Breakfast #69: Soaked Muesli

The difference between one child and two seems exponential as opposed to simply a doubling of little ones in the house.  There seems to be much more than twice as much to do, and I seem to be awake for more than double the amount of time.  My irrational motherly worries also seem to multiply like gremlins.  And sometimes I find myself lying awake at night just praying that I do this mama thing right.

The joy though, and happily so, has also increased exponentially.  There seems to be so much more that just double plans to make, laughter to enjoy, and moments to cherish.  I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that there are times I am so mired in tiredness that I can’t think straight, but when I see my daughter holding her little brother’s hand I feel like the happiest and luckiest girl around…despite the fact that I haven’t been to the nail spa in ages.

And so I hold these two blessings tight, in my hands that are much in need of a good manicure, and smell their special smells, and revel in these perfectly simple moments, slowing my breath and consciously pausing to try to commit everything to memory.  These innocent, breathless, soft bright-eyed moments of childhood.  Knowing I will only have the pleasure and privilege of traipsing down this path with them once, I try, to the best of my hurried and harried adult abilities, to traipse and skip and jump and marvel alongside them.

And just so we still have time for a good breakfast (and isn’t that also what mamas are there to remember?) I tuck a bowl of oats and milk in the fridge to be ready at a moments notice the next morning.

Soaked Muesli

• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon yogurt
• 1 quarter apple, grated
• 1 quarter pear, grated
• 1 tablespoon raisins
• 3 dates, chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon honey

To serve:

• Walnuts
• Mango
• Extra honey to taste

– Place the oats, milk, yogurt, apple, pear, raisins, dates, and honey in a bowl and mix to combine thoroughly.

– Cover the bowl with cling-wrap and place in the fridge overnight.

– The next morning, scoop a serving into a bowl and top with chopped nuts (I used walnuts) and fresh fruit (I used mango) to serve.  Add more honey if you’d like it sweeter.

This is absolutely a fantastic time-saver for mamas (and papas) who need quick but robust sustenance.  It is also perfect for anyone who has ever rushed off to work with only a mug of coffee for breakfast.  Prepare this at night while the rest of the house is sleeping and you will wake up calm and confident, knowing that a delicious and healthy breakfast is just a couple of minutes away.

This recipe is very flexible.  Change the fruit you use in the soaking and the ones you use in the serving.  Use different nuts or other cereal-y/grain-y things to top.  I sometimes like this with a splodge of extra yogurt before serving.  This is really that sort of basic, springboard, soaked muesli you would think of when you think of muesli.  This amount will make enough for about two servings and will keep in the fridge for two days.  I don’t make any more that this to avoid it going bad, but if you have a bigger family you can certainly make a bigger batch.

On the grooming front (in case you were concerned…as my mother was very), I finally booked a morning in the salon for both myself and little C.  I am happy to report that we both got much needed haircuts (like a weight off our shoulders quite literally!), foots spa, manicures, and all such manner of treats of which big C and little H were blissfully unaware. Little C, who is usually such a spinning top, actually sat still, completely engrossed, both mystified and enthralled by the whole experience.  Another simple but special moment going into my mental album.