Alex's Instant Oats

The morning beverages have a companion. This is the breakfast that goes next to the cup: everything keeps dry in the pantry (or the bear can), assembles in one bowl or mug, and needs nothing but water and five minutes of patience.

Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount
Plain instant oatmeal	1/3 cup
Chia seeds	a sprinkle
Sweetened cacao nibs	a sprinkle
Freeze-dried strawberries	a handful
Freeze-dried bananas	a handful
Cinnamon	a dash
Vanilla	a drop of extract at home, or vanilla powder for the trail
Peanut butter	one big spoonful

Method

1. Combine the oats, chia, cacao nibs, freeze-dried fruit, and cinnamon in a bowl or mug. If you’re using vanilla powder (the backpacking move — it keeps everything dry), it goes in here too.
2. Add the big spoonful of peanut butter. At home, add a drop of vanilla extract with it.
3. Add water — hot if you have it, cold works too.
4. Let sit for 5 minutes. The oats soften, the chia gels, the fruit plumps back up, and the peanut butter goes fudgy.
5. Stir. Mmmmmm.