Baked Oatmeal with Apples

Well.. not the best actual oatmeal. I used an organic instant oatmeal I keep on hand for quick meals for William. But it was still darn tasty.


Isn't that pretty?

Baked Oatmeal with Apples
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
In a 9x11x2 inch pan. Probably better buttered, but I didn't butter my pan.

2 cups of instant oatmeal
2 cups of milk
2 cups of water
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs vanilla (again with the vanilla, if you aren't vanilla crazy like I am, cut back the amount)

Stir ingredients in pan. Top with
3 sliced apples, I used Granny Smiths for the tartness and firm flesh.
Then sprinkle the apples with
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
Dot the top with butter, I used a whole half cup, or one stick. But you know what? It was worth it.
Pop it in the oven for a half hour. Watch family members drool over the cinnamon-y/vanilla/apple-y goodness smell.

If I was doing this for guests or for a special occasion, I'd mix up the oatmeal mix in a bowl and spoon it into individual ramekins and top with the apple slices in flower shapes. Nobody has to know it's an instant oatmeal, and the flavor and the look of the slightly caramelized sugar on top is just amazing. I'll bet it would be really good with peaches too!

Yep. Definitely the best oatmeal I've ever had. Instant or not.