Baked Oatmeal

I’ve been meaning to blog this recipe for a while.  1) I LOVE it!  2) The kids LOVE it and shout for joy when I serve it for breakfast 3) I keep losing my recipe and if I blog it I will always know where to find it.  I don’t have great pictures but I promise, it’s FANTASTIC!  It’s like the cross between an oatmeal cookie and oatmeal cake.  *happy sigh*

I warn you, however, that making this recipe could lead to overeating. 

Baked Oatmeal

2 eggs

1 cup sugar or honey

1/2 cup oil

3 cups oatmeal (uncooked)

1 cup milk or milk alternative (I use oat milk)

2 tsp baking powder

pinch of sea salt (or other salt if that’s all you have)

spices (I use about a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of ginger, nutmeg and clove)

raisins or chopped apple (optional)

Don’t even worry about using a mixing bowl, just grab a 2-quart baking dish and mix it right in that.  Mix eggs, oil and sugar.  Add baking powder.  Stir in the rest of ingredients until well mixed.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or microwave on high for about 8-10 minutes.  Serve with cinnamon and sugar and/or milk (which I’ve never bothered doing because it’s just so good on its own).

I got this recipe from a friend and, as I’ve mentioned, love it so much as it is but I do plan to play with it someday to make it a little more healthy.  If I do that and it turns out well I’ve blog that too (I’ll need to be able to find my recipe, right).

Michigan

At the beginning of January Rob, Gabe and I took the chance to visit family in Michigan, namely Bill.  By that time we knew things were moving much faster than expected and that we many not have another chance to visit.  Zion, Gideon, and Elias got to stay with their “Tantie” while we were gone. 
The first day is all flying.  One of our layovers (yes, I said one of) is in San Francisco and we found this cute kids area that had interact science displays.  My favorite was the Aeolian wind tub, using the handle you can change the direction of the fan and watch how it effects the sand.  I want one of these in my house!

Eventually we land in Cleveland where we have a hotel for the night.  In the morning we start the 3 1/2 hour drive to Rob’s hometown.  On the way we see a trucker driving his semi with his knees so he can eat a sub sandwich.  A wee bit frightening.

The first day is all visiting with family but in the morning Rob and I go for a walk.  I wish we’d had more time because I’m in love with old barns, especially red ones, and you can find them in abundance around there.  Sometimes red sheds too.

Bill and Gabe play that game where they try to slap each others’ hands.  Goofballs.

Later we take a drive and even later than that we play games.
The next day is Sunday and we are invited to attend church.  The kids looked so nice I couldn’t resist a few pictures.  Codi, Tristan and Brook:

Then we wanted to show Gabe the local park where all the bridges are made out of cement.  It’s really interesting.

At lunch Tristan convinces me to try the meatball sub at Subway.  Mmmm, it’s been a long time.  Yum.
After that break we visit with Freda who was a grandmother figure to Rob when he was young.  She’s a firecracker!

Our last event of the day is to follow Codi to go visit her mom, Shelley, we were greeted by coyote howls and spooky trees – loved it!

Our last day, boy it went fast!  A few pics before we leave.  Rob and his brother, Carl:
Carl, Rob and Bill:

Bill’s wife, Joyce:

*sigh*  Too short, it was good to see family and especially Bill.  The only thing that’s left is another long day of travel home.  But God treats me with a gorgeous sunset on the way home.  It sure does last a long time when you’re flying west.

Bill

Rob’s flight left at 6AM this morning.  At about 10AM I got the call that Bill had passed.  Rob called from a layover and we chatted, he’s doing OK.  Actually feeling the stress of feeling rushed lifted.  So we’re OK.  As OK as we can be.  Bill was wonderful to me from the moment we met, treated me like a daughter, always remembered my birthday, he never failed to call AND send a card.  As happens with these sorts of events it does not seem real, I feel as though I could call tomorrow and chat with him.

Well, you know what to do, pray for us.  Thanks!

Bill and Gabe goof off, January 6, 2012.

Sorry

About the disappearing act that is.  First the holidays, which were great.  We had an awesome Christmas.  But January was a wash.  At the beginning we learned that my father-in-law, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer, was not doing well so we planned a short notice trip to Michigan.  Rob, Gabe and I fly out while the other three stayed with my sister, Jamie. 

We had a great visit in Michigan.  Bill perked up a bit with us there though it was clear that the cancer was marching on.  Then the state of Washington got blasted with snow and ice.  Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Ever.  We lost electricity in addition to many limbs from all of our trees (major sadness).  We were out for three days others were out for a week or more.  We did fine at home though.  It was cold but we have a gas hot water heater so we had hot water and a gas stove so we could cook hot food.

Then just as I thought things would settle and normalize (ha!) we got the call just hours ago that Bill may not make it through the night.  Rob already had a ticket to fly out tomorrow night but he’s found an earlier flight out in the morning.  We’re hoping Bill holds on until he can get there.

On a happier note, this morning before we knew that Bill’s health had deteriorated so drastically, I had a mini-photo shoot with my boy Gideon.  He is so, so funny and enjoyed giving me some faces for the camera.  His only fee?  Getting to see the back of the camera.  He reacts like he won the lottery every time “LOOK!  There I am!”

That is all.