I had some pluots* getting a bit soft on the counter so I cooked them up and had them over my oatmeal. I try to do this as much as I can remember because the effort it requires is so minimal but the taste in my mouth is so outstanding—it always surprises me at how easy it is and just how good and fresh it tastes. Here's what I do: (Although it's a bit different each time depending on what my hands touch first.)
Serving 2 (or one very big serving)
- Cooked oatmeal for 2 (Rolled or cut oatmeal.)
- 2 pluots sliced (Or any other fruit. One apple is good, too.)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 cup orange juice (or water)
- wee bit of salt
- Grated nutmeg, not very much, like a pinch
- 1/8 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
First I start the oatmeal cooking. If it's a rolled kind, this is all done about the same time. If it's steel cut, I cook it first and then make the fruit topping in the last 5 minutes. I slice the pluots and set aside. Then in a sauce pan I add all the other ingredients (except the chopped nuts) and bring to a low boil, add the fruit, and stir it a bit until the fruit softens and the mixture thickens. It takes less than 5 minutes. That's it. I spoon it over the oatmeal, add a little milk and the chopped nuts.
It feels so special and fancy, but it's actually just a super easy and very tasty way to use up fruit. Double goodness. Baby loves it. The older girls are all still about the blueberries. They have to be frozen so they act as cooling agents on the oatmeal.
*or plucot, or plumcot, depending on your plum-apricot hybrid of choice.
And the little pitcher. I use these a ton, but they belong to the girls. They use them to add milk to oatmeal and soups, mac and cheese—anything that needs a little cooling off. They run to the table when they see them set out, so it's pretty rad. Baby can even use hers without spilling. I introduced these as a way to have better meals together. I am less fussy about when they come to the table to eat because I never have to add the milk to anything, they do, so it doesn't cool off too much or get soggy, in the case of syrup and pancakes. Also, they are pretty into their own portion control, understandably, so that takes care of that. I actually have been known to pack these pitchers—they are such a big part of our meals. I think I got them at Cost Plus. They are actually creamers for coffee. Just the right size so if they spill, there's not a ton to clean up.
Unrelated to oatmeal:
We are pretty crazy into the Girl's Little League Softball World Series, which is going on, live and in real life, less than 3 miles from where we live. It runs all day and evening until through wednesday. Under the lights, candy and snow cones, the girls are riveted. The joy it brings me to see them watch older girls (age 12-14) play in such a bad-ass way is priceless. The girls love it. Oregon played Latin America on friday. Asia Pacific was having a rough go, and we haven't seen Canada play yet. The uniforms have changed a bit since I played. I don't remember matching glitter headbands being standard issue. We always had the horrible foam hats. Oh, those were so awful.
