Despite technically being on vacation, I’ve been quite busy the past few days trying to accomplish as many things on my (growing) to-do list as possible. I think getting lots of things done during this time will help me feel a bit more relaxed when I return to work later in the week. At least that’s my theory.
With a busy day ahead of me, I was excited to start with a 2 minute breakfast. Enter: Three Sisters instant oatmeal I received from the company to sample.
[My sister had the brown sugar & maple kind for breakfast yesterday and was kind enough to model the packaging for us. 
]
I thought the pouch design was genius! Once you pour the oatmeal out of it into your bowl, you can use it to measure the right amount of water to make your oatmeal. Totally brilliant!
She dumped a bunch of frozen fruit into her bowl (together with the oats) so the end result was a bit too watery. Despite this mishap, she did say she enjoyed the flavor (but her breakfast was camera shy 
). Since the first batch was an “operator error,” I’ll show you my chocolaty breakfast.
Wanna get a little closer? 
The oatmeal was definitely sweeter than my typical morning bowl of oats but it wasn’t so sweet as to qualify for dessert. I liked it paired with some cool plain Greek yogurt. In all honesty, in the future I’d probably leave these for a mid-afternoon snack. Still a bit too much sugar to start off the day with.
Three Sisters makes plain instant oats which I think would be perfect for a rushed morning and can be spiked with your favorite flavors (or protein powder… adding pp to the above flavors produced an overly sweet concoction… yes, I already experimented with it since this morning. All in the name of research.] While I’m sure the plain instant oats are comparable to other brands’ in taste, I really love Three Sisters’ packaging and the Company’s commitment to sustainable practices, so I think for those reason I’d chose them over their competitors next time.
Now, onto the really fun part. Remember the last time I mentioned Three Sisters cereals? I mentioned that the bag of Cinnamon Sweets the Company sent me disappeared before it got a chance to have a date with my camera. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. When I got another free product coupon, I decided to purchase my “old” favorite but this time I wanted to take it one step further and make a fun treat and share it (through the screen) with you! 
Not sure how this idea came to me but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for weeks. I decided to make the traditional Rice Krispie recipe but sub the Rice Krispies for Three Sisters Cinnamon Sweets. Oh yes, this was brilliant!
This is how you do it…
Sweet, sticky, comforting. I cut these into little pieces and included them in our cookie favors. Everyone loved them!
Would you like to win a month’s supply of Three Sisters cereal? That’s FOUR free bags of any cereal. Pretty awesome prize if you ask me.
Here are the rules; there are 6 ways to enter.
1) Leave a comment on this post – tell me about your favorite oatmeal or cereal.
2+3) Follow me on Twitter (please tell me in the comments what your twitter name is so I can confirm). For an additional entry, you can also tweet about this giveaway (my twitter name must be included to qualify – that’s @elinacooks fyi)
4) Like Healthy and Sane on Facebook.
5) Add Healthy and Sane to your blogroll.
6) Link to this post on your blog, if you have one. If you don’t, let someone else know about this giveaway and tell me so in the comments section after they’ve entered the giveaway.
Please leave a separate comment for each entry. The giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry) and will end on Saturday, December 18. I will randomly choose a winner using random.org and announce him/her in the following post. Good luck! 
I love a mixture of Bob’s Red Mill Muesli and Quaker Rolled Oats. I mix one bag of Muesli with about 3 bags worth of oats and keep it in a huge bin.
I already like you on FB
You are already on my blogroll
I looooove Three Sisters cereal, but have never tried their oatmeal. The bars you made look great! I made S’Mores Crispy Bars with their “graham cracker” cereal (http://www.healthyfoodforliving.com/?p=7704) that you would probably like as well
.
yum, i love three sisters cereal- the marshmallow oaties are my fave!
I love all of the Kashi cereals! Thanks for the giveaway!
I follow you in Google Reader!
Love scottish oats
Facebook fan
omg i love ur twist on rice crispy treats!
Yum- those treats look divine!
One of my fav cereals is plain ol’ Life!
Love Rice Krispies
Like you on Facebook.
