Elegant Oatmeal

In honor of January being National Oatmeal Month, I want to share my method for making oatmeal, which I couldn’t survive a winter without. Oatmeal seems like something you wouldn’t need a recipe for, but check this one out—it’s got a secret ingredient.

For One Serving:

ingredients:

½ cup rolled oats

1 cup cold water

optional:

dash of cinnamon

raisins or other dried fruit, or fresh fruit too!

nuts or seeds (I like walnuts and sunflower seeds)

to prepare:

Combine oats and cold water in a small pot. Heat on medium, stirring frequently. Add optional ingredients of your choice as it heats up. I like to add the dried fruit early so it gets plump. When the oats have absorbed the water, I take the pot off the heat and stir in my secret ingredient: a spoonful of almond or peanut butter (or sunbutter for those with nut allergies). This secret ingredient makes oatmeal a much more rich, filling, lasting meal.

Sweeten with maple syrup (the real stuff, needless to say), honey or brown sugar if you must, Dad, and top with milk or yogurt if you like.