And so Jesse asks, “What food could possibly be both simple and delicious enough to kickstart my breakfast habit?” And so without hesitation I answer, “Oatmeal! Always oatmeal! Ever oatmeal! So quick to prepare! So infinitely customisable! So tasty and satisfying!”

Jesse, if you’re reading this, this oatmeal recipe is for you — and for all the rest of you too. May all your days be full and include a fabulous breakfast. Possibly oatmeal?

Simple Stove-top Oatmeal

Yield: 1–3 servings | Preparation time: 3–15 min | Cooking Time: 3–5 min

If you prefer a chunkier texture over a creamy one (as I do), I recommend jumbo rolled oats over the quick cooking kind. I use a mixture of milk and water (about 1 cup milk and 1½ cups water for every cup of oats). I like cashew milk best, but any milk will work just as well.

⅓ cup of (uncooked) oats is a perfect serving for me, but as much as a full cup may be appropriate, depending on your appetite. I prefer the texture of stove-top oatmeal, but this recipe can be prepared in a microwave with a similar cooking time if that suits you better. If doing so, use a large (microwave safe) bowl and a lower power setting to ensure your oatmeal doesn’t boil over.

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats

2½ cups liquid (dairy or non-dairy milk, water or a mixture of both)

Mix-Ins

3 tbsp raisins

3 tsp flax seeds

Toppings

Your choice of fresh fruit, chopped or sliced as necessary

A spoonful of nut butter

A sprinkling of nuts and / or seeds (optional)

A spoonful of honey or jam (optional)

Method

Into a medium pot, measure oats, water and / or milk. Add raisins and flax seeds. Bring oatmeal to a gentle simmer. Cook until thick and creamy, stirring frequently to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Transfer oatmeal to serving bowl(s). Top oatmeal with fresh fruit. Dollop on nut butter. If using, sprinkle on nuts and / or seeds, spoon on jam or drizzle on honey.

Variations

This is a very loose recipe, leaving lots of wiggle room for you to tailor it to your personal taste:

Replace (or supplement) mix-ins with other types of dried fruit, nuts or seeds. Dried apricots are particularly delicious.

Add spices before cooking — or dust with spices after cooking. Cinnamon is a classic, but there are many more worth considering.

Change up the toppings — lemon curd, nutella, maple syrup, stewed fruit (or rhubarb) are just a few that come to mind.

I heard from a trusted source (Jesse) that all good oatmeal recipes should end in a kung fu duel. Duel anyone?