Wonderful Pumpkin Breakfast

During this year's holiday season, I have become slightly obsessed with pumpkin. Like, pumpkin everything! Pumpkin for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert! But one of my favorite pumpkin recipes is Pumpkin Oatmeal! This recipe make A LOT of oatmeal and is perfect addition to a Christmas Brunch! Or if you are just making the oatmeal for a few people, it keeps in the refrigerator really well.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

• 2 cups milk or unsweetened almond/ soy milk
• 2 cups water
• 1 - 15 oz can pure pumpkin
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons raisins 
• 2 cups old fashioned oats (NOT instant oats)
• Chocolate chips, brown sugar, and nuts for serving

Yields ~6 servings

Step 1: Combine milk and water in a medium saucepan on the stove over medium heat. 

Step 2: Stir in pumpkin, cinnamon, and raisins and allow mixture to come to a slow boil. Once at a boil, add the oats and turn down the heat to medium low. They should look like this:

Step 3: Allow the oats to simmer for about 10 - 15 minutes or until the oats are tender and thick. 

Step 4: Ladle into bowls and serve oatmeal with chocolate chips, brown sugar, and walnuts on the side! 

The oatmeal when it comes off the stove is not sweet at all! So, I recommend adding some brown sugar and chocolate chips to give it a sweeter flavor. Or if you're looking for something with a little less added sugar, I often add a packet of Truvia to my oatmeal. It makes it sweet, but without adding gobs of pure sugar calories!

Speaking about calories, that reminds me that this recipe is SUPER healthy! Not only are you getting lots of soluble fiber from the oats (which helps lower your cholesterol), you are also getting A TON of Vitamin A from the pumpkin! Pumpkin is really wonderful and PACKED with nutrition. Just a 1/2 cup of pure pumpkin gives you 280% of your daily Vitamin A!! Vitamin A is important for good vision, bone development, and immune system function. So not only is pumpkin delicious, it is GREAT for your body!

Bet you never thought healthy food would look this good! Happy Healthy Eating!

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish Friends!