cereal sauce
January 23, 2012 Let’s get right down to business today.
Why?
Because I’m slightly busy getting ready for a trip to Portland tomorrow.
For what?
To shoot Mama Pea’s second cookbook!
For how long?
A full week!
Clothing, camera equipment, and random photography props, are currently strewn about the house. Does anyone else like to make a to-do list with 584 things on it the day before they go out of town?
That would be me.
One thing I did today? Made 4 new creations to share with you lovely people.
Inspired by Tom Haverfod and his hilarious food nick names. Please tell me you watch Parks and Rec!!
[source]
It’s been far too long since my last bowl of popped amaranth. Surprisingly filling, and a cinch to make. Well, once you figure out the proper heat setting for your stove, it’s a cinch. It varies quite a bit but if your stove is hot enough the amaranth should pop within seconds.
Fluffy, crunchy, goodness.
And quite nutrient dense.
180 cals – 3g fat – 32g carbs – 4.5g fiber – 7g of protein for 1/4c [1 1/2c popped] – 21% iron
As an alternative to adding a handful of different toppings and pouring milk overtop, I’ve come up with a few cereal sauce recipes for you to enjoy.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you pour this on popped amaranth or just slurp straight from the glass.
These are really quite simple and will take any bowl of cereal to the next level.
Pop 1/4c – 6T amaranth, which yields 1.5-2c popped amaranth. Directions here.
Blueberry Banana Protein
- 3/4c blueberries
- 1/2 banana
- 1c milk
- 3T protein powder
Chocolate Cherry Chia
- 3/4c cherries
- 1T unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1c milk
- 1T chia seeds
*If you refrigerate this for 5-10min after blending it will thicken substantially.
Cinnamon Banana Butter
- 1.5T almond butter
- 1/2T ground flax
- 1/2 banana
- 1c milk
- 1t cinnamon
Peanut Butter “Monster” [as coined by Angela]
- 2c raw spinach
- 1.5T peanut butter
- 1c milk
- 1t honey
- For each recipe, blend all ingredients until smooth.
*Use frozen fruit for a thicker consistency.
Of course, you can add a crunchy topping if you like.
See you from the West coast!
Other cereal sauce recipes.
Ashley
What would Tom Haverford call “popped amaranth?”
amaranth, cereal in breakfast, gluten free, grains, protein, smoothies + juice 
Reader Comments (73)
how fun are those colorful cereal sauces!? #cowmilkisoverrated haha
safe travels to the pea house!
These are so inventive! I have never seen these before, can't wait to try them, especially the peanut butter monster (theres something about getting greens in the morning that makes me feel good).
oh my gosh. i freaking love "parks and rec". and tom. or should i say aziz.
those sound really great, but the pictures are even better! seriously. they're beautiful!
Oh I love the simplicity of the photos; I know it wasn't simple in effort but in styling, and in what you did to get the shot, I dig it all.
The bowls of grains, the pour shots, the colors...beautiful!
I'd love a bowl of this, but I tried popping amaranth once and it burned. :(
Enjoy Portland and the Peas! We're supposed to be getting a ton of rain over the next few days!
Beautiful colors!
Very fun! Love this idea. Like smoothie in a bowl, I suppose! :) Have a great trip, looking forward to hearing all about it.
Have fun, lady!!!
Ahh so jealous of your upcoming trip! But wishing you the best time. :)
What a great idea... I love this! That cherry chocolate chia is right up my ally. Anytime I can have chocolate and pass it off as healthy is a winner to me! Where did you find those spoons? I'm obsessed!
parks and rec is my favorite show and tomhaverfoods.com is probably my favorite website haha
Weee have so much fun in Portland and send me some cookies! (I say this because I know there will have to be cookies involved)
hope you girls have fun! i can't wait to see the pictures :)
Ha! I love this! Have fun with the Pea family. :-)
Love this! Have fun with the Peas! I'm sure there will be no lack of laughs, excitement, and amazing food!
I am a huge fan of "cereal sauce", I have never been a cereal and milk fan but find myself now pouring different smoothies overs my dry cereal all the time :)
how cool! I am loving the colours :)
very cool idea, cereal sauce, will have to give it a try! And have fun with your photo shoots!
hahahhaha! this is the best post EVER AShley! the colors are so fun!!!!!!
