This morning I awoke to thick sheets of damp grey marine layer resting outside my windows. I put on a baggy sweatshirt and shivered in delight, images of pumpkin muffins and steaming hot mugs of cider racing through my brain.
Then the sun came out. I said, “Screw it,” closed the blinds, pretended I was still frozen through and set to work making an oatmeal that would satisfy anyone who lusts after autumn the way I do.
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Ingredients
1/3 cup steel cut oats
1 + 1/3 cup water
1 heaping tbsp pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp maple syrup
Pinch of salt
Toppings of your choice
1. In a small pot, bring the water and salt to a boil.
2. Add the steel cut oats, stir and let thicken for about three minutes.
3. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 25-30 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Add canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup and stir to combine.
5. Serve and add toppings of your choice – I added toasted walnuts and chocolate. Adoration in a bowl.
If it’s still too warm outside to make this, just shut your blinds, blast the air conditioner and shiver away over the stove top until this deliciousness appears and thaws you from the inside out. Or you could just be patient and wait until it’s actually cold out… I do not have that much self control.
I made just enough for a single serving, but only because we had a scant 1/3 cup of steel cut oats left. You can easily double, triple or octo-ply this to feed yourself and anyone lucky enough to smell the scent of fresh pumpkin pie wafting through the air.
There will be plenty of autumn-inspired recipes coming up these next few months – alcoholic beverages included! Too keep up to date, like me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter!