Never liked oatmeal before this year. I tried Alton Browns’ recipe for oatmeal with steel cut oats. Now it’s a favorite breakfast mixed with walnuts and apple slices. Yum!
What a great giveaway! I like the instant high fiber oatmeals from Quaker.
I follow you on Twitter (obviously) – @funfearlessbean
And I “like” Healthy and Sane on Facebook!
I love mixing my oatmeal (cinnomon raisin) with TJ’s maple almond granola. SO delicious!!!
I already “like” you on facebook
I love the idea of how you can measure the water you need right in the pouch for your oatmeal–genious!! My current fav kind of cereal is Barbara’s PB Puffins
I “like” you on FB now too
My all time favorite cereal is Lucky Charms but I only eat it for dessert every once in awhile. My go-to breakfast cereal is Kashi’s Cinnamon Harvest.
I follow you on Twitter too (@AmateurGastro)
My favorite way to prepare oatmeal is my own creation: carrot cake oatmeal! I take oats, raisins, shredded carrot, walnuts, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and a bit of chobani non-fat plain and mix it all up. Tastes just like carrot cake in a bowl and it’s nutritious and delicious!!!
Nearly impossible to pick just one! My new favorite granola is a chocolate hazelnut biscotti granola I found at Target. Delish dessert! Thanks for the giveaway, Elina!
I love just regular old oatmeal with some cinnamon and some peanut butter with a big cup o coffee! =)
I also follow you on Twitter — @kaitycal5
And like you on facebook!
I love cinnamon oatmeal with dried cranberries and could definitely stand to eat dark chocolate oatmeal in the a.m.!
I also follow you on twitter @acambridgestory
Just tweeted about your giveaway!
Love warm shredded wheat with almond milk and a drizzle of pb–So delish!
i have 3 faves
1) three sisters cinnamon sweets!
2) puffins cinnamon flavor
3) basic 4
i want a month’s supply
i like you i like you
I love plain oatmeal and Kashi!
My favorite cereal is Raisin Bran Crunch–not the healthiest but oh so good!
I recently found their chocolate oatmeal, and I LOVE it! So delicious!
I love oatmeal topped with bananas, walnuts and maple syrup.
I am also having a giveaway -stop by and enter to win a copy of the wonderful book Eat What You Love Love What You Eat!
Mmmm… oats with banana, PB and flax.
already follow you on Twitter @TravelEatRepeat
I like it simple oatmeal with a little almond milk and a huge dollop of peanut butter!
You are part of my blog roll now!
Hi Elina! I love all hot cereals – seriously. And I also love Quaker Oatmeal Squares and any type of granola.
I like you on FB!
love kashi
My favorite is Honey Nut Cheerios!
I follow you @nobel4lit
I already “like” you on Facebook
You’re also already on my blogroll!
Yum. Looks tasty my dear. I’m not sure that I’d ever buy instant oatmeal, but I can see where someone who was in a pinch would love it. It reminds me that I do love chocolate oatmeal and probably should whip up a (homemade) batch soon.
My favorite cereal brand is Nature’s Path – love their pumpkin flax granola and their various flax cereals!
Just tweeted @runnerscookie !
My favorite cereal is a mix of generic wheat/bran flakes with Fiber One. I have it most mornings with a banana & milk.
Chocolate oats go soooo well with Greek yogurt! One of my favorite combinations!
I LOVE cereal. I actually prefer to mix a few cereals in one bowl. My favorite combination is Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Bran Flakes, and Golden Grahams.
I am a follower on twitter! My twitter account name is @gogirl001us
I “liked” healthy and sane on Facebook!!
I LOVELOVELOVE Three Sisters cereal. I keep the dark chocolate pouches at work for a quick and easy breakfast. It’s not too sweet for me, but I do like bulking it up with a chopped banana or chopped apple. I hope I win!!
i love eating steel cut oatmeal with pumpkin and bananas mixed in! ohh…and it has to be topped with almond butter too!
i love savory oats!
honey bunch of oats all the way!!! And 3 sisters has their own version that is INCREDIBLE!
