Confession: I ate most of the apple slices while the oats were cooking.  They were so chewy and candylike, I just couldn’t resist.

This is probably the fanciest oatmeal I’ve ever had.  What’s yours?

Vanilla Oatmeal with Honeyed Apples
(adapted from donna hay thx to after apple picking)
Serves 2.

2 apples, thinly sliced
2 TB honey + more to sweeten
1 c. milk
1/2 a vanilla bean
1 c. rolled oats
1 c. water
a pinch of salt

Get a skillet nice and hot.  Brush it with a little butter, then add the apple slices.  Cook for 1 minute on each side.  Add the honey and cook for another minute or two, or until caramelized.  Try not to eat them all before the oats are done. 

Scrape the vanilla bean seeds and squeeze a little honey into the milk.  Reserve a few spoonfuls of the milk for finishing, then add the rest to a pot with the water, oats, and pinch of salt.  Bring to a boil and simmer until oats are done to your liking, about 5 minutes.

Top with the vanilla milk and apple slices.  Sweeten to taste.