Hot Oatmeal for Cold Mornings

I love oatmeal.  I mean real oatmeal, not that instant powdery stuff (although that is handy when you want to eat now because you should have been out the door 10 minutes ago) but the kind you have to cook in a pot.  It reminds me of a farmhouse breakfast and happy childhood mornings when my dad would make this for everyone.  I didn’t live on a farm, but I still think of one when I think of bowls of oatmeal : )

I have a variety of things I like to put in my oatmeal, apples or dried cranberries are real good, blueberries are wonderful.  Today I ate it without additions, since I was fresh out of those and just topped it with brown sugar (maple syrup is fabulous too).  It tastes real good with a little bit of butter melting on top, adds a bit of richness that I am sure my doctor would think cancels out all the healthiness : )  I pass on that now a days.

I thought I would share my recipe because I use a different ratio than what is on the container, I like mine to be thick with a bit of chew still in it.

Ingredients

Makes 1 serving

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
2/3 cup 2% milk (you can use 1% or skim, if that is your thing.  Remember whole milk?  That would make a rich oatmeal.)
pinch of salt
a bit of dark brown sugar or maple syrup
a dash or 2 of cinnamon, if you like
a splash of vanilla is nice too
diced apples or dried cranberries or any fruit you like, if you have it

Directions

In a small sauce pan on low-ish heat (I have a gas stove, hard to judge exactly), combine the milk and oats.  Add in the salt, and the cinnamon and stir frequently.  Don’t get carried away puttering about and forget to stir, milk can burn quite quickly.  Add in your chopped apples or dried fruit so it can cook and soften a bit.  Keep stirring until most of the milk is absorbed and it is getting pretty thick.

Spoon it into a bowl, top with dark brown sugar or maple syrup and enjoy the warmth!