Oatmeal recipes even an oatmeal hater can like

Oatmeal is good for us. It is the small instant packets that I really do not like. Camai Bed and Breakfast has a very good granola recipe which is worth the preparation time. Here at Camai B&B I am using the winter to explore new-to-me breakfast oatmeal recipes.

When I plan ahead and prepare oatmeal groats, I find everyone likes their texture. The grout's texture is a firm squishy whole grain and certainly not slimy as rolled oats can be. At Camai Bed & Breakfast during the cold winter I serve hot groats with frozen blueberries and plain yogurt. The heat of the groats melts the blueberries and their sweetness is balanced by the tart yogurt. It is absolutely a great winter breakfast served with fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea.

At Camai B&B steel cut oats are also served from time to time. As you probably know, these take less than 10 minutes of cooking time. They have some good texture.

I use the following recipe for baked oatmeal when I have not spent the more than an hour to cook groats. It can be prepared and baked in less than an hour.

Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup dried blueberries
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped almonds (optional)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cup non-fat milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 large egg, beaten
Prep
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. In separate bowl combine remaining ingredients. Add liquid ingredients to oatmeal. Mix well. Pour mixture into 8 inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Serve warm with blueberry yogurt, if desired.

There are many more recipes I will try this winter. In searching the internet I found these tipsfor oatmeal to start with from Rachel Keller.

Planting Tulips

Today Craig and I planted about 75 tulips at Camai Bed and Breakfast. The fall this year has been long and beautiful; however, snow showers are predicted for this week. So it was time for planting tulips.

We planted a mass of red bulbs in a small area behind our planting of yellow bulbs. Both are beside the house yet in an area where it is difficult for moose to access. In past years we planted tulips; watched them come up; saw the moose eat them just before they flowered. It was extremely disheartening. I think this new planting location is a favorable one for the tulip's making it to flowering.

While we planted all the bulbs in 30 minutes using a bulb planter, I recommend using the "dig out a bed" method described at Pioneer Thinking's website. We would have avoided digging up just planted bulbs. This happened several times to us.

When spring comes Camai B&B's guests in the Fireweed Suite will walk by these new tulips as they enter their suite. The Peony Suite guests will see the tulips outside their bedroom window.

Having planted tulips gives all of us something of beauty that we can anticipate happening this spring.

Anchorage Concert Association Events

Camai Bed and Breakfast is now offering special rates for nightly stays to Anchorage Concert Association attendees. The concerts are diverse and a great way to enjoy our long winter nights. So why not make it a real event and spend the night at Camai B&B after the show. Our special rates start at $50/night and include an accommodation with private bath and queen bed. The next morning relax with a leisurely breakfast served in our dining room.

Seattle Marathon

The training for the Seattle Marathon has begun...actually last spring before I walked the Skinny Raven Half-Marathon. This picture was taken toward the beginning of the Skinny Raven Race. My daughter's call came regarding the Seattle Race. She asked me to do a half marathon with her. I said, "yes," since I'll have more than three hours with my daughter and will continue all the benefits of distance walking as I train.

After finishing the Skinny Raven Half Marathon in August of this year, I continued to walk. For the Seattle training here in Anchorage, I anticipated a lot of walking in cold damp rainy weather. Walking in miserably cold rain hasn't happened. Again today the weather was absolutely beautiful for a sunny warm fall day. The only obstacle is the occasional moose browsing in someone's yard. I've just been alert to the possibility and change directions accordingly.

I know that as October continues Anchorage's weather will eventually provide snow. While I've always been cold in Seattle over the Thanksgiving weekend, I don't remember it snowing. I'm looking forward to the training and the actual Seattle Half Marathon.

Walking and Walkability Neighborhoods

Walking is the exercise of choice for many. You do not need much equipment beyond a good pair of walking shoes. You do not have to train for a half-marathon to reap the advantages of walking several times a week for 30 minutes or more. A person who walks can take in the surroundings at a reasonable pace and find a calming stillness from all the hustle and bustle of the day. Walking is good for weight control and appetite control as well as keeping your body flexible. Many articles have been written about the benefits of walking. Here is a particularly good article.

Jarvi Home Stay's blog has valuable information on determining walkability of your neighborhood. Find your address' Walkability score.

Camai Bed and Breakfast is located on Chester Creek which affords the opportunity to walk downstream to hook up with Anchorage's Trail system. The Walkability score takes into account how close a residence is to grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and similar businesses. Camai Bed and Breakfast's Walkability score indicates that it is more car dependent than walking; however, it is located about a quarter of a mile to the bus stop besides having easy access to University and Anchorage trails.

Alaska Railroad

What a perfect day today was for a trip on the Alaska Railroad! We traveled from Anchorage to Spencer Glacier and back to Anchorage. During the summer months Alaska Railroad offers a rail tour to Spencer Glacier and then a float trip down the Placer River. The return to Anchorage is by motorcoach. While the raft portion was not an option today, I highly recommend this trip.

Today's clear sunny day was perfect for enjoying the fall colors as well as the wildlife. We saw swans and ducks along the way.

This tour was the annual Anchorage Chamber of Commerce trip. Several of the board members of Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association mingled with other Chamber members. Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast members who went were Mary from Jarvi Homestay, Sam from Calla House, Chris from Between the Arms B&B, and Craig & Caroline from Camai Bed and Breakfast. Everyone had a great time networking as the glorious Alaskan scenery passed by.