Overnight Carrot Cake Oatmeal (take 2)

I found this recipe for oatmeal buried amongst my university archives. Now that I have a whole kitchen at my disposal--instead of an anemic, airplane version of a kitchen--new foodie recipes to come soon. 

Guess what?

 I got coconut "extract" and dried tropical fruit!

That means Carrot Cake Oatmeal, Take Two, my dears.  The kind of oatmeal worthy of taking on bona fide desserty carrot cake.  The kind of carrot cake my father would turn down all varieties of chocolate,  spice cake and mocha desserts for.  Well, maybe not.  But, at least this version of carrot cake will power champions through morning classes and coursework.  It is just sweet enough to pass off as dessert and loaded with enough spice and nutrition to boost you out of a morning stupor.  Read on my fellow oatmeal connoisseurs. Read on.

Ingredients:
-2 medium carrots
-1/3 c. rolled oats
-1 tsp cinnamon (or less, if you are less cinnamon fiendish)
-1/4 tsp ginger
-1/4 tsp clove
-1 tsp coconut extract/ flavor
-1/4 tsp vanilla extract 
-1/3 c. water  + 1/3 c. water
-1/3 c. non-dairy milch
-2-4 tbsp shredded coconut
-dried tropical fruit (I used papaya, but pineapple, lychees, kiwi, melon or even dried ginger would work well)
- 1-2 tbsp vegan white chocolate chips (if you can find them!)
-sweetener to taste


Directions:
Pulverize the two carrots by whichever means you prefer (food processor, blender, grating etc).  It should look a bit like this:

Mix oats, carrot bits, extracts, spices, 1/3 cup water and1/3 cup non-dairy milch together in a microwave safe bowl with enough room for the mixture to double in size during the cooking process.  As stated in previous oatmeal recipes, I am guilty of over stuffing my oatmeal bowls and then bowling the contents all over my microwave.  A not fun, but yummy clean-up.  

Microwave the whole mixture on HIGH for about 3 minutes.  For my microwave, this is the perfect length of time to not boil over the mixture and cook the oats to the right consistency for the next step.  Start out microwaving your oats for 2 minutes and then microwave the mixture in 30 second intervals until the oatmeal is, frankly, the overall consistency of snot.  If it can hold a spoon up in a hurricane, you're golden.

Mix the oatmeal to help release some of the steam and then allow the mixture to sit for about 2-5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/3 cup of water and then rather vigorously stir to fully incorporate the water. Mix in the shredded coconut and tropical dried fruit.  Stick the whole concoction in the fridge to settle up overnight. 


In the morning, the oatmeal will have absorbed the remaining liquid. Stir in about 1-2 tbsp of water or non-dairy milch to the oatmeal to add a bit more moisture back to the porridge.  Reheat until desired eating temperature.  Some like it cold, others like it hot.  Stir in the white chocolate chips and sweeten to desired taste.

Now, enjoy your dessert for breakfast (and feel smug about it too).


Cheers, kaite k ;]