It's funny, I buy lots of oats to make muesli, but I never really think to make oatmeal unless I have steel cut.

and then asked me if I'd considered buying a new car, right?

Good thing you live in a city where you don't need a car, eh?

The other half is American.

But Polish-American, no?

I love oatmeal, but I'm like Tep and like the whole, rolled oats.

I'm on a rolled oats kick at the moment, but I also adore steel-cut. I have my oatmeal with a wee pinch of salt, a pat of butter and a tablespoon of good, dark maple syrup. Perfection.

Cream, fresh nutmeg, dried cranberries. Delish.

I bought some steel-cut oatmeal at TJs back in December, but haven't opened it up yet. Maybe I'll have some for breakfast tomorrow.

Today's breakfast was the leftover shortrib meat from my Xoco sandwich last night. I didn't even bother reheating it, just ate it straight out of the box, and it was delish! Nom nom nom.

In 45 minutes, I'll be in the pool for my afternoon swim, and then I'll be heading back here to clean up my apartment. Dad invited himself up for the day tomorrow, and the place is overdue for a dusting and vacumning. I'll probably be stopping at the grocery store on the way home for a few things (milk, yogurt, produce).

I really should carry my cell.

Yes, you should. (This is like a conversation with my mom).

My oatmeal is rolled oats cooked in milk (I did use skim, but now I'm on soy) with vanilla and cinnamon.

It was great to see Kathy, Tom, and Brenda last night! After we parted, I headed out to a birthday celebration for a co-worker. I've been more social in the last 24 hours than in the last several months. I was not dressed warm enough for train platforms and wind off the lake though. When I got home around 2am I was ready to burrow under the covers.

I love oatmeal, but I'm like Tep and like the whole, rolled oats. In fact, I cook it with less water so it's more oat-y an textured. And by the time I've put in butter and maple syrup I might as well be eating pancakes, I guess. But heart healthy pancakes.

As far as I know, nutritionally there is very little difference between steel cut and rolled oats. Some trace minerals and such lost in the processing, but both are whole grains with the same amount of fiber and protein. You should happily eat the one you prefer.

And real maple syrup has fewer calories and more minerals than honey.

Finally, fat is not the enemy.

This post brought to you by my French half.

I was going to say all that, except the French part. Maple syrup? Not a problem, because I just don't think you're putting a whole pint in your oatmeal. Butter? Not a problem, unless you're cramming 4 sticks in your bowl.

I put protein powder in my oatmeal, because I tend to need protein in the morning or I get shaky and lightheaded. I also put ground flax seed in, for more fiber and omega-3s. And then I dump in one of those plastic cups of unsweetened* applesauce (bonus: more fiber). If I have blueberries or strawberries, I might throw a handful in there, too. It's a substantial meal, but then, I don't think a 300-calorie breakfast is whack. It's one frigging meal. Gets me through the morning without gnawing on my own arm.

*(I'm not being all virtuous and anti-sugar by using unsweetened applesauce; the protein powder is already kind of sweet, and I tried sweetened applesauce with it, and it was too cloying. I mean, I loves me some sugar, so there is no virtuousness here. It's just a taste-bud thing.)

Check out the names of the items on this menu. [link]

All I had to do was walk in to Target and use their phone! (And the lady who was waiting for my space came over to check on me as I was waiting and offered hers.) Really, when you are used to not relying on it, it isn't such a big deal.

Sigh. I was just getting the finances over the holiday hit and was budgeting for car stuff in the future. I just wanted one month where I was actually getting ahead...