Start the New Year Right: Apple Pie Oatmeal for Breakfast

We all know the mantra by now: breakfast is an important way to start your day off right. But what we know and what we actually do can be two quite different things. ;) If you're like me, it's all too easy to fall into the same-old, same-old routine -- especially when you don't have much time. (For me, that often means grabbing coffee and a container of yogurt.)

There are three things that I love about oatmeal for breakfast: it's economical, it's quick to cook and it's warming, healthy and satisfying (wait -- that's more than three!). If you choose to buy an 18-oz. container of quick oats, they'll cost you around $2.39. That's less than 25 cents per serving. Quick oats also cook in less than 5 minutes (use the microwave when you're really pressed for time). They can also be cooked and "taken along" on the road/for eating at work, when you don't have time to sit and eat at home.

My daughter and I created this Apple Pie Oatmeal recipe last year when we were looking for a way to "dress up" oatmeal without the artificial flavorings of the instant packets. The maple syrup can be replaced with a different low-glycemic sweetener (such as agave) also. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!