BlogHer - More Than a Bowl of Oatmeal - Comments

Re: blenders and smoothies

bobafifi — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:32:10 -0500

I've been making a new smoothie the last few days which uses a bag of Whole Foods 365 brand organic Berry Blend and a bag of organic Fruit Blend. To this I add Rice Dream vanilla flavored rice milk. The problem is my blender.

My Blender is an older Osterizer 400 watt "Contemporary Classics" with not a lot of power, so it takes quite awhile for it to chop/blend the frozen fruit. I figured the Juice Shack in Santa Rosa would have done their homework since they have several stores and make smoothies all day, so why not just buy whatever they use? So I looked into it, and they use Blendtec commercial blenders. Cost? $1949.00 retail! :-|

There's one on eBay for $896, but even that's still WAY more than I had in mind for a blender.

I know several people who use VitaMix blenders and like them (they run about half the cost of the Blendtec), but I'm curious if there are other makes/models to consider for making smoothies. What do you use?

Thanks,

-Bob
bobafifi.com

usedviolins.com

fluteplayer.net

So many flavours so little

harleylilithnoir — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 18:54:50 -0600

So many flavours so little days in a week.

Starting the day right

Andrea Meyers — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:46:40 -0600

My boys love their morning oatmeal. I make it with regular quick oats, wheat germ, oat bran, cinnamon, milk, applesauce, and a touch of honey or maple syrup. They enjoy it with raisins sprinkled on top.

Andrea
Andrea's Recipe Box

I love oatmeal

Mary Tsao — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 22:05:40 -0600

Mmmm. Steel cut with a pat of butter buried in the middle, topped with brown sugar and a trench of milk around the edge of the bowl to help cool it off... Childhood memories, for sure!

Mary
BlogHer Contributing Editor, Mommy & Family
Mom Writes

Great collection

Kalyn Denny — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:57:37 -0600

Great collection of oatmeal recipes here. Who knew oatmeal was so universally loved? Alanna's peanut butter oatmeal was a huge hit on my blog too.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

We make ours with milk

CityMama — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:15:28 -0600

Not as low in calorie but we do ours thusly (for family of 4)

3/4 cup oatmeal
1.5 cups milk
dash salt

Place all in covered, glass pyrex and microwave for 6-7 minutes. Remove from microwave, stir, and let sit for 1 minute. Top with butter and brown sugar or honey, or if you are my kids, crumbled, crisp bacon!

Stefania Pomponi Butler
Contributing Editor, Arts & Entertainment, BlogHer

I blog:
CityMama
Kimchi Mamas
Family F

biggirlblue — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:56:30 -0600

Thanks!

Moe
BigGirlBlue
Large & Lovely

"Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known." ~Nellie McClung, 1916

I checked with Alanna and

biggirlblue — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:55:32 -0600

I checked with Alanna and she said it was ok to post a link to my power oatmeal. Here ya go: Power Oatmeal.
Moe
BigGirlBlue
Large & Lovely

"Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known." ~Nellie McClung, 1916

Re: Peanut butter in raspberry (cont.)

bobafifi — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:01:31 -0600

Ok, here's the list of ingredients for the Whole Foods "Peanut Butter Punch" smoothie:

peanut butter
bananas
raspberries
protein powder
frozen Rice Dream
rice milk

Enjoy! :-)

-Bob
bobafifi.com

usedviolins.com

fluteplayer.net

Re: Peanut butter in raspberry

bobafifi — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:03:02 -0600

The smoothie I'm referring to is called "Peanut Butter Punch" here at the Whole Foods Market. I'm not clear on all the ingredients or their proportions, but I know there's raspberry, banana, Rice Dream, some kind of powder, and peanut butter. It's easily the best tasting peanut butter smoothie I've tried but at $5 for a 16oz cup, too pricey to have all the time! :-)
I'll jot down the ingredients next time I'm there and report back.

-Bob
bobafifi.com

usedviolins.com

fluteplayer.net

Peanut butter in raspberry

biggirlblue — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:38:07 -0600

Peanut butter in raspberry smoothie? Hmm. I don't know if I'm brave enough to do it but I'm going to have to definitely consider it.

