Ever have three people who are completely determined to derail you from accomplishing anything at all, ever, follow you around constantly questioning your every move, soiling themselves on your floor and preventing you from getting to the Blue Fox in time for their delicious freakin’ breakfast on Saturday mornings?

ME TOO! What a coincidence!

Luckily, I cracked the code for the Blue Fox’s delicious Cranberry Apple Oatmeal (though I’m not ambitious enough to attempt their fancy preserves on fluffiest-ever toast). And I don’t even make the kids wait in line for 45 minutes first, unless I’m feeling particularly sadistic.

Blue Smox Cranberry Apple Oatmeal

(no copyright infringement here)

Ingredients

• 1 apple, diced (I like Granny Smith, man-friend enjoys him some Fuji and the kidlets like Ambrosia. The world is beautiful because we’re different. It is also a pain in the behind because of that)
• 3 tbs dried cane juice or brown sugar
• 2 heaping tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 quick cooking oats
• 3 cups + 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or raisins, if you’re a hobo. Just kidding. Raisins are great, for sure)
• 1/2 whole almonds (roasted ones make for a loverly crunch)
• Vanilla Flavoured Rice or Soy Milk, to finish

Method

1. Toss apples with sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a medium saucepan to coat.
2. Add 1/4 water and saute over medium-high heat for about three minutes, until apples begin to soften.
3. Stir in oats and remaining water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and stir in cranberries and almonds. Garnish with Vanilla milk (I looooove Vanilla Ryza for its richness and non-sugary-ness and I love Fat Free Vanilla So Good for it’s fat free-ness and its so good-ness).
5. Make like the 3 bears and eat. Wait, they left. You should stay and eat.

NOTE: I like my dried fruit chewy, so I add it at the end, but if you saute it with the apples at the beginning, the fruit will rehydrate into plump little morsels for your enjoyment.

Now come to my house and make this for my kids so I can go drink Mimosas with my husband tomorrow morning instead. Please?