A bowl of warm oats on a chilly winter’s morning is food recipes for the heart. But a nourishing oat smoothie or healthy oat-based pizza is food for the soul … and those muscles!

OATMEAL PIZZA CRUST WITH VEGGIE TOPPING
Prep time 20 min
Cook time 25 min
Makes 2 large pizzas

INGREDIENTS
For The Crust
3 cups oats
cup white Cheddar, grated
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried origanum
1 tsp dried basil
6 egg whites
1 cup water
4 tsp olive oil
For The Topping
6 large brown mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, roughly sliced
1 cup baby tomatoes
cup smooth cottage cheese
2 cups spinach,
wilted and torn
cup olives, pitted and torn
cup Parmesan, to serve
1 cup rocket, to serve
2 tbsp balsamic reduction, to serve

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 200°C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
2. Pulse the oats, cheese, baking powder, salt and herbs together until smooth. Add egg whites, water and olive oil. Mix until combined.
3. Spoon mixture into the middle of each sheet of baking paper and spread into a circle with the back of a spoon.
4. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until golden brown.
5. Fry mushrooms and rosemary in 2 tsp olive oil until soft, 5 minutes. Remove from pan.
6. Add remaining olive oil to the pan, along with the onion and tomatoes, and fry for 5 minutes, until tomatoes start to blister.
7. Spread the cottage cheese on to the base of the pizza crust, then top with the veggies.
8. Sprinkle over Parmesan, top with rocket and drizzle with balsamic reduction.

WARM PEAR GINGERBREAD OATMEAL SMOOTHIE
Prep time 15 min
Cook time 5 min
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
4 cups milk
cup oats
1 pears, chopped
1 banana, chopped
1 tbsp nut butter
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp ground ginger
tsp vanilla essence
tsp ground cinnamon
tsp ground nutmeg
tsp ground allspice

METHOD
1. In a pot, heat 3 cups milk until just before boiling. Remove from the heat, then add oats and cover. Soak for 10 minutes.
2. Blend the rest of the ingredients, with the remaining cup of milk, until smooth. Add the soaked oats andpulse again.
3. Pour into glasses and enjoy.
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