This heat. I cannot handle this heat! I love cooking and "slaving" over a stove, but not when I feel like I am about to melt into the kitchen floor! Oatmeal is typically my family's go-to, brainless, healthy breakfast...but not when it is 72 degrees before sunrise! On those mornings, we require something hearty, but that will not add to our risk of overheating. Cue the Overnight Oats!

If I know a hot day is coming, I make a batch of overnight oats the night before while I am packing lunches. It literally takes minutes to throw the ingreidents into a mason jar (my conatiner of choice always), give them a little shake, and throw in the fridge. It then "cooks" overnight in the fridge and in the morning, breakfast is done and waiting for you to gooble it up. I know some people get a little weirded out by the idea of cold oats, but if you can go into this tastebud experience with an open mind and palate, you might just find another breakfast to add to your recipe box to make life a little easier (and healthier).

There are many, many, MANY versions of overnight oats out there. Like salad or a smoothie, you can add pretty much whatever you want into the mix. This is my favorite, tried-and-true recipe that I have made (and will continue to make *le sigh*) frequently during the dog days of summer.

Makes 3 servings

1 cup rolled oats (if you are doing gluten free, make sure the oats are processed gluten free)

1 1/2 cups milk of choice (I use unsweetened almond milk)

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 large banana, mashed

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnmon

*1 tablespoon nut butter or sunflower seed butter (for a nut free option)

*This recipe is great to use with an almost-empty, can't-scrape-out-the-last-bits jar of peanut butter (or other nut butter). You can just use the jar as the container for the overnight oats and they will soak up all that extra peaut butter flavor that would have otherwise gone into the trash/recycling bin.

1. In a large mason jar or bowl, combine all ingriendents. If using a mason jar, cover and vigorously shake until well mixed and chill overnight. If using a bowl, whisk everything together, cover and chill over night.

2. To serve, top with fruit of choice and/or a bit of coconut sugar or maple syrup

Classic & Easy Overnight Oats (Gluten free, vegan, nut free option)