Cooking with Pantry Staples: Volume One!
Let's Talk about OATS

We are all going to the grocery store less these days and stocking up on shelf stable items to have on hand.  Let's take a look at pantry staples and learn some new ways they can be used!  First up, oats!

Nutritional Benefits:

1. Oats are a good source of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
2. Health benefits include:  increased weight control, better bowel function, lower cholesterol, lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower blood pressure, and stabilization of blood sugar.
3. Correctly packaged and stored oats have an amazing shelf-life of up to 30 years.
4. Oats are quick and easy to prepare.  They are very versatile and can be made into flour. 
5. Oats satisfy and make you feel full longer.
   
   

Of course, we can eat oatmeal the traditional way - boiling on the stove with water or milk.  But here are some OTHER ways oats can be used:

Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Baked Oatmeal

Baked Oatmeal Cups

Oat Milk

Oatmeal Pizza Crust

Savory Oatmeal with Scallions and Soy Sauce

Easy Non-Recipe Ideas:

• Add raw oats to your smoothies and smoothie bowls!

• Your morning bowl of oatmeal doesn’t have to be sweet. Top it with a poached egg, some wilted greens, any type of cheese you have, a spray of olive oil and even hot sauce!

• If flour is hard to come by, throw oats in a blender and make your own oat flour! It can be used alone or combined with all purpose flour to increase the fiber content of a recipe.

• Use as an egg replacement to bind your burgers/meatballs!  You can use in meat burgers or veggies burgers (1/4-1/2 c per lb of meat)

• Use coarsely ground oats as a breading for chicken instead of breadcrumbs