Healthy Slow Cooker Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. chopped oats
• 1 cup wild rice
• 0.5 cup pearl barley or spelt
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 0.5 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
• 2 strips of orange zest (10 cm each)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 3/4 tbsp. maple syrup
• 3/4 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
• Low-fat eggnog, for serving (optional)
• Special equipment: 6 liter slow cooker.

Preparation:

1. Spray the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add 12 cups of cold water, oats, rice, barley, salt, nutmeg, orange zest, and cinnamon stick. Stir to distribute evenly. Cover and simmer over low heat until the grains are tender but still firm, about 8 hours.
2. If desired, thin the porridge with hot water. Divide 1 cup of porridge into twelve warm bowls and top each serving with 1 tablespoon of cranberries, 1 tablespoon of pecans, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Drizzle with a small amount of eggnog, if using, and serve the porridge warm.