Slow Cooker, Fast Mornings

Mornings are hectic, that's a given, maybe even an understatement.  Getting out the door dressed, on time, and prepared for the day ahead can be exhausting.   My husband is a prime example.  Every weekday morning he rushes out the door, sans breakfast because he would rather spend that time under the covers sleeping.  As such he lives off of coffee at work and doesn't usually have his first meal until lunch.  This way of life is completely foreign to me.  I need breakfast, if I don't have it, I'm grumpy, irritable, and I'll set myself up to make poor nutritional choices for the remainder of the day.

The scenario above is actually pretty common among most Canadian families.   Did you know that only 1 in 5 eat breakfast together on a regular basis, primarily due to time constraints.  Despite busy schedules, breakfast is a must have for Canadian parents with 95 percent saying that it's important their family eat a well-balanced meal in the morning.  So to help make things easier, Minute Maid has partnered with the Canadian Living Test Kitchen to develop easy breakfast options that are sure to be a hit with your families and urge everyone to start eating together.

Good Morning.

Slow Cooker Peaches 'n Cream Oatmeal

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup steel-cut oats
3/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
2 cups Minute Maid Chilled Peach Juice Beverage
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups frozen peaches

milk or cream for serving (optional)


Method:
Lightly grease inside of slow cooker.  Add in oats, salt, sugar, ginger, juice, milk, water, vanilla, and peaches; stir together.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  If needed, set slow cooker to keep oatmeal warm until ready to enjoy.  Spoon into bowls; drizzle with milk or cream if desired.

Yields 8 servings
recipe & photo courtesy: Minute Maid