Almond Joy Oatmeal

This oatmeal is literally my favorite in the whole world. Well, other than CCK's oatmeal raisin cookie oatmeal... but hers is too freakin' hard to beat. This almond joy oatmeal is just so rich and so decadent. It's perfect bliss. In one bite you taste the chewy chocolate oats to give it substance, the cool creaminess of coconut greek yogurt mixed in with the oatmeal and on top like fluffy whipped cream, the soft coconut flakes, sweet, mindblowing chocolate chips, the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of chocolate sauce, and finally the crunch and roasted flavor of almonds. And when all the while the world is moving around you, just bustling around their normal day, and you're planted in your chair savoring each and every bite, not letting your attention waver for a second. Can I please say sensory overload??

Doesn't that remind you of lava cake? Or a layer cake? Or just dessert in general?

Oh, by the way, this is the recipe I'm planning to enter in my school district's cooking contest. The recipe has to be a healthy breakfast item and you get extra credit points for certain foods, including yogurt and oatmeal. I know it will do great! ...I just wish I could include a photo. The first one on this post would win em' over for sure! 

(UPDATE: this recipe got 2nd place in the contest, with the award for "Tasty and Creative!!")

There are also two versions to this recipe: a high-protein one on the photos and a lighter one using coconut extract instead of Greek yogurt. Protein recipe has 280 calories and 21g protein, while the other recipe has 160 calories and 6g of protein. (Both without toppings, they're totally optional but totally recommended!)

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Almond Joy Oatmeal 

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder
• stevia equal to 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch salt
• 1/2 cup coconut Greek yogurt (OR 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt with 1/8 tsp coconut extract stirred in OR just 1/4 tsp coconut extract)

Cook the oats and water in either stove or microwave as you usually do to make oatmeal. After the oats are cooked, add in the cocoa powder, stevia, and vanilla extract (And coconut extract if you're not using Greek yogurt). Then stir in half of the Greek yogurt and dollop the other half on top. Add toppings of choice and devour!

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