Homemade Instant Oatmeal

We love oatmeal at our house yet each boy wants their's a bit different.  I've seen this on the internet for some time now and I decided to make my own instant oatmeal so they can each have their own favorite.   Brown or regular sugar, sugar substitute, cinnamon, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips...the possibilities are endless! Putting the Instant Oatmeal in jars so they can be easily accessed and used in the desired amounts, has been great.   I'm cold and ready to make some Instant Oatmeal come on and join me.

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

Ingredients

4 cups 100% whole grain old fashion oats 

1/4 to 1/2 brown or regular sugar or sugar substitute, more or less, you decide
*make your own brown sugar*

1/2 teaspoon salt

ground cinnamon

vanilla beans

nut, chopped, optional

dried fruit optional

coconut, optional

chocolate chips, optional

anything else you may want to add that is a favorite and can be stored in a jar

To make

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Place oatmeal on a cookie sheet and bake 4 to 7 minutes, stirring every minute so it doesn't brown too much

Take out of oven when light brown.  Leave oven on if adding nuts or coconut to oatmeal.

Cool completely.

While cooling you can toast nuts and/or coconut if you are adding them.  Toast until lightly browned.  Around 3 minutes, stirring often.

Cool and set aside.

 Chop toasted oatmeal in food processor, I use my little food chopper and did it in batches. A blender may also be used.

Give a coarse to fine chop, however you like your oatmeal.  We eat it medium.

Put in a mixing bowl and add sugar and salt mixing well.  I just mixed in the jar.  

Add additional ingredients if desired.

Store in an airtight container.  

To serve

Heat water to boil.

Stir oatmeal before adding desired amount into a heatproof bowl.

Add boiling water, depending on how thick you want yours.

We use 2/3 cup Instant Oatmeal to 1 cup boiling water, more or less depending on how thick you like it.

Add cream, milk, fresh fruit or eat it as it is.

Enjoy!