I’ve never posted a recipe before. I don’t even know if this is original. If not, please speak up so I can give proper credit! All I know is, I was hungry and needed a warm, healthy, uber-simple bedtime snack! This smoothie is vegan.

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats

* 1/2 cup water

* 1 tablespoon almond butter

* 1 tablespoon cinnamon

* 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)

* 1 ripe banana

* Warm water as needed to blend

Directions

This is super easy if you have a single-serve blender or smoothie maker. But you can also make it in a mug!

1. Cook oatmeal: Put oats and 1/2 cup water in a microwave safe blender cup or mug. Microwave for 10-20 seconds. It should be a little watery.

2. Add flavorings: Add almond butter, cinnamon, chia seeds if using, and/or other warming spices of your choice. Amounts are approximate; let your taste buds guide you.

3. Add banana: Peel 1 ripe banana, slice in half or as needed to fit in blender cup. If you’re not blending, mash the banana first, then add to mug and mix well with a fork.

4. Add water: Add warm water as needed to blend ingredients well. Even if you’re not using a blender, you might want to add water until you like the texture. Blend or mix until the oatmeal is smooth and drinkable.

That’s it! No spoon, no mess!

Endless Variations

Hot: Add a dash of cayenne pepper (I haven’t tried this!)

Chocolate: Add cocoa powder, but be careful! Unsweetened cocoa powder can be really overpowering!

Apple: Add diced apple either before or after blending, or use applesauce.

There are others… But whereas before I was hungry, now I’m tired! So I leave it to you to create your own cup of deliciousness!

I just found this video of James Kelly speaking with Nancy Abercrombie about songwriting. Please see my
tribute post
if you haven’t heard the musical blessings Nancy shared with the world!

As for this video, all I can say is, “Amen, sister!” And may it be so in my own inspirational songwriting efforts!

We are pilgrims, passing through this life,
On a journey that extends in to eternity.
We must do what we can during the brief time,
That we are granted on this earth.

No one knows when the journey
On this mortal coil will end.
What matters is how we live
During our brief stay.

There is only so much daylight,
In which to do the good that we can.
When darkness descends,
We enter yet another stage.

Death is not the end, but merely the beginning,
Of the next life.
There is no reason to fear dying,
For we are merely passing through.

Death is like a dream state during sleep,
The nature of which will be determined,
By how we live our lives today.
Let us work for the good we can do.

For it matters most what treasures we build,
We cannot take the material things of this life
On the next part of the journey.
So let us build what will last forever.

Copyright 2016 by James R. Campbell. All rights reserved. Reprinted with written permission of the author.

Author Bio

I am James R. Campbell. I am sixty-one years old and liv in Odessa, Texas. I am a poet, essayist, and student of current affairs. I write for
The Consumer Vision Magazine,
Behind our eyes, and
Word Matters!

I have a bachelors in psychology from the Permian Basin branch of the University of Texas. I live with my elderly aunt. I enjoy cooking, reptiles, playing the harmonica, and late sixties psychedelic rock. My poems can be downloaded at
recordinglibrary.org.