Without further adieu, here it is!
New Year's Oatmeal Bake
1 3/4 cup "Old Fashioned" Oatmeal (organic if you've got it, if not, Mr. Quaker Oates!)
1/4 cup organic white sugar
1/4 cup organic brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped organic walnuts (raw or toasted, doesn't matter)
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup organic dried cranberries (or raisins if you prefer)
1/4 to 1/2 cup organic or non-dairy chocolate chips (Wegmans, baby!)
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 tablespoons ground flax whisked with 4 tablespoons water
1/2 cup soy creamer (Trader Joe's if you can get it!) or can use soy or almond milk or any other plant milk
1/4 cup oil OR for a low fat version, 1/4 cup organic applesauce OR a combination of oil and applesauce that equals 1/4 cup. (I used 2 tablespoon organic sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon organic apple sauce).
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I use Penzey's Double Strength)
In a small bowl, whisk the flax seeds and water together vigorously until the mixture starts to thicken and gel up, approximately one to two minutes. Let sit for about 10 minutes to continue to gel while you prepare the dry ingredients.
Combine dry ingredients (oatmeal through cinnamon) in a large mixing bowl.
Now, add the rest of the wet ingredients to the small bowl containing your flax mixture (soy creamer/milk through vanilla) and whisk well to incorporate.
Now, add the flax mixture (which now has all of your wet ingredients in it) to the big bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated. A wooden spoon is good here.
The batter will be pretty liquidy. Don't worry. Pour it into a prepared (lightly buttered or oiled) 8x8 Pyrex baking dish (or whatever you have, adjust baking time if you use a different kind of pan or a different sized pan) and bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven when edges are golden brown and the center is set (will still be softish, but will look pretty dry and not soaking wet anymore).
Slice and serve this with a spatula, it is going to break up (it's supposed to!)
Happy New Year, everyone!
