This warm and creamy oatmeal with pumpkin, cinnamon, and pure maple syrup is the ultimate comfort in a bowl breakfast for fall and winter. 

I've been waiting and waiting for the weather to get cool enough to start eating more warm fall and winter foods, and this weekend, it's finally happening!  The temperature is supposed to drop into a lovely jacket-wearing range (at least at night and in the mornings), so I'm not wasting another moment in getting my newest breakfast recipe ready to go!  

I make oatmeal all year round, but I usually only make hot oatmeal if it's cold outside.  The rest of the time, I prefer my cold overnight oats.  So it's a real treat when I get to change it up with the hot variety instead.  

And since it's November, of course I'm still eating pumpkin everything, so I decided to go with a pumpkin-themed oatmeal for today's recipe.  I love the creamy texture pumpkin adds to the oatmeal, plus it packs in some vitamin A and even more fiber to the dish.  

To make this recipe one that has "fall" written all over it, I added some cinnamon for a beautiful warm flavor, a touch of pure maple syrup for  rich sweetness, and chopped pecans for a crunchy texture.  

Fall is my favorite time of year, and as we enter into the holiday season, I love cozy, flavorful recipes like this one that bring that comfort-food experience without being too heavy.  It can be hard to stay on track with eating well this time of year, so finding that balance of taste and nutrition is especially important.  Here's to a warm and sweet start to the holiday season! 

Creamy Pumpkin-Maple Spiced Oatmeal

Makes 1 serving (or 2 small servings)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup instant or "quick cooking" oats
• 1 cup low fat milk 
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions: 

1. Place the oats, milk, pumpkin, vanilla, and cinnamon into a large microwave-safe bowl.  Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until the oatmeal is creamy and slightly thickened.
2. To serve, drizzle the maple syrup over the top of the oatmeal and sprinkle with the pecans.  

Note:  This recipe make one hearty (1 cup) serving of oatmeal, or 2 smaller (1/2 cup) servings) 

 Happy Eating!

~Amber

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