Baked Oatmeal

Here is a great way to pull tired bodies out of their warm beds on chilly winter mornings.  The warmth and aromas of baked oatmeal can really get your day off to a great start.  I love this recipe because it is so versatile.  Different nuts, fruit, and extracts allow you to custom make it for the taste your family loves.  The recipe calls for dried fruit, but I have found that a fresh apple works great.  Some other ingredients I have added in the past are using maple extract instead of vanilla and adding nuts of all different sorts.  This morning I went less gourmet and used up the last honey crisp apple in my fruit bowl and didn't bother with any nuts.

Here is what you need:

3 cups rolled oats (instant or old fashioned)
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup dried fruit (or 1 apple)

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl mix together 3 cups oats, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt.

Add in 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 3/4 cup dried fruit (in my case 1 apple).

Spread into a 9X13 baking dish.

Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes.  Serve warm.  YUMMY!