I think you know, by now, my obsession with oatmeal. It’s my thing. It’s my mornings. Life without oatmeal would be devastating, dark, and very cold (especially in winter).

No matter where I’ve lived and traveled to in the world, oatmeal has been a part of my lifestyle – no matter what. Whether buying 8 giant bags of oats in bulk in Italy and hauling them up to my tiny little apartment (this happened monthly…maybe twice a month), and scouring out every market and grocery store in Thailand until I found them, or cooking them on an incredibly old AGA cooker in a family’s kitchen in Ireland, it’s always been me and the oats.

What I love about oats is their versatility; you can put anything on them and they still taste amazing. Not to mention, oats are an underrated and inexpensive superfood. Oats are packed with tons of good-for-you things like fiber, manganese, zinc, protein, and vitamin B1. Manganese is a superstar for our skin and is a key co-producer in making collagen, a protein that maintains elasticity and smoothness. Oats are also great for anyone with heart disease or diabetes, as they contain a special kind of fiber called beta-glucan, which has been proven to reduce cholesterol and lessen the risk of developing heart disease.

These oats are delicious and creamy, with jam that bursts with summery berry flavors. The bowl tasted like a fresh strawberry pie, straight out of the oven.

I couldn’t get enough. I needed more. I wanted to lick the bowl clean.

…Oh wait; I did lick the bowl clean.

Cardamom Oats with Strawberry Chia Jam

Serves 2, or makes 1 big bowl for a very hungry person…guilty

Strawberry Chia Jam:
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 T honey
1 T chia seeds
Dash of cinnamon

Oatmeal:
1 cup oats
2 cup almond milk, or other non-dairy milk
½ tsp ground cardamom
Pinch of sea salt

Start with making the chia jam. In a small saucepan on the stove combine strawberries, cinnamon, and honey. Cook strawberries over medium-high heat, stirring often until they break down. Use a fork or potato masher to mash them to a desired texture. Reduce heat to a simmer and add in chia seeds. Simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture begins to resemble a thick jam.

While the jam is simmering away, make your oats. In a small pot on the stove combine oats, salt, cardamom, and almond milk. Cook on medium-high heat stirring frequently, about 5-10 minutes.

Once oats and jam are completely cooked. Place oats in a bowl and top with strawberry jam. Stirring the two together makes a creamy, sweet bite that tastes like warm strawberry pie. Top with more fresh strawberries, pistachios, or toasted coconut if desired.