Beautiful Morning Oatmeal

Breakfast is my most important meal of the day... and often the most delicious! College has transformed me into a huge oatmeal fan. I went to Costco a couple of months ago and bought a preposterously large amount of oatmeal. (It's Costco, what can I do?) The box promises well over one hundred servings, and it's the truth! While plain oatmeal is a creamy and dependable friend, I like to experiment and make this morning staple good enough to eat for every meal of the day. I call this recipe "beautiful morning" oatmeal because it's filled with fruit and lots of colors that remind me of the sunrise.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 small to medium-sized apple, diced (I like golden delicious apples, I think they cook the best in the microwave)

1 tablespoon raspberry jam (or strawberry, blackberry, or whatever your fav jam flavor is!)

about two tablespoons chopped pecans (or any other nut you like!)

cinnamon, to taste (i put A LOT, a lot a lot)

1/2 of a banana, diced

1/2 cup strawberries, chopped (when I don't have fresh strawberries, I like to add either dried cherries, cranberries, blueberries, raisins, etc.) I also keep some frozen berries on hand so I can add some to the oatmeal when I cook it.

Directions:

Put the oats in a microwave-safe bowl. Add enough water to completely submerge the oats. Cook in the microwave for two minutes. In the mean time, cut up the apple, the banana, and the strawberries. You've got some pretty stellar knife skills if you can chop all that fruit in two minutes! When the microwave bings!, add the diced apple and mix it in with the oatmeal. Microwave for about three minutes more, stirring the mixture after each minute. When the oatmeal has reached the consistency you like, add the jam (for a little sweetness), the cinnamon (for a little kick) and the pecans (for a little crunch and lots of healthy fats!). Top it with the strawberries and bananas and dig in! This is so good, I just might make it for dinner. Enjoy!