I really love the photos of the colourful 'cereal juices'!!! So pretty!
Have a great time with the Peas!!!
I'll be making your protein granola bars again today (I make them pretty much every week!) and I will use some popped amaranth instead of puffed rice! Should be good... :-)
Safe travels...sounds like so much fun!
What a fabulous idea!! I need to pop a huge batch so I have it on hand as an ingredient and not just cereal!
You are so very right!
Hahaha, I am sure there will be cookies!
I know! I feel the same way about chocolate. Yumm! The spoons are from crate + barrel!
That is what I hear!! I hope it's still semi-bright outside so I can get some natural light!
Thanks Averie!!! I totally get what you're saying. :)
Thank you Sarah!! Glad we're on the same page with P+R!
I completely agree!! Enjoy!
very creative idea. I feel like young kids would LOVE something like this- colorful milk!
Oh man, how I love P&R!! :)
I had banana pineapple green monster "sauce" with kamut puffs this morning...so very delicious! I can't wait to try you creations! They look like a great way to getdiegard cereal eaters (ska, my family) to eat a more nutritious breakfast. Who says no to purple milk? ;)
Jealous of your time in Oregon!! Kiss Lulu and Gigi for me!!
Have fun shooting! That's great!
Hahahaha - Tom is the BEST character on that show. I love him.
I wish I were as witty as he were...I don't think any of my suggestions would hold up to his standards.
What a great way to mix up the cereal routine! Heathly AND colorful :)
*healthy
I hope you enjoy Portland! I just got back here from a midwest trip and have a renewed sense of appreciation for all the green!
Also, Tom is my favorite character on Parks and Rec too!
Those "cereal sauces" are so pretty! I'll admit I've never had cereal without a normal looking milk of some kind but this looks like way more fun (and healthy!)
I don't watch Parks and Rec, but had to tune in last week when Paul Rudd was on (I LOVE HIM.)!
I love Tom Haverfod though- I rented 30 Minutes or Less from Redbox a few weeks ago, and the movie is funny... but he is HILARIOUS. I just love his voice! I should start watching P&R just because of that.
And how timely of you to post about Amaranth! I found a bag of it while I was cleaning out my pantry the other day. I am not so good at popping it properly, but LOVE it when I have... I just usually end up burning it though. I'll have to read up on your last post about it.
Love the colors of the cereal sauce (and reference to Parks and Rec!).
TOM HAVERFORD! I am obsessed with Parks and Rec. Jean Ralphio and Tom Haverford together are the best TV duo everrrr.
Also, your cereal sauce looks perfect.
Your photography in this post is beautiful--I love the colors of the different milks.
I have tried making popped amaranth a couple times but I always burn most of it and still have a lot of it end up unpopped. Do you have any tips? I have an electric range, maybe that makes a difference?
I heard that you can pop amaranth in a hot air popcorn popper - ever tried?
Just started watching parks and rec, that guy is funny!
And these look amazing! Takes a reg bowl of puffed amaranth to a whole new level!
And have a safe trip! It's raining here today :(. And I'm just across the bridge from PDX so it's probably raining there too :(
I was "haha"-ing about the cereal sauce...now that I look again, it looks like I'm just an idiot laughing at your seriously awesome post...I promise I'm only that weird in other ways...not just a rude gal
I am a cereal monster, so I typically eat cereal using protein shakes as the "milk" so I can eat it more often. Although, when you do it, it's much prettier ;) Have fun at Sarah's! Totally jealous.
Popped amaranth is one of my favorite breakfasts! I can't wait to try all four of these recipes - especially the chocolate cherry chia version - chocolate for breakfast is always a good thing! I love all of your other "cereal sauces," so I know these will be amazing too!
So, I received an email from my sister saying...have you ever tried amaranth? I wonder where she got that from! Lol. I just turned her on to your site when I made her your maple cinnamon almond butter (to die for!). She also just made your apple sage chickpea burgers which were great in a wrap I had with spinach and hummus!
Have fun with the Peas!
Okay,you've finally done it! I'm convinced to try popped amaranth. Your cereal sauce looks scrumptious too, haha! Hope you're having a blast with Mama Pea!! :)