(This post/picture was originally published when I was pregnant with Heather!) Hanley & I love having our breakfast together on the couch either reading or watching a little something on TV.
At the start of every fall season I’m always repulsed by all that is pumpkin-spiced because I want the summer to last forever. And then…I get a craving for an apple and it’s all over. I dive head first into all the flavors of fall. I blow through warm spices like pumpkin spice, ground ginger, all spice, vanilla and cinnamon. I start baking butternut squashes, spaghetti squashes, and sweet potatoes on the regular. I eat at least 1-2 apples each day (heaven!). I begin incorporating puréed pumpkin into meals and baked goodies. And that’s what brings me to this post…
I need to get bone broth into my kid’s belly (and my own!). Cooking with it and making soups is easy, but they aren’t always on our daily menu. So in an effort to bring some fall-flavor into our morning oatmeal I have been blending organic pumpkin with bone broth, or even a sweet ripe pear or apple with some and then freezing into cubes. Sneaky! My cube tray measures out to 3 tablespoons per cube which is exactly what I need each morning to make our morning porridge. We both have NO idea its there, but it’s a nice easy way to get a little nourishing bone broth in first thing each morning.
Fall-flavored Bone Broth Cubes
1 BPA-free can organic pumpkin or cored ripe pear or peeled/cored apple
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 cup bone broth (check out my simple DIY bone broth here, or purchase organic, grass fed bone broth with few to no additives)
Whiz together bone broth and pumpkin spice with any of the above (pumpkin, pear or apple) and carefully pour into ice cube tray. Freeze.
Fall-flavored Morning Porridge
1/2 cup properly prepared rolled oats (*see notes)
1 – 2 fall-flavored frozen cubes
1/4 cup milk of your choice
1-2 tablespoons grass fed butter
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Raw honey, to your tasting
How to make it:
Simmer all ingredients (besides honey, you always want to add honey LAST to really hot stuff) for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through. If you did NOT properly prepare your oats, you’ll need to add more liquid and cooking time for your oats. Once cooked, drizzle honey over porridge and stir in your favorite add ins (like chopped nuts, fruit or dried fruits). Need more protein in the morning? **See notes below.
*To properly prepare your oats, all it takes is a little effort the night before. Spoon 1/2 cup rolled oats into small saucepan. Pour 1/2 cup water into pan with it. Add small splash of raw apple cider vinegar (or a good squeeze of fresh lemon) to the pan and swirl around. Cover. Next morning rinse your soaked oats off with cold water in a fine colander and return back to saucepan. Prepare your oatmeal as you normally would, just know that they will cook quicker now (hooray!). Why the heck do I need to do this? Check out why it’s important to soak your oats HERE.
**If you need this breakfast to be a bit heartier in protein, while oats are simmering scramble an egg or two on another stove burner with another hearty pat of butter and stir right into the porridge when they’re finished cooking.
***Please note you do NOT have to use these cubes just for oatmeal. You can easily use these to flavor up and boost nutrition to a smoothie!!!