courtesy of Kellie Strickland

Oatmeal is a favorite in our house, and not just for breakfast (oh yes, we’ve been known to eat it for lunch and dinner, too, now and again). But even though my gang never resists this healthy meal, it never hurts to jazz up the ordinary now and again, just to keep them on their toes. I decided to give our standard healthy breakfast a fall makeover.

Before adding the oats, I usually shred an entire apple into the boiling water along with raisins and cinnamon. This time, I had some apple left over so I decided to make a scarecrow face — something about the beige colors and rustic textures inspired me. This is my version, but obviously kids will have their own visions of what he should look like. I stuck with the basics of apples and craisins, but feel free to use whatever dried fruits and nuts you have on hand for

What You’ll Need:

1 cup water

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 apple

1/4 cup raisins

1 tsp cinnamon

2 craisins

To make oatmeal:

Pour 1c of water into a pot.  Core the apple and cut in half.  Shred half of the apple and put into the water.  Add raisins and cinnamon.  Bring to a boil.  Stir in oats. Cook about 5 minutes over medium heat or until thickened. Stir occasionally. Stir before serving.

To make scarecrow face:

Dish the cooked oatmeal into a bowl. Thinly slice remainder apple for hair and place accordingly.  Cut 2 raisins in half and use the 4 pieces as the stitching for the mouth. Place 2 craisins in the middle for his eyes. Serve with milk, brown sugar, and/or molasses.

Looking for more breakfast ideas? Check these out…

• Our most popular pancakes

• Breakfast pizzas

• Satisfying (and easy!) omelets

Categories: Kid Friendly | Tags: Breakfast and Brunch, Cereals, Heart Healthy, Oatmeal, Quick and Easy Dishes for Kids
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