nuts and berries breakfast

Last summer, I was at a loss of what to have for breakfast. The suffocating heat of the city made me feel sick after eating almost anything that wasn't frozen or chilled. Yogurt gets boring after a while, and with so much delicious produce everywhere at great prices, I yearned for something that would be cool and full of fruit to start my mornings off right.

I came up with this recipe for "fruit cereal" one morning when I had run out of cereal and granola but really wanted something like cereal. The best part of this recipe is that it is incredibly simple, healthy, versatile and quick to make. You can get really creative with ingredients, changing fruits, nuts, and dried fruits, and even granola oats to alter the taste with the seasons. The basic recipe is as follows, but try it with different ingredients depending on your tastes and the seasonal availability of fruit. I like to have three kinds of fruit: a banana, a crispy fruit (a pomaceous or stone fruit), and a "garnish" fruit (berries or kiwi). Be mindful that acidic fruits don't work well because they make the milk curdle. I like to use Almond Milk, but you can also adjust the milk you use to your preferences.


FRUIT CEREAL

Serves 1

Put all ingredients in a small breakfast bowl. Pour milk over. Grab a big spoon and enjoy right away.

Spring and Summer

1/2 (or 1 small) banana, in large slices
1/2 peach / nectarine / plum, in bite-sized cuts
Handful of strawberry slices / blackberries / raspberries / blueberries / kiwi slices
Walnut bits / almond bits, as garnish
Dried apple bits, as garnish


Fall

1/2 (or 1 small) banana, in large slices
1/2 pear, in bite-sized cuts
Handful of late autumn berries / kiwi slices
Walnut bits / almond bits, as garnish
Raisins /dried cranberries as garnish


Winter

To make this meal hearty for winter, bake one half of an apple at 350◦ until fruit becomes tender to the touch. Cut into bite-sized pieces and add to bowl with warmed milk.

1/2 apple, in bite-sized bits
Walnut bits / almond bits / granola, as garnish
Raisins, as garnish
Cinnamon