When I was in high school, I ate a bowl of oats every day. That’s back when I thought that eating those brown-sugar oatmeal packets first thing in the morning was healthy. I enjoyed the flavor, but more than that, I enjoyed the warmth it offered on a cold morning. Even now, there are mornings where I crave a bowl of hot cereal. It was on one of these mornings that I came up with this Cinnamon Raisin N’oatmeal. It tastes a little like a combination of raisin bran cereal and oatmeal. If you haven’t heard of the term n’oatmeal, it just means “no oatmeal” – that was probably self-explanatory. This warm breakfast is comforting and naturally sweet. The raisins plump up in the warm nut milk and provide a slightly chewy texture that pairs nicely with the softened but still crunchy walnut pieces in the “oatmeal.” Adding warming spices like nutmeg and cinnamon makes this thick and creamy porridge even more perfect on a cold winter day. Not only is this n’oatmeal tasty, it’s also a fairly healthy breakfast. While it probably doesn’t compare to the nutrition that eggs provide (let’s be honest, what does?) – it is high in fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. That’s because this cereal is made with good for you ingredients: flaxseeds, chia seeds, coconut flour and nuts. These foods can offer health benefits when eaten in moderation. Flaxseeds provide fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. They’re also rich in lignans which can help reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer (source and source). Coconut flour is high in fiber and protein, and it’s a good fat. You can add honey or maple syrup to make this breakfast a little sweeter, but truthfully I think the raisins add enough sweetness. I usually add a little maple syrup to my husband’s bowl to keep him happy. Porridge isn’t exactly his idea of festive breakfast (he’s more of a bacon and eggs type of guy), but sometimes you need variety in your breakfast routine. This recipe makes enough for one serving, so be sure to double the recipe if there are two of you. I have quadrupled this recipe before – the only change in the directions is that you’ll have to cook the milk mixture for an extra 5 minutes. If you re-heat this, you may need to add more warm nut milk or hot water. Enjoy!
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