Although this isn’t anything new for me (or for most of you bloggers for that matter), I thought I’d post how I make my variation on the ever-popular “Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal“… Even though the temperature is in the 70′s (what happened to the Fall weather we had last week?!  I’m not complaining though…), I still felt like having an autumn-like breakfast today…

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (unsweetened)
• 1 heaping tbsp sliced almonds
• TONS of cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground flax
• splash of vanilla extract
• drizzle of maple syrup

DIRECTIONS:

• Over a stovetop, pour oats and 1/2 cup of water, stirring over medium to high heat (you can duplicate this in the microwave as well)
• When water begins evaporating and oatmeal reaches desired consistency, add in pumpkin stirring well until heated through
• Pour in liberal amounts of cinnamon, stirring well (I feel that cinnamon in oats tastes MUCH better if it is cooked and NOT sprinkled on AFTER cooking)
• Add splash of vanilla extract, stirring well (again )
• Remove from stove and pour into bowl
• Drizzle with maple syrup (optional) and top with sliced almonds and ground flax
• Enjoy your fall-in-a-bowl oats!