Pumpkin Earl Grey Oatmeal

Yep, another earl grey recipe. What can I say? It adds a nice touch. It’s almost like vanilla extract: it adds just a hint of somethin’ somethin’ that makes everything else taste better.

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp earl grey tea leaves

• 3/4 cup milk of choice, or water*
• 1/4 cup quick-cook steel cut oats*
• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp Earl Grey Simple Syrup
• pinch of salt

How to make it:

1. 1. In a small saucepan, bring water to boil. Add sugar and stir until dissolved completely.
   2. Remove from heat and add earl grey tea leaves.
   3. Allow to steep. When cooled, strain out tea leaves and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.

1. Bring milk (I use 1/2 c almond milk and 1/4 c water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium.
2. After a couple minutes, stir in your pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, Earl Grey Simple Syrup, and salt. Stir occasionally.
3. If desired, add more simple syrup to taste.
4. When you’re pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Add a splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (nuts, coconut, dried fruit, etc.).

Just an FYI:

In previous earl grey recipes (like Earl Grey Zucchini Oatmeal with Chocolate Hazelnut Butter), I brewed the earl grey tea in the saucepan before adding oatmeal. This time, I tried a slightly different approach: simple syrup.

To be honest, I’m having a slight obsession with making my own infused simple syrups lately. It’s super simple. You do one part sugar and one part water, and then you can add any extra ingredient you want to infuse the syrup with.

I’ve done lavender and earl grey tea so far, but I also have dreams to use chili peppers, black pepper, cardamom pods, chamomile buds, basil, and rosemary. It’s fun for making cocktails or homemade soda. (Lavender soda? Yes.)

I happened to already have the earl grey simple syrup made from earlier, and this recipe came together in five quick minutes. However, the simple syrup itself is one of the quickest, easiest things to make, and it has so many uses.

Random Recommendations:

• [reads] my article “Signs Your Need for Control Is Ruining Your Relationships” via Healthination
• [tunes] this gorgeous piano medley of the La La Land soundtrack.