Nutrition Consultant & Workshops Northern Ireland

Porridge with cinnamon and poached pears

Soaking the oats overnight makes the porridge more creamy – the pears are delicious served as a dessert with a dollop of greek yoghurt. A fantastic breakfast for kick-starting your energy levels. The slow release carbohydrate from the oats and pears will keep your energy levels stable until lunchtime. Cinnamon can be useful in helping reduce blood sugar levels, blood fats and cholesterol.

serves 4

125 g porridge oats

500ml milk & 500ml water

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg - freshly grated

2 cloves

2 pears – peeled and cored

125 ml apple juice

1 piece of stem ginger – chopped finely

1 cinnamon stick

2 cloves

· add the milk & water to the porridge oats along with the spices

· cover and leave to soak overnight in the fridge

· pour the mixture into a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer, stirring until cooked

· serve with the pears and topped with the hazelnuts

for the pears

· place the pears into a small saucepan and cover with apple juice

· add the spices and the ginger

· simmer gently for about 10 minutes until tender

· remove the spices before serving with a little of the poaching liquid