Baked Oatmeal Bikini Style

Ahhhhh, my sweet, beautiful, Austrian friend, Laura is here with my children and me. It is wonderful to talk to her and learn about her life and travels during the years I have missed in her life. And I love, love, love cooking for her. When she likes my food I get a jolt of energy with her approving smile after that first bite! So while she slept on her first morning back in her "American Home" I quickly made a morning treat for us all. I know she loves granola and oats mixed in with her yogurt each morning so I thought having a warm oatmeal base would be nice since it was such a chilly morning. So I whipped up a healthy version of baked oatmeal. Some baked oatmeal recipes contain over a stick of butter, mine has none. Some baked oatmeals have a cup of sugar or more but not mine. Enjoy this warm morning treat bikini style!

Baked Oatmeal Bikini Style

3 C quick oats
1/3 Cup ground flax seed
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C plain Greek non fat yogurt
1 dropper full of cinnamon stevia (or 2 tiny packets of powdered stevia or 1 tsp if its not in packets)
1 Cup milk (I used skim because I knew I'd be sharing with my nut free friend but its more awesome with almond milk!)
2 eggs
1 C unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla extract

Optional add ins: (mine is pictured without these) 1/2 cup chopped, toasted nuts, 1/2 Cup raisins, craisins, or chopped apples.

Directions: heat oven to 350 and grease a 9" square pan. In large bowl mix 1st 6 ingredients (the dry stuff). In a different bowl whisk together the last 6 ingredients (the wet stuff). Add wet stuff to dry stuff and mix. (If you love nuts and dried fruit now is the time you could add 1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, and/or 1/2 Cup dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped apples). Pour into greased pan. Bake 350 for 35-40 min or until set in the center. I like it right out of the oven nice and hot! But some like it cool and others prefer cold with milk or yogurt on top. Either way enjoy and let me know how like it... Bikini style!