Banana Bread Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 3 cups nonfat milk or soymilk
• 3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
• 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• 2-3 tablespoons coarsely chopped toasted pecans (see tip)
• nonfat vanilla yogurt or soy yogurt (optional)
• banana, slices (optional)
• pecan halves (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   In medium saucepan, bring milk (or soy milk), brown sugar, spices and salt to a gentle boil (watch carefully); stir in oats.

2. 2

   Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium.

3. 3

   Cook 1 minute for quick oats, 5 minutes for old fashioned oats, or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.

4. 4

   Remove oatmeal from heat.

5. 5

   Stir in mashed bananas and pecans.

6. 6

   Spoon oatmeal into six cereal bowls.

7. 7

   Top with yogurt (or soy yogurt), sliced bananas and pecan halves, if desired.

8. 8

   Tip: To toast pecans, spread evenly in shallow baking pan.

9. 9

   Bake at 350°F 5 to 7 minutes or until light golden brown.

10. 10

    Or, spread nuts evenly on microwave-safe plate.

11. 11

    Microwave on HIGH 1 minute; stir.

12. 12

    Continue to microwave on HIGH, checking every 30 seconds, until nuts are fragrant and brown.