There was a time, not too long ago, when oats were dry and we cooked them in hot liquids to get oatmeal. Of course, we can (and do!) still engage in this oat-prep practice. In these modern times, however, there is another path, a path requiring no heat; no pots nor pans; no microwave ovens. The humble refrigerator and some carefully chosen additional ingredients do the heavy lifting here, and the result in this case is Trader Joe’s Vanilla Overnight Oats.

This single serving package is simply rolled oats that have been basking in an almond beverage until they’ve reached their rich, pudding-like texture. To these Oats have been added dates, sea salt, and vanilla extracted from vanilla beans. The result is a ready-to-eat breakfast (or anytime) treat that is truly tasty.