Oatmeal (DD)

[julie515]

 This recipe is from "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld.  The prep time is 10 minutes, total time is 13 minutes, and it serves 2 people.

Ingredients:

1 cup nonfat (skim) milk; 1/4 cup firmly pakced light or dark brown sugar; 1/4 cup canned pumpkin or sweet potato puree; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla aextract (optional); 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice; 1 cup old-fashioned oats; 2 teaspoons natural peanut butter (optional); Dried fruit and nuts (optional); Pure maple syrup, for serving

Directions:

1) In a small saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla, if using, and spice.  Bring to a gentle boil and stir in the oatmeal.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the oatmeal is soft and creamy.  Stir in the peanut butter, if using.

2) Spoon the oatmeal into bowls, sprinkle with dried fruit and nuts, if you like, and serve warm with maple syrup.

Variation:

Add 2 tablespoons of sweet potato to 1 cup of oatmeal.  Next add 1/4 cup of nonfat milk and 1/4 cup of water.  Add cinnamon to taste, adn top with maple syrup or brown sugar.

[julie515]

 We now love this oatmeal at our house.  For a long time, I was the only one who liked oatmeal (we'd use instant).  Now, my husband and son love it.  I've even used apple puree when we ran out of the other kinds.  Be warned, if you add peanut butter, you will be very stuffed.  And for those who don't want to add syrup (it's very sweet without it), you can just put the oatmeal in a bowl and add some milk like cereal and it's fine like that.