Yesterday was Diwali, the festival of light. Since three years that we have resided in California, we have celebrated this festival with our friends and have spent the evening adorned as Indian beauties and indulged in good music, dimly but colorfully lighted home, aromatic candles and rich sumptuous food. Unlike last year, this diwali's menu was limited to few items, matar paneer (homemade paneer made from 2%milk), aromatic coconut dal, mango chutney, low fat kheer and puri. Well, I didn't take puri atall. I had some matar paneer, a bowl of coconut dal, few tablespoons of chutney (oh it was yummy) and 2 tablespoons of kheer. It was a gorgeous night, I wish my family were here too.
Well, today morning it is surprisingly very chilly. And, a cup of green tea or a cup of hot ginger tea would have been awesome. But instead, I thought of cleansing my body with a small bowl of 'Almond Cinnamon Oatmeal'. This will be a healthy treat for you and will fill your stomach for almost four hours and give you energy to workout on the treadmill for little more than 30 mins at a stretch without feeling out of breath.
Almond Cinnamon Oatmeal
(serves -1)
Water - 1 cup
Steel cut oatmeal - 1/2 cup
Almonds - as much as you like but not more than a handful
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
Honey
Optional:
Apple - 1/2 of an apple, cut into small cubes
Blueberries - 1tbs
Raisins - 1tsp
Boil the water in a nonstick saucepan and then sprinkle the 1/2cup steel-cut oatmeal into it. Lower the flame and let it sit on the stove for 5mins. Then cover the pan, lower the flame even more and sit on the stove for another 3-4mins. Do check if the oatmeal runs off the pan because of the boil.
Meanwhile, cut the apple into cubes if you desire so and get ready with the almonds and other additions. I prefer using the sliced almonds available at Costco, but when out of stock, I crush the whole almonds and put then in the oatmeal. You can even soak the almonds overnight and crush n add it to the oatmeal.
Now, its been almost 8-9mins of cooking oatmeal. Land it into a bowl and lay the apples, blueberries, almonds on it. Sprinkle the cinnamon powder and gently lay the honey making graceful swirls.
Your Almond Cinnamon Oatmeal is ready.
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Healthy Facts:
1.
Oats are high in soluble fiber, that makes them swell when cooked and they feel get-like. This gel-like product moves slowly in your digestive track, absorbing cholesterol and efficiently removing them from your body. As it moves slowly, hence the fullness you feel for a longer time. They acts like a sponge.
2.
Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fat (good fat, also found in olive oil), vitamin E and Manganese. All the three help in lowering cholesterol. Have a handful everyday and you will have beautiful skin, hair, nails and a happy heart.
3.
Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on blood and has been observed to have reduced blood sugar. Half teaspoon a day is what you need. Cinnamon powder with honey helps adults with arthritis pain as well.
So, indulge and enjoy each and every moment of your life.
