Fast Friday: Cool oats with yogurt with fresh fruit

We're friends, right?  And friends can ask favors of their friends.  So, I have a teeny tiny favor to ask of you today: Give yourself a gold star.

(In a pinch, a pat on the back will do, but there's something about a shiny little sticker that's so uplifting, don't you agree?)

If you are one of those insufferable people who ask "why?" and need a reason to reward yourself (cough yours truly cough), here are a few.  Feel free to use any/all:

-Shiny things make you happy
-You totally rocked that thing at work this week
-You only hit snooze once today
-You crossed off a major item on your to-do list
-It's Friday!

I'm giving myself a gold star on behalf of my husband because I came up with a new favorite summer dish that doesn't use the oven.  It's a tasty Fast Friday miracle!

Chewy uncooked oats with cool, creamy yogurt and sweet fresh strawberries.  And yes, I mean uncooked, raw oats.  Stay with me on this one.

I recently made oatmeal raisin cookies and was nibbling on the dough and thought, "I. love .this. dough!  Huh, I guess I like uncooked oats, too.  They're so chewy, and they taste the same as cooked oats.  And I love those."   That thought process coupled with the fact that I forgot to prep overnight oats and didn't want to cook oats on the stove is what gave birth to this idea.

This simple yet delicious one bowl, three ingredient, no heating required breakfast idea.  And it even passed the 3 hour test -- kept me full and satisfied for at least 3 hours (almost 4, actually!).  I wasn't even watching the clock to signal snack time.  Uncooked oats with yogurt and fresh strawberries is a total gold star-worthy game-changer.  You've gotta give this a go!

Hope your weekend is off to a delightful start!

Two years ago: Asparagus and mushroom tarts
Three years ago: Peanut butter and jelly bars


Cool Oats with Yogurt & Fresh Fruit
-serves 1

A few notes:  These quantities are what I used, but they are merely guidelines.  Any kind of fresh fruit and flavor of yogurt would be fabulous!

1/2 cup yogurt (I used vanilla Greek)
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup quartered strawberries

Place yogurt in a bowl, top with oats and fruit.  Mix with a spoon and... yup, that's it.  Enjoy! :)