A cold morning and a ripe pear were the inspiration for this breakfast. In summer, I'm likely just to opt for the fruit on its own, since hot cereal doesn't hold that much appeal when it is muggy outside, but when the weather turns colder, I like to start my day off with hot food. Pear and Maple Oatmeal takes advantage of seasonal flavors, since maple syrup is often included in fall recipes, and is so delicious that it almost tastes like dessert. On top of that, it's incredibly easy to make in the microwave, which makes it an easy breakfast to whip up on a busy weekday morning.
The trick to this recipe, which is after the jump, is to add in half of the pear before cooking and half after. The pear that is cooked will become very tender and almost melt into the oatmeal. The rest of the pear will soften only slightly from the heat when it is added just before serving, adding a lovely texture to the cereal.
For one serving of Pear and Maple Oatmeal, peel and dice 1/2 of a large, ripe pear. Add half of the diced pear (1/4 of the total pear) into a microwave safe bowl and top with oatmeal, milk and/or water according to oatmeal directions (usually 1/2 cup oats and 1 cup water). Add in about 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and a few drops of almond extract, along with a pinch of salt. Microwave according to oatmeal directions until cereal is creamy and oats are tender (2-5 minutes, depending on type of oats). Stir in remaining diced pear, top with maple syrup and serve.
Recipe by Nicole Weston.
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