Gingerbread Oatmeal

Before I get to this post, I wanted to make a quick announcement: I’m finally on Facebook! Be sure to ‘like’ this page if you want to get new posts, updates, and other fun links on your Facebook newsfeed :) I still have yet to enter the Twitter world, but I’m hoping I’ll work up the courage to learn how to do that soon!

Moving on to the oatmeal, this is a wonderfully warm and spicy breakfast to help you wake up on a festive note. It doesn’t take long at all to make, it’s healthy, and is quite filling, so it’s the perfect way to start off a busy day full of last-minute holiday shopping! Not that I ever leave my shopping to the last minute, of course….

I’ve made this oatmeal several times now, adjusting the spices each time until I reached a taste that I liked. But I want to emphasize that everyone’s tastes differ and you should adjust any of the amounts to your own liking (for example, you might want to add more sugar if you like sweeter oatmeal, and less spice if you’re not a big fan of gingerbread spices). The amount of spice you’ll want to add will also depend on how fresh your spices are, so it’s probably a good idea to start with less, then add more until you reach the level that’s right for you!

And if you're looking for a slightly more decadent gingerbread-flavoured breakfast, be sure to try out these gingerbread crepes, they're my favourite! They're being featured on EatinEatOut's facebook page right now along with lots of other holiday treats, so be sure to go like their page too!

Gingerbread Oatmeal

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup milk

Dash of salt

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

2 teaspoons molasses

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

Directions:

Bring water, milk, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add oats, stir, and lower temperature to a gentle simmer.

Cook 3-5 minutes or according to package directions and type of oats used. As oats are cooking, add all remaining ingredients, stirring thoroughly after each addition (it’s especially important to quickly distribute the spices evenly by stirring after each addition so that you don’t end up with any unpleasant clumps of spices afterwards).

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch, if desired. Serve warm.