Oatmeal is easily the most humble of breakfast dishes, and let’s be honest, we have all had gluey, bland oatmeal and lived to regret it. True, stovetop oatmeal is an affordable breakfast staple around here, ranking high on the list of my kids’ favorites.

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup raisins

1 apple, diced (leave the peel on if you want)

2 T maple syrup (the real stuff)

A generous dash of cinnamon

A pinch of salt

4 cups water

1 cup milk

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and set to medium-low heat for about twenty minutes, depending on the temperature of your water and milk. You’ll want to be stirring occasionally, and the mixture should never come to a full boil. Stop the cooking when the oatmeal still looks a little wet, take it off the heat, and let it sit for ten more minutes before serving. This batch makes six servings and can be kept in the fridge for another day or two.