10 Facts about Carly and the Incredible Oatmeal

To continue with the introductions, here's 10 random facts about me, mostly food associated:

1. I have Christian beliefs, just putting it out there from the start.

2. Its dangerous to leave me alone around raw nuts or nut butter.

3. I really don't like kids.

4. I think it's always a good time for a cup of tea.

5. I save all my 'healthy fats' throughout the day so I can have them all at once in my last meal. Every single day.

6. I'm registered with a modelling agency, so you may occasionally hear about that.

7. I would rather shop for groceries than for shoes.

8. I believe cinnamon does indeed go with everything.

9. I may love oatmeal more than life itself.

10. If I don't eat oatmeal in some way, shape or form everyday, I'm very sick.

Speaking of oatmeal, I have had an overwhelming amount of requests on instagram about how I make my oats everyday. I play around a lot with flavors, spices and fruits etc, but here's the recipe for basic oatmeal:

Basic Oatmeal (Overnight method)
You'll need:
20g rolled oats (I use wholegrain)
20g oat bran1 tsp sweetener
1/8th tsp salt (helps to make things sweeter)
1.5 cups of water
2 tbsp almond milk

1. Weigh out your oats and oat bran in a large, glass pyrex jug (make sure its large or it WILL overflow!) Add the sweetener, salt and water.
2. Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes, stir, and then for another 2.5 minutes.
3. Once its finished, put it in the fridge and leave overnight.
4. The next morning, add the almond milk and stir vigorously to relieve it of its jelly like consistency.
5. Cook for 1.5 minutes, stir and then for another 2 minutes. Pour into a bowl and you're done!

Now I know what you're thinking. Carly, Carly, Carly, thats far too much water. Are you crazy? Oh my dears, do not doubt me already. Here's the catch: leaving the oats overnight allows them to absorb the extra water and become super voluminous and fluffy like a cloud, giving you a huuuuge serving of deliciousness!

I know how many of you appreciate nutritional information (as do I) so I'll do my best to provide you with basic macronutrient amounts for each recipe, forgive me if I don't though! If you'd like specific numbers like sugars, sodium, fiber etc, let me know and I'll happily tell you!

Here's the stats for the basic oatmeal:
Calories- 157
Carbohydrates- 21g
Protein- 6g
Fats- 4g

Here's the fun part though: FLAVORS AND TOPPINGS! :D

My favorite flavors (added and cooked the night before)
-Cinnamon, duh. (lots)
-Cloves (a few shakes)
-Cacao powder (1 tsp)
-Mesquite powder (1 tsp)
-Coffee (1 tsp)
-Vanilla extract (1/2 tsp)
-Vanilla chai latte (1 tsp of a premixed powder I have)
-Pumpkin pie spice (1/4 tsp each cinnamon/nutmeg/cloves/ginger)
-Coconut (replace almond milk and some of water with light coconut milk)
-Banana (mash a desired amount in the oatmeal before reheating in the morning)
-Protein - flavor of choice (only to be added and vigorously stirred in immediately before serving, NOT before or during cooking)

Toppings
-Fruit. Trust me, anything works. I've tried. Raw, grilled, stewed, chunks, slices, mashed, pureed, whatever.
-Nuts - peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, pine nuts, pistachios! Agh I'm drooling.
-Nut butter. Enough said.
-Pureed pumpkin/sweet potato
-Milk or yoghurt
-Seeds - flaxseeds, poppy seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds....

So I'm gonna wrap up this post with some oatmeal-porn. Enjoy :)