Warm Spiced Cranberry Oatmeal

I love cranberries, they're high in vitamin C, and have antioxidant and antibacterial effects in the body.

I decided to make an oatmeal dish which is simply delicious. It's soft, gooey and sweet and will fulfil you up until lunch. When I have cranberries, I instantly think of nutmeg and Christmassy spices, so I decided to add these to the recipe. As you cook the oatmeal infused with spices, you can instantly smell that seasonal sensation which percolates around the house. The best thing about oatmeal is that it does mix well with so many things and being a peanut butter lover, why not dollop a teaspoon on top to satisfy your peanut craving?!

Serves 1

40g oatmeal

50ml (whole/semi skimmed) milk 

100ml water 

30g cranberries

 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

pinch of salt 

Method

- Place all the ingredients into a pan and stir continuously for about 8 minutes until thick and sticky. If too thick, add another 50ml of water and stir.

- When it comes to the spices, I suggest you start with a little, taste and add more according to your level of satisfaction. I like to add enough to give it a kick which is not too overpowering. 

- Serve with a sprinkle of cranberries on top

Have a lovely day!

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

 This delicious recipe was inspired by the Oh She Glows blog. I love oatmeal, but it can taste quite bland if you don't add anything to it. This recipe is dreamy in both summer and winter months. The secret to this recipe is the partially caramelised bananas which give the oatmeal a flavoursome kick. 

The outcome is a delicious bowl of creamy bowl of oats, sweetened by the banana and intensified with the nutmeg, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. For those of you with a sweet tooth, try drizzling some maple syrup over the top. 

I don't like to add too much spice as it can be a little overpowering. However, it is possible to add more depending on your desired taste! On the Oh She Glows blog, almond milk, coconut milk and chai seeds are used as healthy alternatives, but they aren't ingredients most of us tend have in our houses.  I therefore used simple ingredients, to make it a little more suiting to everybody.

Serves 1 

40g oatmeal

50ml/ 2fl.oz semi skimmel/whole milk

50ml/  2fl. oz cold water 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1 banana

Tiny knob of butter

- Place the tiny knob of butter into a pan, add half a chopped banana and allow to partially caramelise for about 4 minutes.

-Put the oatmeal, spices, milk and water into a pan, allow to simmer for 8-10 minutes and stir often. Take the off the heat and stir in the caramelised bananas and vanilla extract. 

- Put the remaining banana on top and personalise. I like to add more cinnamon but you could add more nutmeg, pure maple syrup or peanut butter - whatever takes your fancy.

Enjoy and have a lovely day!