ah, the fruitless months. as my mother likes to call the time between when winter’s citrus fruits start to taste less than ideal and when the first berries of late spring and early summer start to make an appearance

when we lived in minnesota, this could go on for literal months. lasting not quite half a year but close enough to it that it could make you question whether winter’s grapfruit and summer’s raspberries had only ever been a dream. here in virginia it’s not quite as bad, with strawberries showing their juicy red faces several weeks earlier in the year. but still. here’s a little something to tide you over. with nearly the same ingredients as both a sweet berry crisp and a healthful bowl of oatmeal, this happy little breakfast, made from a handful of freezer berries and some oats, is simultaneously the dessert-for-breakfast you deserve during these trying times, and a way to let yourself feel like you’re making the most of the so-called most important meal of the day. either way, i hope you enjoy.

-kara

upside-down berry crisp oatmeal
makes 1 serving

ingredients

  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup mixed frozen berries
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup + more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon + more to taste

instructions

preheat the oven the 350 degrees F. spread the nuts out on a small baking sheet and toast until they just begin to smell toasty, about 4-5 minutes. set aside.

heat the berries in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. once they have completely thawed and start to break down and begin to bubble, reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer a few minutes until their juices have started to thicken. stir in the maple syrup and remove from heat. (note: the berry mixture can be made the night before and reheated in the morning, if desired)

meanwhile, make the oats. combine the salt and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. add the oats and reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until the water has been absorbed. stir in the cinnamon.

pour the oats into a bowl. top with the berries, the nuts, and more maple syrup and cinnamon if desired.