Steel-cut oatmeal makes a warm and filling breakfast that provides dietary fiber. Give it a seasonal twist by adding antioxidant-rich fresh cranberries and orange segments. This oatmeal is lightly sweetened with honey, but feel free to substitute your favorite natural sweetener.

Yield: 2 servings

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup dry steel-cut oats
• 2 cups water
• Segments from ½ a medium orange
• ¼ cup fresh cranberries
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp orange zest
• ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Combine the oats and water in a medium saucepan. Heat on high until they boil, then reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. It will thicken, and the oats will become tender.
2. While the oatmeal cooks, combine the orange segments and cranberries in a small food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
3. Once the oatmeal is done cooking, stir in the oranges and cranberries. Remove from the heat and fold in the honey, orange zest, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Serve warm.

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.