every morning i enjoy a traditional breakfast consumed in a non-traditional way. ugly oatmeal while driving to work. for some reason it takes me a really long time to eat in the morning and ugly oatmeal travels well. why the name? take a look at the stuff! it’s so thick and delicious, you could turn the bowl upside down and it will stay put.

i’m going to share with you my process for making it:

ugly oatmeal

-serves 2-

3 cups water

1.5 cups rolled oats (i buy them in bulk from the market or health food store – they are nice and thick)

4 pinches salt (don’t forget the salt – it brings so much life to this dish)

i don’t measure the following ingredients. they get sprinkled in until it looks like enough.

dried cranberries

frozen blueberries

ground flax seed

wheat germ

sliced almonds

something sweet like brown sugar, maple syrup or agave nectar

bring the water two a boil, add the salt, oats and dried cranberries. turn the heat down to medium low (or it will spill over and make a giant mess) and cook for roughly ten minutes (a good amount of time for applying make-up and ironing work clothes). when the water is almost absorbed, throw in the frozen blueberries, wheat germ, ground flax seed and sliced almonds. stir in your sweetener and enjoy.

if someone tries to tell you that it looks gross, say “i know! it’s called ugly oatmeal!” and if they want to think you are nuts for cooking your oatmeal on the stove instead of opening up a packet of flakes and adding water from the cooler at work, let them. your meal is way healthier than theirs and you made it yourself! high five.