Friday, September 11, 2020

Feeling Our Oats: Use Your Words

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.


Use Your Words, a multiblogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I'm using: oats ~ free ~ breakfast ~ chores ~ critical
They were submitted by Diane of On the Border.

                          
Funny story about oats. And I'll tell you that in a minute, but I just want to start with saying something about today.

It's September 11th. The 19th September 11th to mean more than just a day in the calendar. 2977 people were killed in the name of hatred on that day, including some who were doing a job I'd done, for the same company I'd done it for. We must never forget. That's a phrase you hear often, but we live in a time where White Supremacists are made to feel free to spout their hate with impunity. When those planes crashed on September 11th, al-Qaeda perpetrated their hate on our citizens without warning. But the hate that is being verbalized and carried out on our streets today? We see it. The "president" refuses to call it out. It's critical that all Americans vote, that we pay homage to those who died on September 11th, 2001 by batting back hatred and bigotry every chance we get.

Thank you for bearing with me while I got that out. Now on to the oats.

I've mentioned before (about 100 times by now) that Hubs has had to change his diet. It's been challenging, especially in the year of the Covid. I've been adjusting how I cook and bake. One of the things I've done is to add fruits and nuts and oats to a lot of my baked goods. 

A container of quick oats usually lasts me quite a while, but in using them more, I found about a month ago that I was running low. One of the chores I no longer do in person is grocery shop. I've had to give in and do pick up. I hate it. I'm really picky about fruits, vegetables and meats, always wanting to make my own choices. That's just my first problem. Second is that I like perusing the shelves, letting intriguing new ingredients inspire a recipe in me. Now there's a third issue. Size.

No, not mine, although I could often, when I was able to go into stores, be found balancing on shelves swinging with my purse at a coveted item only could reach. But this issue isn't about the size of me, but the size of containers. 

You can't tell on those grocery store websites, what's small and what's large. Those pictures are deceiving and, if you're in too much of a hurry to click on the item, then enlarge it to see what size it is, who knows what you might end up with. 

Like the oats. I ordered them. Thinking they were the 18 oz can I usually get.

Oats | Picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com


On the right is the 18 oz can that usually lasts me about 6 months. On the left? The 42 oz can I guess I ordered.

So you shouldn't be surprised that the recipe I'm sharing today has oats. In fact, don't be surprised if the recipes I'll be continuing to share on this blog will feature oats. Pretty much in perpetuity.




Peach Pistachio Oat Muffins, an easy breakfast favorite. Chopped peaches and pistachios add flavor and texture to an oat muffin. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bake

Peach Pistachio Oat Muffins
Peach Pistachio Oat Muffins, an easy breakfast favorite. Chopped peaches and pistachios add flavor and texture to an oat muffin. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #bake



There will be oats for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and smoothies. We'll be using them as colonics, laxatives, shampoo, skin exfoliators . . .

In fact, December's right around the corner. Are you on my gift list? Hope you like oats.


Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:

Wandering Web Designer
On the Border 
Part-time Working Hockey Mom 
Climaxed 
The Crazy Mama Llama 



Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics






Peach Pistachio Oat Muffins
                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 cup quick oats
1 1/4 cups milk
1 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup pistachios, shelled and chopped
1 jar (4 oz) peach baby food
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 peaches, pitted and chopped

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 TBSP peach nectar
2 TBSP pistachios, shelled and chopped

Directions:
*Mix together the milk and oats. Set aside for 5 minutes.
*Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Insert muffin paper cups into muffin tin wells (either 15 regular sized or 12 regular sized and 12 mini). Lightly spray the inside of the paper cups with non-stick cooking spray.
*In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and 1/4 cup chopped pistachios. Add the oatmeal mixture, baby food, eggs,and vanilla, mix just until incorporated.
*Gently fold in the peaches. Divide the batter into the prepared muffin tins.
*Bake the minis for 10 minutes and the regular sized muffins for 20 minutes. Cool completely.
*Whisk the powdered sugar with the peach nectar. Spoon over the cooled muffins. Sprinkle with the remaining chopped pistachios.

26 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, oats overload! I can totally see this happen to me as well. Same goes for trying to reach for something on the upper shelves. Well, whatareyougonnado.

    I can't believe 9/11 was almost 20 years ago. It sure feels like just the other day. I lived in California, and I thought this was going to be WW III. So scary. Not commenting about the current situation, though. Just hoping everybody who can will vote!

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    Replies
    1. With the current situation though, I have been getting less and less sure that a fair and honest election is even possible.

