Creamy Mixed Berry Oatmeal

Part of my job is to share with you all of the varieties of food holidays and give you some recipe inspiration to celebrate. Now I can’t possibly share each and every holiday with you, because there are so many, but I will share some of my favorites. October 29th is National Oatmeal Day and I was going to bring cookies or bars, but I decided to do a good old fashioned bowl of oatmeal and add a few custom twists to make it unique.

The first thing I did was add lots of different berries from Driscoll’s. You may remember that I do love my berries, a few months back I made a luscious bundt cake with ALL the berries too! Berries are low in calories, high in fiber and contain vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function normally. Having just one serving of strawberries may improve heart health, lower the risk of developing some cancers and lowers blood pressure. Blueberries are considered one of the best stress-busting foods due to the high amount of antioxidant and vitamin C content. It’s one of my favorite berries and I love to add it to multi-grain cereals. I think berries are a great addition to oatmeal too, oatmeal is also high in fiber and offers many cardiovascular benefits like reducing the risk of high blood pressure. It also induces the brain to increase production of seratonin, which keeps anxiety and stress away. Oatmeal is also rich in protein, which also allows you to feel fuller and it’s so comforting, especially during the colder season.

My husband loves oatmeal. He makes a pot of oatmeal a few times a week and he add milk, butter and sugar to it. It’s such a comfort food for him, especially eating it that way, but I prefer to add fruits and seasonings to add to the flavor. I did add some butter and brown sugar to this combination, but used almond milk instead of plain and decided to add some honey and mascarpone cheese for a nice rich and creamy taste. If you’re not familiar with mascarpone, it’s an italian cheese similar to cream cheese without the thickness. It’s a mild flavored cheese that adds just the right amount of creamy richness to something like oatmeal. During the cold season I also try to add honey to everything because of the health benefits and because I have bad seasonal allergies. I find that purchasing local honey helps reduce my symptoms and it tastes great with so many things.

This creamy mixed berry oatmeal is a great way to start your day. It has all the right nutrients and plenty of flavor to please your tastebuds and keep your tummy satisfied.

Creamy Mixed Berry Oatmeal Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• dash of salt
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/2 tablespoon natural butter
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
• 5-6 blueberries
• 3 raspberries, quartered
• 3 blackberries, quartered
• 1-2 teaspoons mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon honey or agave
• dash of cinnamon

Directions:

Begin by preparing the oatmeal as directed. Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the oats and lower heat to medium. Stir them in and let cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the oats are cooked to the desired consistency, remove from heat and stir in the butter, almond milk and brown sugar.

Stir in most of the berries, then transfer the oatmeal to a serving bowl.

Top with softened mascarpone, honey and a dash of cinnamon.

Sprinkle the remaining berries on top.

Enjoy!

#BerryNOats

How do you like your oatmeal?