Moe
BigGirlBlue
Large & Lovely

"Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known." ~Nellie McClung, 1916

Re: Yum! I love oatmeal!

bobafifi — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:14:18 -0600

> Maple syrup is the perfect sweetener.

That's what I use too! :-)
(really can't add too much of it either I've found ;-)

Peanut butter in oatmeal?? Never crossed my mind, though I do like it in raspberry smoothies - hmmm, will give it a try.

For what it's worth, after spending about $3 a day on it down at Whole Foods market for a stretch from their breakfast bar ("steel cut oats,"), it finally dawned on me to just buy the Quaker stuff in bulk from Costco. Nine pounds, $6.

-Bob
bobafifi.com

usedviolins.com

fluteplayer.net

Oatmeal: The New Egg

Alanna Kellogg — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:52:36 -0600

Another great headline!

Alanna Kellogg, A Veggie Venture

Oatmeal Lover!

biggirlblue — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:35:15 -0600

I've always been a fan of oatmeal. It's definitely not just for breakfast anymore. My husband and I often have what I call power oatmeal for supper. It's a nice change of pace from the everyday. Does that make oatmeal the new egg?

Moe
BigGirlBlue
Large & Lovely

"Women are going to form a chain, a greater sisterhood than the world has ever known." ~Nellie McClung, 1916

Oatmeal: It's not just for

Alanna Kellogg — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:44:33 -0600

Oatmeal: It's not just for cold weather anymore! That'd have been one great headline! DO try the peanut butter, about a tablespoon per serving ... and see Kalyn's post too.

Alanna Kellogg, A Veggie Venture

More Than a Bowl of Oatmeal

Alanna Kellogg — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:56:30 -0600

Sure, oatmeal's good for us, especially the old-fashioned oatmeal (read whole grain, cholesterol-free, high fiber, low-calorie, low-carb) but who knew it could taste so good?

[img_assist|fid=2181|thumb=0|alt=Oatmeal]MORNING MICROWAVE OATMEAL Per serving, measure 1/4 cup of old-fashioned or quick (not instant) oatmeal into a microwave-safe bowl ~ I keep oatmeal handy in a tin right on the counter, with a 1/4 measure tucked inside. Sprinkle with table salt ~ don't skip this step! but do experiment with quantity to learn your own taste, more seems to improve the taste immeasurably. Add 2/3 cup of water ~ measure the first time, after that you can just eye it. Stir and place in microwave on high for 1 minute - stir. Cook on high for 30 seconds - stir. Cook on high in 15 second increments, stirring after each one, until oatmeal reaches the consistency you like. The short bursts of power and stirs prevent the oatmeal from cooking over. Stir in chopped fruit, a spoonful of peanut butter, even cocoa powder. Or try one of these ideas ...

BOWLS GUSSIED UP
Chronicles in Culinary Curiosity ... harvest oatmeal
Ardice ... banana oatmeal breakfast brulee
Kitchen Exhibitionist ... chai-flavored oatmeal
Kalyn's Kitchen ... South Beach oatmeal with ... secret ingredient! (it's perfect for Weight Watchers, too)
Bakingsheet ... steel-cut oatmeal
Lex Culinaria ... sweet vanilla oatmeal with caramelized apples
80 Breakfasts ... oatmeal with grated apple
One Hot Stove ... sunshine oatmeal

OATMEAL REINCARNATIONS
Simply Recipes ... oatmeal pancakes
In the Kitchen with Krista ... banana oatmeal breakfast bars
Better than Ramen (a group blog!) ... whole grain banana muffins
everybody likes sandwiches ... baked oatmeal
Lex Culinaria ... fruit and oatmeal breakfast bread
Andrea's Recipe Box ... maple oatmeal scones
My Sister's Kitchen ... oatmeal molasses bread

SHOPPING TIP I've been comparing Quaker brand to a local supermarket's house brand: no difference except price.

Contributing Editor Alanna Kellogg cooks vegetables (yes, once with oatmeal!) for A Veggie Venture, then turns to fresh, seasonal dishes for everyday healthful eating and occasional indulgences (yes, once for Swiss muesli!) at Kitchen Parade.