Cheery Cherry Pear Oatmeal

It’s cold outside, wait haven’t I had other posts recently that start like that? Really though it is cold outside, like sub zero, so we really need warm comforting breakfasts to get us out of bed and moving. In the winter months we eat a lot of oatmeal, or porridge, because it isn’t always oatmeal. We get into ruts where we will eat our same favorite flavors, and then play with flavors and have something different, and then back to our favorites, it is like a cycle. With my youngest wanting oatmeal for lunch some days I really need to rotate things and play with flavors and grains. Most of the time we go by what we are in the mood for and what we have. We have lots of fruits (fresh, frozen, and dried), nuts, seeds, and plenty of nut butter in the house all the time. Usually it is standing in the kitchen checking the fridge for leftover grains, checking the cereal cupboard, looking at the fruit, checking the freezer, a whole lot of “ummm…..”, checking the nut butter cupboard, and finally making a choice. This is a base Cheery Cherry Pear Oatmeal that is sure to brighten your morning! I say base because it is one I can make and we can add coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pistachios, or protein powder (if using protein powder it goes really well with chai, I used Vega One Vanilla Chai, and omitting the spices) to customize each bowl to our desired tastes and needs. I like to stir in canned coconut milk, if we have some opened, or coconut oil or coconut butter for extra richness and some healthy fats.

Do you eat a lot of oatmeal for breakfast? Do you switch things up often with grains and flavors, what is your favorite go to combo right now?

Cheery Cherry Pear Oatmeal

Makes 1 serving

1/3c oatmeal (used Purely Elizabeth Organic Ancient Grain Oatmeal)

2/3c water or coconut milk, or amount per package instructions (used So Delicious Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk)

1/4-1/3c frozen pitted cherries, thawed

1/2-1 pear, diced

1-2 TBSP canned coconut milk (So Delicious Culinary Coconut Milk), or 1-2 tsp coconut oil/ coconut butter, optional

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

maple syrup, honey, stevia or sweetener of choice to taste

additional toppings of choice such as coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pistachios, or protein powder optional (if using protein powder add additional milk/water to reach desired constancy it goes really well with chai, I used Vega One Vanilla Chai, and omit the spices)

Cook oatmeal with coconut milk, or water per package instructions. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut milk (or coconut oil/coconut butter), and sweetener as desired. Pour into a bowl and top with pears and cherries. Smile and enjoy!