About the Recipe
I love breakfast. I especially love a healthy and simple breakfast that you can make ahead and take it on the go anywhere you need it. This recipe celebrates BC Dairy that comes from all over our province, the BC Grains grown in the Peace Region, BC Blueberries and Hazelnuts grown and harvested in the Fraser Valley. BC is home to a wide variety of delicious locally made dairy products made with 100% Canadian Milk. There are over 400 dairy farms in BC, most of which are family owned and operated. Most of the dairy products you find on your local store shelves are produced right here in BC. We’re lucky to have so many locally made dairy products in BC. Yogurt and milk are perfect to enjoy on their own, or as part of your favourite recipes, like this one (overnight oats) – perfect for warm summer weather or quick back-to school breakfasts. In the fall, I like to substitute dried cranberries for the blueberries, for an autumnal twist on this recipe.
Ingredients
2 cups pearl barley
2 cups oats
3 cups whole milk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
1 cup full fat yogurt
½ cup honey
½ cup apple juice
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 cups + 1 cup apples (peeled and sliced ¼ inch)
1 cup BC blueberries
1 cups hazelnuts, toasted until golden brown
Preparation
Prep this recipe the night before
BC Apple and Blueberry Preserve: In a small pot simmer 2 cups of apples, the apple juice, vinegar and the honey together until the apples are tender, remove from the heat and add the other cup of raw sliced apples and the blueberries. Let the mixture cool and set aside
Overnight Oats:
Cook the barley in a pot of simmering water until the barley is tender, strain and cool the barley - Combine the barley, oats, milk and salt in a container and ‘soak’ overnight.
The following morning, build your bowl or cups with the overnight oats/barley mixture, garnish with a spoon full of BC dairy yogurt, fresh BC blueberries and blueberry preserve, toasted BC hazelnuts and a heaping spoon of BC honey. Enjoy!
You can swap out the blueberry preserve for any other local BC fruit, maple would also be delicious instead of honey and certainly any nut would work as well.