pan and turn down the heat. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let rest 5 more minutes.
4. Divide the oats between 2 serving bowls and add toppings of your choice.

Per serving, without toppings.
Weight Watchers P+ = 5.
Calories 119; Protein 3g; Carbohydrate 19g; Fat 3g; Fibre 3g.

Really creamy after cooking.

With some yogurt and half a banana.



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