School days are on the way out and long, warm (or hot!) days are on the way in. If you are looking for meals to fix that require little or no cooking, start with this cool but wholesome breakfast.
SUMMER OATMEAL (Pantry Cooking: Unlocking Your Pantry’s Potential, page 48)
2 cups quick oats, uncooked
1/2 cup chopped dried apples
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup oat bran, uncooked
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Milk
Chopped walnuts
Up to 4 days ahead, in a medium bowl, mix the first 7 ingredients with 1-1/4 cups milk until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight. For each serving, spoon a scant 1/2 cup of the oat mixture into a cereal bowl. Add enough milk, while stirring, to reach the desired consistency. Sprinkle with walnuts. Store remaining oat mixture in the refrigerator. Makes 6 servings.
VARIATIONS – Omit cinnamon. Substitute one of the following combinations for the apples and apple juice: Dried apricots and orange juice; sweetened dried cranberries and cranberry juice cocktail; golden raisins and white grape juice. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
