Try this yummy and uber healthy oatmeal, or one of the variations….and wash it down with a fresh Tropical Trip Smoothie!

Real Deal Oatmeal

Raw Food For Real People by Rod Rotondi
Serves 4 to 6

• 4 cups soaked and sprouted oat groats (You can find these at Whole Foods Market or a natural foods store.)
• 1 1/2 tbsp. almond butter
• 1 1/2 medium bananas
• 3/4 cup raisins (soaked one hour and drained)
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. water
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 3/4 agave nectar
• 1 medium apple, cored and grated (1 cup)
• Sliced apples dried shredded coconut for garnishing (optional)

Put all ingredients except the grated apple and garnishes in a food processor and blend well. It’s always nice to have multiple textures and consistencies in your food, so one trick for achieving this is to process the mixture a little, then stop and transfer half of it to a medium bowl. Then blend the rest well, and combine the two mixtures in the bowl. This creates a creamy base with a little chunkiness.

Stir the grated apples into the mixture, garnish with apples and coconut if you like, and you’re ready to eat!

Variations:

Emerald City Oatmeal
Follow the directions for regular oatmeal, then stir in 1 teaspoon spirulina powder and 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil.

Count Choco Maca Oatmeal
Follow the directions for regular oatmeal, then stir in 1 tablespoon cacao powder and 1 teaspoon maca powder.

Living Buckwheat Porridge
Follow the directions for regular oatmeal, but substitute 2 cups soaked and sprouted buckwheat for the oat groats. To give this a different great taste, try substituting 1/2 yacon syrup for the agave nectar.

Fruity Oatmeal or Buckwheat Porridge
To make a fruity version of oatmeal or buckwheat porridge, slice up some fresh fruit and add it over the top, or mix it in. Peaches, mangoes, blueberries, strawberries, and many other fruits work very well.

Tropical Trip Smoothie

• 1 medium banana
• 2 to 3 medium dates, pitted
• 3/4 cup tropical fruit, such as mango, pineapple or papaya
• 1 1/4 cups coconut milk

Add milk to blender, then remaining ingredients and blend away!