The simple pleasures of enjoying a bowl of cereal with milk has returned to my life recently, thanks to a line of shelf-stable, plant-based milks from Koita, a natural foods company based in Italy (check out my review of Koita’sOrganic Coconut Milk at This Link). This week I am reviewing Koita Oat Milk, made from Italian oats and water, and fortified with vitamins and calcium. I’ve reviewed oat milk-based beverages on the blog before and found them to be quite delicious, and ideal as a milk-substitute in smoothies and shakes, thanks to its creamy texture that’s very similar to dairy milk.
Here’s another entry in this rad blog that I invite you to file under “Things You See at Kroger.” This box of Strawberry Frosted Shredded Wheat Cereal caught my eye when I was grocery shopping with my sister while visiting California at Christmas. Because the search for Pink Things observes no Holiday!
One of the great finds of the Summer Fancy Food Show at Javits Center this past July was Holy Crap Breakfast Cereal. When we asked the lady manning the booth why it is called Holy Crap, she replied, “Because it is very high in fiber!” “Ohhhh…” we replied in unison. Find out more about this Real Product at Holy Crap Dot Com!
Do you like Breakfast? I sure do. The thing is, on weekdays I don’t have time to make breakfast for myself at home – plus, who can eat that early! So, I like breakfast foods that I can keep at the office and eat at my desk; you know, after I have had my coffee and am fully awake. Because, mornings!
For convenience sake, I eat a lot of cold cereal, which is delicious. But sometimes, and especially with the frigid winter weather we have been forced to endlessly endure here in NYC, I like to change it up with something warm and comforting. A recent discovery which fits the bill of being convenient, delicious and warming is Quaker’s new Warm & Crunchy Granola. Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola is delightfully innovative in that it’s like a combination of oatmeal and granola with added ingredients such as dried fruit and nuts that add flavor and crunch! Awesome!
Quaker sent me a care package recently that not only included three different delicious flavors of Warm & Crunchy Granola (see top photo ), but also the colorful insulated lunch bag, measuring cup and ceramic spoon and bowl set you see above. Swag!
And also this cool notebook:
Apparently, Crunch Day is the new Hump Day!
Ready to Prep!
Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola is insanely easy to prepare, per the four-step instructions printed on the side of each box: one of which is “Pour the granola into a microwave-safe bowl” and another of which is “Stir and Eat.” All you need to add is a quarter cup (2 ounces) of any kind of milk or milk alternative (such as soy or almond milk) – but it must not be water – which you add to the dry granola and microwave on High for 25 seconds.
After 25 seconds the granola will look like this:
The thing is, don’t expect it to taste or have a texture like instant oatmeal. Your bowl of Warm & Crunchy Granola will not be soft like oatmeal – it will be Crunchy like Granola (hence the name). If you want it to be a little bit softer, microwave for an additional 15 seconds or so to your desired texture. It will still have crunchiness to it because of the nuts and specially baked granola clusters that are part of the mix.
Of the three flavors I received – Honey Almond, Apple Cinnamon and Cranberry Almond – my favorite is the Cranberry Almond. I love the contrast of the soft tart/sweet cranberries and the crisp sliced almonds as they mingle with the sweet granola that tastes like you are eating a warm Oatmeal cookie. Fabulous.
Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola is low in fat, has no cholesterol and is high in fiber, containing 4 grams of fiber and 32 grams of whole grain per serving. With 2 ounces of milk it clocks in at 220 calories, which isn’t bad. Plus it’s very filling and will help to keep you feeling satisfied until it’s time for lunch! The Worley Gig grants Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola Two Spoons Up! Find out more about this product and where you can buy it at This Link.
Do you like cereal? I sure do. When it comes to breakfast foods that you don’t have to actually cook, cold cereal is my favorite breakfast. I eat it at least five days a week as I answer emails and schedule important meetings each morning while sitting at my desk. Brain Food.
I grew up in a household where my Mom did not buy any presweetened cereals, so while all of my friends were eating Cap’n Crunch and Froot Loops, I was eating stuff like Cheerios and Shredded Wheat, so I definitely developed a taste for whole grains early in life. This is probably why I am in love with this cereal I just discovered with the very fun name of Crunchy Flax with Chia, by Enjoy Life Foods. Seriously, it is the most delicious cereal.
Crunchy Flax With Milk Added (Photographed by Me at My Desk)
I have seen Crunchy Flax described as “Crispy, crunchy puffs,” but I would say they are more like tiny nuggets rather than puffs. In fact, if you have eaten Grape Nuts, Crunchy Flax will make you think of that cereal, because it stays crunchy a long time after you add the milk. I like it way better than Grape Nuts though, because it has a better flavor and you don’t have to be afraid that you are going crack a tooth on it. Because Grape Nuts are hardcore. Crunchy Flax is a kinder, gentler cereal, if you will.
Crunchy Flax is 100% natural, made with ground flax seed and chia seeds, and it is not only delicious but also very nutritious; being sweetened with fruit juice and containing 44g of whole grain, 7g of protein, 1000mg of Omega-3s and 5g of fiber per serving. Also, it is gluten free! You could add some berries or sliced fruit to a bowl and it would be just outstanding.
Find out where you can buy Crunchy Flax in your area at This Link.
