Crockpot Winter Breakfast Goodness

I'm all about delicious, nutritious breakfasts, but sometimes they're hard to throw together with a toddler romping around! For this reason, I LOVE my crockpot - throw everything in before bed, turn on low, and voila, ready in the morning! Kai and I both love this recipe!

In a crockpot, combine:
1 c. brown rice + 1 c. quinoa (or any whole grains)
1 c. adzuki beans (optional)
1-2 diced apples
1/2 c. diced winter squash
1-2 diced sweet potatoes
1/2 c. raisins or other dried fruit
1 tsp. cinnamon
7 - 9 c. water

Turn crockpot to low and cook overnight, or 6-8 hours. For grown-ups, add salted nuts and a bit of brown sugar, if you'd like, and enjoy!!

Pics in the morning, because I've got a batch going in my crockpot as I type...

This recipe has a lot of flexibility. Use any whole grains that you enjoy - though it's nice to include quinoa, one of only two grains that is also a complete protein (the other is amaranth, another breakfast favorite of mine). Sometimes I add diced carrots or dates, and if I don't have apples or squash, I'm fine with just sweet potatoes. The adzuki beans are totally optional, but delicious - they contribute to the overall slow sweetness of the dish.

As far as the water and cook time go - I generally find it best to make my first attempt at something in my crockpot during the day time - all of them are a little different, so I like to be able to keep an eye on the water/moisture level, and figure out when something is ready. I recommend the same to anyone trying this out for the first time!