CROCKPOT CHALLENGE DAY 1: Overnight apple cinnamon oatmeal

Fall is crazy in our house. Between work, school, soccer, kids parties, and the hectic pace of life, cooking fresh, healthy meals on a nightly basis is often a challenge. Enter the crockpot. Oh how I love thee! There's seriously nothing better than walking into the house after a busy day and having dinner ready and waiting. Well, maybe having a chef on staff making that dinner and cleaning up afterwards might top that but barring our hitting the lottery, crockpot cooking it is for this family. I know that I'm not alone in relying on my crockpot to survive the busy season. The challenge is finding healthy, good recipes that the whole family will eat.

So with this in mind, I'm embarking on a 7-day crockpot challenge. My task is to make at least one crockpot meal a day for the next 7 days. As Barney Stinson would say, "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED."

I vow to post a week of clean, healthy and delicious crockpot recipes. For today's recipe, the weather was calling for warm and homey oatmeal. Nothing better than waking up on a cool fall morning to an apple-y scented home and warm oatmeal waiting in the crockpot.

DAY 1: Overnight apple cinnamon oatmeal

Ingredients:

1/2 c. steel cut oats

2 c. water

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg (OPTIONAL)

1 teas. vanilla extract

1 peeled and diced apple 

Optional toppings: chopped walnuts, cranberries, sliced almonds, fresh berries, sliced bananas, pure maple syrup, etc.

Directions:

1. Lightly spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray to make life easier when you go to clean.

2. Throw everything (oats, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and any mix-ins) into the slow cooker, stir.

3. Cook on low for 8 hours. ENJOY!

Makes 2 servings (double the recipe for leftovers or if you need to share!) Add toppings to your liking.