Breakfast @ 226 - Dreamy Oats while you Dream

We have a lazy Sunday routine. That's the way I like it. That's the way I designed it. Sunday is not a go-day. Sunday is a stay-day. Stay in your University of Cincinnati sweatpants day. Stay under your grey sheets surrounded by mounds of pillows day. Stay by the brick fireplace day. Stay under the warm brown wool blanket day. Stay snuggled with your peeps day. Stay in and watch football read while your husband watches seemingly endless hours of football day. Stay in and make black bean chili day. Stay in close proximity to readily available coffee day. Stay, like Lisa Loeb. Just don't go, and soak in the absolute coziness that is your home.

When the sky looks like this at almost every hour of the day, you need a stay day.

That's what we do, especially because it is our only day as FOUR. We juggle this crazy schedule of Jason working while I'm home, and the moment that he returns I grab my keys and leave for work. And we're on that merry-go-round from Monday through Saturday. So, not just by coincidence Sunday is our stay day.

The kids come in at about 7am, we let them crawl into bed. I go down and start the coffee and bagels while Jason starts their Sunday morning movie. We've found that it's much easier to leave the TV off throughout the week if they know they have at least one day where they get to watch a movie, without a fight. And, we no longer have a battle about watching television. Everyone knows it's a Sunday morning special, and there are rarely complaints or even requests. It makes movie morning a special event.

Rolling into our bed and getting snug under our comforter. Piling up the pillows while Netflix gears up a movie. This one was last week's flick and everyone loved it. I usually read, Jason usually picks up the house or goes back to sleep and the kids enjoy breakfast in bed and a movie. It really has become a huge treat for them, for everyone.

Adorable mug provided by my adorable sister-in-law. Thanks, Andrea!

Well, yesterday I came across some inspiration via the ever addicting and reliable Pinterest to make our lazy Sundays even more lazy. Could it be? Breakfast could be ready when I was rousted by the excited shouts of a little blonde boy? By the sly smile of a bed-headed little girl? To me, this was very good news. When I got home from work last night at about 11 p.m. I mixed up four ingredients. I was in bed by 11:20.

When we woke were awoken this morning, I went downstairs to brew some coffee like every other Sunday. Except this morning...magic. A warm bowl of pudding-y nourishing breakfast awaited. I stirred in two more ingredients, portioned into bowls and topped with some dried fruit. And, friends, Sunday was off to a very good start. Before my boyfriend Pharrell had even sung the intro song.

Dreamy Oats While you Dream - Ever so Slightly Adapted from This to be vegan and yield more. Because we're some eaters!

3 cups water
1 1/2 cups almond milk
3/4 cup steel cut oats
pinch of salt
1/3 cup almond butter
3-4 T honey (hopefully you have local, we didn't at the time)

Use a 4 cup glass measuring cup and mix up the first four ingredients. Your cup will almost runneth over. Just stir gently and all will be well. Carefully, without spilling like I obviously did, place the measuring cup in the slow cooker and fill a quarter of the way with water. Turn it on low and go pass outwash your face, brush your teeth and go to bed.

In the morning, stir in the remaining ingredients. It takes quite a bit of stirring to get the nut butter to dissolve but it will get there. Divy up into bowls and top with any of the following: dried fruit, nuts, extra drizzle of honey, fresh berries or other chopped fruit, little pour of cold milk...whatever suits you.

Notes: The nuttiness from the almond butter was one of my favorite elements. If you're not into that, any nut butter will work. I imagine any fruit puree would be delicious as well. Think pumpkin puree or apple sauce. A whole bevy of spices would be welcome here too. There was just something about the simplicity of these flavors that I really loved. Also, I'm pleased to announce that I just finished the leftovers while I typed this, reheated in the microwave and they were every bit as good as day one. And if you must know, yes, I lied to my kids this morning and told them it was all gone. Don't judge. I know you've done it with your good dark chocolate or your special flavor of Fage.

Overnight Oats Elsewhere:
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Oatmeal with Apricots and Buttermilk
Spiced Overnight Oatmeal for a crowd
Overnight Pumpkin Spice Oats

Pomegranate Lime Juice from Trader Joe's. Totally Bomb. Get some.