Overnight Oatmeal, Yet Again

Serves 1 (but double away!)

I don't think I'll ever get tired of overnight oatmeal. It's so nutritious, so filling, and so easy. Plus, it's a great cold breakfast for warm summer mornings. I think I've eaten some variation of this for breakfast every day for the last two months, and I have no intention of stopping! Especially now that I have a ridiculous amount of chia seeds :D

Yep, That's A Mason Jar The Size Of A Chihuahua Full of Chia Seeds (well, almost full).

I wanted to share my current favorite flavor, which is quite similar to my Chocolate Cherry Pudding recipe, but with a few alterations and improvements. For one thing, I've upped the oats to a little over 1/2 cup per serving, and reduced the almond milk by 1/3rd - I think it makes it a taste a lot more pudding-y. I've also added a banana which brings a lot of sweetness, and mixes very nicely with the cherry and chocolate. So here is a slightly altered, but still delicious recipe for Chocolate Cherry Banana Overnight Oats!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup frozen unsweetened cherries (or fresh), defrosted in the microwave for 30 seconds, and broken apart with a fork 
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, mashed (optional - prepared with the cherries)
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/2 heaping cup regular oats, or gluten-free oats (not instant)
• 2/3 cup unsweetened almond millk - or non-dairy milk of choice
• 2 TBS chia seeds
• 1 heaping TBS cocoa powder
• 5 drops liquid stevia, or 1/2 TBS maple syrup or agave nectar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)

• 2 TBS roasted, unsalted almonds (or raw almonds, walnuts, etc.)

Banana, Blueberries and Cherries.

All Mashed Up!

Oats Mixed In.

Directions: In a medium sized bowl, defrost the cherries and blueberries (if using frozen) in the microwave for 30 seconds (or just set them out at room temperature for a few hours). Add the banana to the bowl, and mash with a fork or other mashing devise. Add the oats, cocoa powder, salt, and chia seeds - mix together. Stir in the almond milk, stevia, and vanilla extract and until no lumps of cocoa powder remain, and the mixture is starting to thicken..  Cover the bowl and place in the fridge. Let set for two hours, or overnight.

In the morning, remove the covering, top with roasted almonds, and enjoy!

Right Before It Goes Into The Fridge.

Ready To Devour.