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  2. To me, 9/11 was like yesterday. I remember hearing rumors at work - then the actual news. Eventually, my employer found a couple of TV sets and set them up and we watched, unbelieving, the second tower go down, live, on TV. Later, though blogging, I came to know one of the women who participated in a boat brigade that brought stranded office workers from downtown Manhattan across the river to New Jersey. As it happens, someone I know was rescued by that flotilla. So, it was amazing how we all came together that day to help each other without even thinking about which party they supported. No litmus test to get on those boats! As a matter of fact, 9/11/01 was primary day in New York and obviously the entire primary was disrupted but everyone worked for a solution. Not like today! I'm pessimistic about the election and our entire handling of our current crises. A muffin would be nice - what intrigues me is the use of three forms of peach. How did you even think of that? Good luck with 42 oz of quick oats. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. September 11th is embedded in all of our minds, we all came together on that day and the aftermath, but then we had a functioning federal government then. I hope we do again.

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  3. Hahahaha! I DO like oats! It's funny, but Husby has always bought our oats (and many other supplies) in 50 pound bags. Now, with just the two of us home, we're having a problem figuring out smaller sizes.
    When our youngest daughter started college and moved away for the first time, she sent me a picture of herself and her roommate at the grocery. She was holding a little jar of mayo. "Isn't this the cutest thing ever? Did you know mayonnaise came in sizes other than a five-gallon pail?"
    I feel your pain...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so funny, she didn't even know. Now a 50 pound bag of oats? I could use them constantly and I'm guessing they'd still have to bury me with some.

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  4. You certainly used the words well.

    Have you tried slow cooker oats? It's a nice way to have breakfast already ready in the morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't. I don't think you can do that with quick oats. I'll have to use up more of these quick oats, I can't imagine myself buying MORE oats right now, LOL.

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  5. Oats are what I Had for breakfast as did Leo who said it was really nice and so quick to make 3mins from start to eat which he liked

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    Replies
    1. Yes, once it starts getting cold again, my husband will start eating oatmeal for breakfast too, perfect way to start a cold day.

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  6. I bake a batch of muffins every two weeks or so. They always have half whole wheat flour and half quick oats, and then whatever flavorings I decide to throw in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like you found a great base recipe, easy to change depending on what ingredients you have. I love recipes like that, very versatile.

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  7. I spent the day mostly in tears. It especially captured my attention when they called a woman’s name and then said her unborn child. I wonder if they were counted among the lost souls. It seemed more poignant to me.
    We have just gone through the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II. Which coincides with my 75th birthday, not the exact date, but close August 4. It has been an emotional few weeks. I can only imagine the emotions of the survivors and the families of those lost
    I wonder if 75 years from now, it will still be commemorated. If we don’t teach our children, who will.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know it'll always be part of our history, I just worry that many years from now, our descendants won't be able to grasp the level of shock and horror and pain we felt, and how important it was that we all came together as a country.

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  8. There are videos that timeline the whole day with videos and news reports. It is riveting and hard to watch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, traumatizing to watch even all of these years later.

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  9. Oats are a good long term survival food to buy in bulk so now you can just say you're getting a head start. haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, if only I could have read your post before I wrote mine.

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  10. It's hard to buy stuff online, not knowing what you're getting. I'm going to have to buy a iphone charger online soon so I'll have to see whether I get a good one or not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you read some online reviews first, I always find that helps.

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  11. I totally agree! My husband doesn't vote ever but he is in this election. It's too important not to. As for the other, I hate oats or anything with oats, but I'll survive lol! I absolutely hate to do pickup and I almost did it for the first time yesterday and I just couldn't hit that button. Hubby goes in my place. I'm also VERY picky and half the time I don't know what I want until I wander down the aisles. Anyway, it doesn't matter right now anyway, I couldn't go if I want to. I'm home-bound until surgery! I traveled to see my BFF and returned home yesterday and it just about killed me, but so worth it to see her face!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry it took so much out of you but I'm so glad you went. Stay home and stay safe.

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  12. Actually, oats are pretty good for bathes. lol We give Boomer a bath using an oatmeal based dog shampoo and it helps him so much!
    I am not good with picking out most produce...to the point where I'm not allowed to pick out the tomatoes anymore. We frequent a stand near the house that sells farm fresh produce and I just walk in and grab the prettiest maters I see. Matthew said to me one day that he wished he had even an ounce of the confidence I had when I strolled up to those red, delicious balls of yum! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Confidence is everything, you keep picking out whatever tomatoes are calling out your name!

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