Love savory oats topped with nuts or chopped egg
Ooh, sign me up! I love oats w/ banana and chia seeds cooked in. Then a scoop of peanut butter and a little cinnamon on top.
Shredded wheat with blueberries
Kashi Go Lean with bananas…
Already like you on Facebook:)
I have never tried their cereal and would love to. My favorite right now is oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter and a package of hot chocolate. Chocolate pb oatmeal is to die for!!
My favorite oatmeal combo at the moment is plain stove top oatmeal with flax, chia, blueberries and goji berries – yum! I’ve never tried their cereal but have seen it at Whole Foods and would love to try it out.
I’m already a huge fan of Three Sisters
I love brown sugar and maple oatmeal! I eat it every day in the fall and winter. For the spring/summer, I prefer banana nut cheerios.
I’m a plain oatmeal person. That way I can load up the flavors/toppings on my own.
I loved the cinnamon krispy treat! Great idea! I eat cereal in all kinds of weird ways, but as far as breakfast is concerned, I’m happy with plain old stovetop oats with banana and pb.
And I “like” you on fb!
I already follow you on twitter and have you on my blogroll, so I don’t know if I can legit have a 3rd entry…but I tweeted your giveaway anyway!
i’ve been craving savory oats lately… salsa, eggs, cheese… yum!
you’re on my blogroll
I like life cereal a lot. Or frosted mini wheats.
I like Kashi cereals and boring Branflakes!
I already follow you on twitter. I’m inmytummylee.
I follow you on twitter. I am @butterjessfly
cereal is by far my favorite food in the entire world! I would love this! My favorite cereal is truly dearly cinnamon toast crunch but my favorite cereal that is healthy is kashi go lean crunch nom nom
My favorite “healthy” cereals-a tie between life and peanut butter puffins-but growing up, my favorite was cracklin’ oat bran-secretly so bad for you but soo delicious!
Favorite cereal is Kashi Go Lean Crunch. Hands down.
You’re already on my blogroll, btw!
I also already follow you on twitter….
And I tweeted about the giveaway (@heathamursch)!
I am so boring but I like plain oatmeal
I eat regular shredded wheat with a little honey.
how did i miss you being on twitter?! I am following you now
i like steel cut oats with a splash of almond milk, a banana and a spoon of nut butter!
I love Special K red berries!
[...] I forget, just a quick reminder of the Three Sisters Cereal giveaway. Ok, back to regular [...]
i love that cinnamon toast crunch like cereal!
i’m def a fan of apple or banana oats with pb!
and i liked’ you on facebook!
Wow, Three Sisters oatmeal looks fabulous! I’m usually a plain old Quaker girl, but now I’m tempted to switch things up!
I follow you on Twitter
Of course, I’m a fan of you on Facebook!
And you’re obviously on my blogroll
Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!
I love any Nature’s Path Cereal, but especially the flaxseed one! I have never tried this brand before, and would love to!
follow you on twitter too
old wessex 5 grain hot cereal
Oh cereal, we have such a love-hate relationship! My favorite is Honey Bunches of Oats. But I rarely buy cereal at all because I can easily eat way too much of it!
I follow you on twitter
Sounds like you’re having the perfect vacation! I’m a Cheerio’s/Trader Joe O’s girl myself
And I follow you on twitter of course
I was at the check out line at Whole foods and they had Three Sisters instant oatmeal displayed. They were 3 boxes for $3.00. I thought at that price, it couldn’t be to good. So I bought a box of Cinnamon Plum Spiced. How wrong I was. When I opened the microwave.. I couldn’t believe how good it smelled. And it tasted even better. I went back to WF’s the following day and bought the Chai Spiced. It was even better. All in all, I boutght a total of 15 boxes. The best buy I have ever found at WF”s. Where can you get a wonderful tasting breakfast for $ .20???? So glad I went into WF’s that day.
[...] good at her place to miss such an opportunity! [Remember last time’s cookie baking extravaganza, rice crispie treats, sugar-free brownie dough balls, and baking with protein powder? Those are my favorite pictures [...]