Katie's Gourmet Instant Oatmeal

My friend Katherine and I share a love for local food made with quality ingredients. We have checked out some local eateries together a few times a year and have enjoyed all of our ventures out.

About a year ago, Katherine began a new business,"Katie's Gourmet Instant Oatmeal." She has always been one to add fruit to her oatmeal to increase the flavor and she came to the realization that she wanted to share this yummy concept with the public. Katie has done the work for you - combining all of the dry ingredients. Just add milk or water, or a combination of both and you are set to go. 

She debuted her products at the Waukesha Farmer's Market and has gradually been increasing her reach including being on the shelves at Albrecht's Sentry in Delafield and the Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly's in Hartland and Oconomowoc. You can also find her oatmeal at O' What a Day Cafe on Bluemound in Brookfield and The Book Cafe in Waukesha.

Katherine (as I call her) is very active in getting her name out there and hosts samplings at the stores she is in. I follow her on Facebook and love hearing that she is selling out and having to make extra stops at her stores to restock their shelves. She hopes to get into a few more Farmer's Markets this summer and continue to grow her fans.

She asked me to lunch to check out Pat's Rib Place as neither of us had checked it out yet, and talk a little business. She treated me to a bag of each flavor of the oatmeal and asked me to share my thoughts on her product on my blog.

European Deluxe

I am a huge oatmeal fan already and I don't know why I hadn't tried her products until then. But let me tell all of you, without even trying all the flavors yet, she has made a fan out of me!

Katie's comes in five delicious flavors  - European Deluxe, Berry DeLite, Grandma's Kitchen, Tropical Vacation,and Sunday Special.

After microwaving

I started with the European Deluxe which has blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pecans. The pecans really make this oatmeal unique. She is very generous with the blueberries and pecans in each bag. The flavors work well together and the cinnamon and pecans are my favorite part. The flavor really warms me up on these cold mornings.

 Berry DeLite - look at all those fruits!

I took a bag of Berry DeLite up to Appleton to have a healthy breakfast each morning when I stayed at my cousin's. Her 5-year old son asked me to make him a bowl as well and he loved the strawberries. I couldn't believe how fast he polished the whole bowl off. He said it was his favorite treat Auntie Sarah had brought him. I wanted to leave more for him, but I was selfish and took it home for me to enjoy. I'll definitely be bringing him a bag the next time I see him.

I made myself some of the Berry DeLite this morning. I make it right before I head to work. I add 1/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup water as I don't want it too rich with all milk.

Before microwaving

I have a short 5 minutes drive to the office, so it takes the temperature from HOT, HOT to perfect. Not to mention, I love a really thick oatmeal and the drive allows it to get a bit thicker.

After microwaving

This is the perfect breakfast for me and I can't wait to try the Sunday Special next. It smells so good and who wouldn't want to have some chocolate in their oatmeal?

I did give some of the Tropical Vacation and Grandma's Kitchen to my parents to try. My dad makes himself oatmeal every morning before work, so I thought this was the perfect treat to let them try. I can't wait to hear their thoughts either.

Besides Katie's Gourmet Instant Oatmeal being available in the stores, it's also available online so you can ship it to those that can't get it in the stores.