Name: Summer Oatmeal a/k/a Overnight Oatmeal a/k/a Refrigerator Oatmeal
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1/2 cup old fashioned oats; 1/2 cup yogurt ((plain, vanilla, Greek, whole-fat, or non-fat - your preference)); 1/2 cup milk ((skim, 2% or whole - your preference)); 1-2 tsp sweetener (optional) ((honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar - your preference)); 1/2 cup fruit ((blueberries, strawberries, peaches, or raspberries - your preference)); 1 tbsp chopped nuts (optional) ((almonds, walnuts - use your favorite))

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Blueberry almond summer oatmeal

I really enjoy oatmeal for breakfast, but once summer rolls around, I don’t want to spend time cooking over a hot stove, or really, feel like a hot breakfast. So when it starts to get warm, I switch to summer oatmeal a/k/a overnight oatmeal a/k/a refrigerator oatmeal. Whatever you call it, it is easy, delicious and endlessly customizable!

The basic recipe – if you can even call it that – is mix oats, yogurt and milk in a bowl, add fruit, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bam! You’ve Got Breakfast. In the photo above, I used plain, non-fat yogurt, blueberries, topped with chopped almonds, and sweetened with maple syrup. Non-fat yogurt produces a lighter breakfast and the plain base allows the maple flavor to really come through. (Plus I always have some plain, non-fat yogurt in the fridge!)

Strawberry walnut summer oatmeal

In the strawberry-walnut version, I used Greek whole-milk vanilla yogurt, and strawberries topped with chopped walnuts with no added sweetener. I relied on the yogurt to both sweeten and add flavor with the vanilla. Because it was Greek, whole-milk yogurt, the oatmeal was thick and creamy.

Just as you can vary the yogurt to your preference, you can vary the fruit, sweetener (if any) and nuts. I have found strawberries with vanilla yogurt and walnuts (no added sweetener) to be a delicious combo. I also like raspberries with almonds and honey. And my go-to is usually blueberries with non-fat plain yogurt, maple syrup, and almonds. It’s a filling, tasty breakfast with no morning prep – what could be better!

Summer Oatmeal a/k/a Overnight Oatmeal a/k/a Refrigerator Oatmeal

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Easy, overnight oatmeal for breakfast - perfect for summer

Ingredients

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup yogurt (plain, vanilla, Greek, whole-fat, or non-fat - your preference)
1/2 cup milk (skim, 2% or whole - your preference)
1-2 tsp sweetener (optional) (honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar - your preference)
1/2 cup fruit (blueberries, strawberries, peaches, or raspberries - your preference)
1 tbsp chopped nuts (optional) (almonds, walnuts - use your favorite)