Happy Leap Year Day!

I think I found the greatest oatmeal ever!  At least baked oatmeal, oh my word, this is so good.  And really, it’s mostly healthy.  Strawberries = healthy.  Rolled oats = healthy. Milk and eggs = healthy.  Chocolate chips = almost healthy.  (there aren’t that many in the dish, so it’s ok)

This is also really easy and kids love it.  You could make it the day or night before and just heat it up in the morning when it’s time to feed all those people that live in your house.  Or make it on a weekend and enjoy it hot from the oven.  The recipe originally called for fresh strawberries, but I think it’s a shame to use up fresh strawberries in this….plus it’s February.  I froze a bunch of strawberries last summer, so that’s what I used.

I also made it with bananas this time, but I think next time I will just do strawberries and chocolate chips.  Everyone loved the strawberries, so I’m just going to add more of them.

And for good measure, my kids loved it, Mr. Chaos loved it, and I loved it.  My 4 1/2 year old especially loved it.

Here he is showing you his bowl so you know how good it is

Strawberry and Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup walnuts, pecans or almonds, chopped

1 – 1 1/2 cup sliced strawberries

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 cups milk

2 large eggs

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices (if you’d like to add it)

Preheat oven to 375° and generously grease a 9×13 baking dish.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, half the walnuts, half the strawberries and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries, walnuts and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal). In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, butter and vanilla extract.

Add the oat mixture to the prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shimmy/shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture get down through the oats.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar on top then place back in the oven under the broiler and broil for 20-30 seconds.  Serve warm.