Overnight Oats With A Twist

Overnight oats are a wonderful way to get breakfast quickly in the morning because of their make ahead convenience. It's also perfect for those who are on the go and need to take something with them. So what are they? Simply put they are just oats that have absorbed the liquid they have been soaked in. There's no cooking involved. Plus eating overnight oats is another way to add chia seeds to your diet. If your looking for some good info on them, check out this post.

As an added benefit to soaking your oats, your body will have an easier time digesting and absorbing their nutrition. This is because they are already partially broken down after soaking. We all know how good oatmeal is for us - it's full of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, and is a great way to lower cholesterol. And as the oats soak, their vitamin content actually increases. Especially the B vitamins, which among many things help keep a strong healthy metabolism, heart and nerve function.

There are a few different version floating around out there on the internet. The most common uses milk, yogurt and chia seeds. This version is vegan so there's no yogurt, and it's pretty basic.

Now I love having oats for breakfast, but I just can't seem to bring myself to eat cold oatmeal. Just the thought of eating it cold turns me off. So these overnight oats have a little twist to them. They are still soaked overnight, but instead of using a liquid to oat ratio of 2:1, I added a little more liquid in order to allow for a few minutes of microwave time the next morning.

The result: a super creamy bowl of oatmeal that comes close to tasting like pudding!

The best part is that it only takes a minute or two to throw everything together the night before.

Basic Overnight Oats (Serves 1)

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Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup of almond milk (any milk you like will do)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add oats, chia seeds, cinnamon and milk to a bowl or microwave safe container and stir together. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.
2. In the morning, remove lid and put oats in the microwave on high for 2-5 minutes depending on how powerful your microwave is. Watch it closely. When it starts to bubble and rise take it out and let it sit covered for another 2-3 minutes (the longer you let it sit the thicker the oats will get).
3. Top with fresh fruit or something crunchy like a sprinkle of granola or cereal, and 1-2 tbsp of nut butter for healthy fats.

To this bowl I added sliced banana and a tbsp of maple cinnamon almond butter, and it tasted like heaven!

Of course if eating cold oatmeal doesn't bother you, you can still use this recipe to make traditional overnight oats as long you use 2/3 of a cup of milk instead of 1 cup and skip the microwave. Either way you choose it's a great breakfast.

It's exciting to get up in the morning and know it's already waiting for you.

Tosca's Keep-It-Tight Tilapia

Burn baby, burn!

Quoting Tosca Reno, this recipe will "set your metabolism on fire!"

Let's talk metabolism for a little shall we? Spices such as cayenne, paprika, black pepper, ginger, and yes even mustard can increase metabolism and the efficiency of your body's digestion. This means that you can burn more calories and fat just by eating them and keep your metabolism burning strong for hours after. Plus there's the added benefit of eliminating excess salt from a dish because spices pack such a flavour punch!

I have made this dish numerous times now and it's got to be the most satisfying, tasty fish I have ever cooked. Even the fish haters in my house like it love it. Now that's saying something!

One of the reasons I love it so much is because it makes a nice light meal without sacrificing any flavour. It pairs well with grilled veggies and brown rice for a complete meal. The last time I made this I grilled some pineapple wedges alongside with green beans and toasted cashews, and fresh corn on the cob. Delish!

For anyone interested in trying tilapia for the first time this would be a great one to make. If you don't like a lot of heat I find that if you leave out the black pepper it really cuts it back but still tastes great. Tilapia itself is a very mild tasting fish and is probably one of the least fishy tasting of all fish fillets you can get.

I would love to try this rub on some trout or even halibut (also great choices for getting some good quality lean protein).

Tilapia is such a delicate fish it just feels fancy when done right, doesn't it?

Keep-it-Tight Tilapia

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 clove of garlic, pressed
• 1 tsp of paprika
• 1 tsp of ginger
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• 1 tsp ground mustard
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp chili powder
• a tiny pinch of cayenne
• 4 fresh tilapia fillets

Method:

1. Preheat oven or grill/BBQ to 400*F. 
2. Rinse fish fillets under cold running water, and pat dry with paper towels.
3. In a medium sized bowl, combine seasonings, garlic and olive oil.
4. Dip each fillet into the seasoning and place them on a foil baking plate.
5. Place in the over or on the top most shelf of your BBQ and bake for 10 minutes.  

Thanks for another great recipe Tosca!