A warm, uplifting breakfast to energise and nourish. This combination is a fun variation of an ever-loved morning staple with a creative twist. With simple, nutritious ingredients this recipe is perfect to introduce to your mornings as winter transitions to spring.

Turning an ordinary dish into a surprising and tasteful morning favourite is a trusty vegetable we all know and love.

The carrot, rich in beta carotene, vitamins and plant compounds with powerful antioxidant properties, is a versatile root veggie that is a wonderful source of skin-loving, immune supporting and detoxifying nutrients.

Ingredients

Base:

• ½ cup oats (rinsed and soaked overnight)
• 1 small carrot (grated)
• ½ cup water or milk of choice
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Vanilla
• 1 tsp of natural sweetener (honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar)

Toppings:

• Small handful of pecans
• 1 date
• Hemp seeds
• Chia seeds
• Pumpkin seeds

Method:
Rinse the oats and soak in water overnight. Discard the water in the morning. Place the soaked oats and grated carrot into a saucepan with the water/milk and simmer on low heat. Add more water/milk as required.

Gently stir in a generous pinch each of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Add ¼ tsp of vanilla (vanilla bean powder, paste or extract will all work). Add 1 tsp of sweetener of choice. Measure with your heart.

Continue stirring for several minutes until desired consistency is reached. Remove from the heat and serve with chopped date, pecans and a sprinkling of seeds. Garnish with calendula petals, an extra drizzle of honey and dusting of cinnamon. Serves 1.

Notes:
The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it can be adapted in any way to your liking. No need to worry if you're not a fan of carrot, simply skip and enjoy without. Explore with different toppings of toasted seeds, nuts or granola and pair with natural dried figs, goji berries or other fruits. This winter-warmer is delightful when sweetened with dates, organic maple syrup, bee pollen or sweet local honey. Let your creativity and intuition guide you.

Enjoy!

Brooke Josland, Tama Wellness.