By Sharon Rus
STAFF WRITER

October, the month of falling leaves, scarves, flannels – and to the delight or dismay of many – pumpkin spice, is finally here. For all you pumpkin fanatics, keep reading. For all you pumpkin haters, also keep reading.

Oatmeal is a versatile dish that takes on the flavor that you give it. There’s no topping you can think of, pumpkin or otherwise, that won’t taste delicious with oatmeal. The secret is finding the fruits and nuts that you love the most. Until you find your perfect balance, here are some ideas to help spice up your palate.

Here’s what you’ll need for all three recipes:

1/2 cup of oatmeal (Steel cut or rolled)

1 cup of water or milk (including almond, soy or any other kind)

1 apple

1 handful of cashews, almonds or pumpkin seeds

1 pinch of cinnamon

1 pinch of pumpkin spice

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

1 handful of raisins

1 banana

1 spoonful of honey

Put one cup of water or your preferred type of milk in a small pot. Mix in a 1/2 cup of oatmeal and a handful of raisins. Cook it on high heat until it comes to a boil, and then lower the heat before turning the stove off. Rolled oats will cook quicker than steel cut. If you are using instant oatmeal, skip this step.

For all you pumpkin lovers, add a pinch of pumpkin spice combined with pumpkin seeds and a sliced banana. Top it off by drizzling honey on top of the oatmeal. You can also mix a spoonful of peanut butter into your oats. Then, spice it up with a pinch of cinnamon. Finish it off with a handful of almonds and some apple slices. Don’t forget to cut up the apples beforehand and cook them into your oats. Finally, mash the banana into the oatmeal and serve it with a scoop of peanut butter.

Get creative by mixing and matching flavors and fruit to make your perfect October treat.

There’s no better relief after a long day than a hot bowl of oatmeal. Here’s a fun fact – daily consumption of a bowl of oatmeal can lower cholesterol because of its soluble fiber content. So feel free to cook up this dish as often as you like. Oatmeal will keep you happy, healthy and hopefully help you to tackle those midterms.

Enjoy!