I’m a huge breakfast fanatic. I usually go for something hearty, healthy and full of surprise goodies. That’s not to say that I don’t sometimes reach for a donut and some coffee, but this go around I opted for old-fashioned oatmeal with the gorgeous flavors of cranberry, orange and almond. I threw in a bit of brown sugar for good measure, and surrounded my oatmeal with cold milk. It was a delightful breakfast- satisfying but not too heavy. It’s the kind of breakfast that convinces you you’re ready to take on the world. Brilliant
Cranberry Orange Almond Oatmeal
1 cup water
pinch of salt
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
2 Tablespoons dried cranberries
6 raw or toasted almonds
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
optional:
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
Bring water and salt to a rolling boil in a small sauce pan. Add oats and reduce to medium heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 Tablespoon of dried cranberries into the cooking oatmeal.
After 5 minutes, remove from heat, and transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cranberries, orange zest, almonds, brown sugar and milk. Enjoy!
Thank you Dawn! It was so sweet of you to send me these darling cards and pens! I’ll put them to good use! They’re absolutely beautiful! Thank You!!
Katie J
After reading your blog late last night, I woke up this morning to find the right recipe to best fit the ingredients in our cupboard….only to come across this recipe. It was absolutely the perfect recipe for a cold Sunday morning for breakfast in bed with my husband. I love, love, LOVE your blog. Keep up the wonderful work.
Erin R.
I so enjoyed this and it inspired some cookies I made yesterday for my family if you would like to check out my post about it http://whathefork.blogspot.com/2010/09/bright-fall-cookies.html thanks for always having such yummy things for us to try.
Judy
Mmmmm, sounds good! We have loved oatmeal, raisins and almonds and sometimes chopped apple if I’m ambitious, so this will definately get a go!
Erin R.
I made this for breakfast this morning for my kids and they adored it! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us.
Sue
This oatmeal is unbelievably good. I can’t wait to eat it again tommorrow. Kids loved the cranberries. Do you think you might be able to create a recipe for a protein bar? One with whey protein powder in it. I hate the taste of commercial bars and object to paying a fortune for them. If anybody can bake a great home made version I know it is you. Thanking you
Elizabeth
This morning i was feeling lonely and blah so I thought I’d try one of your pretty looking oatmeals (I had great success with the oatmeal on the go recipe you posted). What a perky picker upper! This was like when some one comes up from behind you and gives you a hug and it takes you a second to figure out who it is and then you’re so glad. I will definitely make it again this winter, i litterally “mmMMm””d to myself out loud alone at my breakfast table!
Melody
I eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast (no joke, every morning) My absolute favorite way to eat it is with a mashed up overripe banana, nutmeg, cinnamon, a few toasted almonds, and soy milk. I call it banana bread oatmeal. I’m a bit set in my ways, but I’ll have to give yours a try. It looks amazing.
mortymad
We Love oatmeal. For those in a hurry, try just adding the oatmeal, cranberries and “cooking” in the microwave, then adding the rest after it’s done. My favorite is top of stove; but this is a good second…and MUCH better than the packets. In fact, I used to make up packets of 1/2 cup oatmeal, some raisins, cranberries or dates, and whatever else I wanted and put them into plastic snack bags. In the hurried mornings you can just measure your water in a bowl, and dump your packet and microwave. Ready in minutes. Top with some nuts, milk and serve.
My favorite is cutting up apples, sauteing them with a touch of butter, cinnamon, chopped gingerroot, and cranberries or raisins till all are the consistency you want (sometimes soft, sometimes crunchy). Add chopped nuts (nice if toasted) then top your oatmeal and milk with this!!! YUM!!!
kellypea
Mmmm…I love adding things to steel cut oats — green apples, nuts, raisins, brown sugar…it’s never boring even though I’m never quite ready to take on the world. Yours looks delicious. It must be those cranberries. Yum.
Brittany
I loooove a good bowl o’ oatmeal- my mom used to make it before we went skiing in the mornings with the explicit instructions: once you’ve added the sugar and milk- DO NOT STIR. I live by that mantra today- stirring just ruins it.
Mike
This looks like a delicious breakfast. Growing up, I almost exclusively had my oatmeal from the little packets that you just added water and microwaved…and go figure, I’ve come to never want to eat oatmeal again. Something about freeze dried little unidentifiable chunks of “fruit” in there…but I never gave it a second though. It looks like I should–you keep reminding my of the many great breakfast foods I could (and should!) be having and this is definitely one of them.
diva
wow! that looks like the best breakfast ever…looks so pretty too
Susan from Food Blogga
I never tired of my oatmeal. And this is one good looking bowl of oats.
Mary Ann
That looks and sounds so good, I am going to have to give it a whirl!
Eli
I LOVE oatmeal. In my mind its like a salad. You have a fairly bland base, but then you can throw in a bunch of little treats and make one amazing, satisfying meal. Unfortunately, I rarely eat breakfast. I’m a roll outta bed and go kinda gal. But this might inspire me to try more often :-)
Tarah
Mmm, I love the combination. I want this for breakfast!
giz
I’ll share a good laugh with you – I’m the world’s worst sleeper – I wake up at about 3 a.m. feeling absolutely starving. Like an insane sleepwalker I go down to the kitchen, make some oatmeal with dried cranberries and then I go back to sleep just like a baby. I swear there’s something in oatmeal that just comforts the body and makes it feel whole.
Kevin
That oatmeal looks like a great way to start the day!
michelle @ TNS
oatmeal with cranberries is my favorite breakfast…when i wake up early enough to make it (or remember to start it the night before). which means i eat it twice a year. i don’t know why i’ve never though to put some orange zest in, orange-cran is such a great combo.
mary
oh, that sounds wonderful! I typically want breakfast things at night or in the afternoon….something like this would be nice and warm sitting on my swing! beautiful pics as always!
m
That looks really good! I’m from an Asian family, and we never quite figure out oatmeal – I going to have to try yours to find out what the real thing is like!
Deana
I usually cook my old fashioned oats in milk, not water. I’m not sure what the difference is in cooking them in water vs. milk but I suspect the milk makes the oatmeal a little creamier.
I’m going to try this. It looks wonderful!
Deana
grace
very nice combination. i haven’t ever skipped breakfast–it’s clearly my favorite meal of the day. this sounds like a good option to put into the rotation. :)
Hillary
I can’t even describe how good that sounds and looks! I love cranberry and orange together, let alone with almond and oatmeal!
Paola
Yum! Another oatmeal lover here…and with cranberries too?? Awesome!
paola
mari
I’m a big oatmeal lover and I really like dried fruits in my oatmeal, so this is right up my alley!