January is National Oatmeal Month, and although the thermometer might be saying it’s winter, one taste of these easy Pina Colada Overnight Oats will transport you to a warm, tropical place.
Have you ever noticed just how much the sense of smell is linked to memory? Cinnamon and nutmeg take me right to Thanksgiving, pine transports me right to the day I put up your Christmas tree, and freshly mowed grass is Saturday morning in the summer. Well, it was before I moved to the desert anyway.
Sometimes in the winter when I need a little “mind vacation” I’ve been known to sniff sunscreen. Weird, I know, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who does that! Coppertone especially takes me way back to my teens, and Banana Boat just takes me any place warm.
We’ve been having a pretty mild winter here in Scottsdale, but I’m guessing most of the country is wishing they had a plane ticket to someplace warm right about now. So today I’m treating you to a little vacation for your taste buds.
I decided we don’t eat enough pineappley – coconutty things in the winter. Kind of like we don’t eat pumpkin spiced foods or chocolate-peppermint bark in the summer. Why is that?
So I made Pina Colada Overnight Oats, and just the smell of it makes me feel like I’m sitting around the pool at a fancy resort. OK that might be pushing it a bit, but it does smell and taste like a vacation.
Like maybe we could all sit outside and eat it on the patio. In the sun.
I might have mentioned a few times that I love oats for their ability to lower cholesterol levels. I’ve gotten into the habit of eating oatmeal almost every day, but instead of cooking them, I usually do them “overnight-style”.
If I need to go into the office, I make my overnight oats in individual mason jars for a grab and go breakfast. If I’m really feeling lazy, and I’ll be working at home, I’ll just throw everything in a big bowl once a week, and breakfast is done. All I have to do is scoop my portion into a bowl and heat it in the microwave, or eat it cold. Easy Peasy and Perfect!
I always put lots of “stuff ” in my overnight oats – fruit, nuts, milk, and yogurt, and I love to vary the fruit and toppings. It keeps things interesting and makes for protein-packed breakfast that’s full of flavor and holds me for hours.
Pina Colada Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk or any milk
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or any sweetener (optional)
- 8 ounces plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or macadamia nuts
Instructions
- Place 1/4 cup of oats into each of 4 mason jars.
- Combine the coconut milk, coconut extract and if desired, the sweetener. Pour the liquid over the oats in each of the mason jars.
- Add 1/4 of the yogurt, coconut, pineapple and nuts to each jar. Cover the jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Do you have certain smells that transport you? Do you ever sniff sunscreen 🙂 ?
Eat well!
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