Hot cereal with blueberries and granola

A simple breakfast to inspire happiness on a cold winter morning.

Hot cereal has been a standby breakfast in our house this winter. Often on the weekends, I dress up the usual with a little something special. This morning’s selection was extraordinarily pleasing. The scent of vanilla, the burst of fresh berries, the crunch of granola and a side of cinnamon toast were all anchored by a mound of creamy, warm, seven-grain cereal.

Sometimes a good breakfast really can take your day and shove it off in the right direction. That is exactly what the aromas, textures, flavors and warmth from this meal did for me today. Mr. Whipped and Mini Whipped seemed equally enchanted. He bundled up and headed out to shovel the new fallen snow while the little one remained snug in her pink-striped footie jammies quietly playing with puzzles on the living room rug.

With the bright, white snow outside and Sunday morning sun streaming in our living room window, I took a half hour to escape into the travel section of the weekend Wall Street Journal. Over 8 months pregnant, with a toddler playing at my feet, this dreamy perusal of far off places can be tortuous. The cover photos promised a colorful weekend in Austin, Texas, a city they describe as “one, long Sunday afternoon.” *sigh* Honky-tonk dance halls, pork belly sliders, walls of colorful cowboy boots and moseying… lots and lots of moseying.

The truth is, I know my reality is its own dream in so many ways. A healthy family, wonderful friends, loving parents and jobs to support ourselves. Though I will keep dreaming of escapades to far off places, I am also still finding great satisfaction in a warm bowl of hot cereal.

Hot cereal with blueberries and granola
You can use your favorite hot cereal, just adjust cooking liquid according to package directions.

1 cup Bob’s Red Mill 7 Grain Cereal
1 cup milk
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh blueberries
Your favorite granola
Brown sugar, to taste
Splash of cream or milk

Put 1 cup milk, 2 cups water and salt in a pan and heat until nearly boiling. Add the cup of cereal and reduce heat and cover. Cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally until thickened. Stir in the vanilla. Put cereal in bowls and sprinkle with brown sugar, granola, blueberries and an extra splash of cream or milk.

I also made some cinnamon sugar toasts to eat alongside. Butter some good bread and sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Toast in the oven or toaster oven until crunchy.

Caroline Lubbers blogs at Whipped.

To see the original post, click here.

--------------------------------------------------------------
The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of food bloggers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by The Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own and they are responsible for the content of their blogs and their recipes. All readers are free to make ingredient substitutions to satisfy their dietary preferences, including not using wine (or substituting cooking wine) when a recipe calls for it. To contact us about a blogger, click here.