My insides are yearning for something warm and semi-sweet and I have the perfect thing for you too. It is healthy and does the heart good. I am sure you are wondering (besides the caption giving it away) what it could be. I won’t keep you guessing. It is oatmeal. I call it oatmeal with a twist. 

I added a little this and a little that to give me the creamy, semi-sweet flavor and texture I was craving. In fact, I can eat Good Old Fashioned Oatmeal any time of the day. It is healthy and easy to make. I like to use old-fashioned oats. I first bring my water to a boil and pour my rolled oats into the saucepan. I give it a good stir and just like that, it is ready to be devoured.  

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Easy Oatmeal

Recipe by Recipe Helper

Course: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

5

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats

• 1 cup milk

• 1/2 cup water

• pinch of salt

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• A handful of dates and cherries

Directions

• In a medium saucepan, bring oats, milk, water, salt, and cinnamon to a boil.
• Reduce to a simmer for 3 minutes.
• Remove from saucepan and serve in bowls with dates, cherries, and extra cinnamon. Enjoy!

Well, keep reading because, while some people may desire their oatmeal plain and simple, I do not. I am a foodie and I like to explore. I am careful what I put in my oatmeal, but I am quite generous with my usage of cinnamon, dates (just a few.), and cherries. Cherries are a must for me, especially around this time of year. I even add a little milk for thickness and you can choose to add milk too or just go with the water only.

As a kid, (here comes a childhood memory.) my grandma made the absolute best oatmeal that I have ever tasted. It was sweet, creamy, and addictive. I looked forward to her visiting me and also going down south to visit her, just to get grandma’s oatmeal. And, of course, her special hugs and love too. She had a special touch with food. I know she sure left an imprint on my heart and palate just thinking about her gift of cooking. I am so grateful that she passed the love of cooking on to me. She never wrote down recipes. All of her cooking was done by memory. Her cooking philosophy was: a dash of this, a dollop of that. Everything equated to preparing her food with memory precision and loads of love. 

I was always in awe of how my grandma loved being in the kitchen and making enough to feed unexpected relatives or friends who knew where to go to find a good meal. I may not make my oatmeal like my grandma’s, but I do cook everything with love. That is truly the key. Your gift makes room for you if you embrace it and enjoy what you are doing.  

I did not inherit Grandma’s impeccable cooking memory, because I rely on my food journals and recipe booklets, but I am generous to a fault, just like her when it comes down to feeding hungry family members and friends. I love making extras, just like Grandma. I am sure you will love this oatmeal. Add your own special touch. Eat it plain if you like it that way. Eat it with raisins, prunes, dates, cherries, berries, or whatever you choose. However you choose to eat your oatmeal, let it fill your heart with love, warmth, and comfort. Enjoy!