Black Forest Oatmeal with Toasted Almonds

Black Forest Oatmeal with Toasted Almonds
from USA Weekend
This is very chocolaty and tastes more like a dessert than a breakfast. I also used regular chocolate milk instead of soymilk and did not toast my almonds.

While the oatmeal cooks, toast the almonds in a small skillet over medium-low heat, shaking it occasionally, until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. You can substitute light chocolate soymilk, but I prefer the flavor of regular chocolate soymilk.

# 3½ cups chocolate soymilk

# 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

# 1 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa

# Pinch salt ( I used 1/2 tsp.)
# 2/3 cup dried cherries (or cherry-flavored cranberries), coarsely chopped
# ¼ tsp. almond extract
# ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds

Bring milk, oatmeal, cocoa, salt and cherries to simmer in a large saucepan or 5- to 6- quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, to desired thickness, about 5 minutes. Stir in almond extract and serve immediately, sprinkling each portion with nuts.

YIELD: 4 SERVINGS
Per serving: 406 calories, 67 g carbohydrates, 13 g protein, 10 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 7 g dietary fiber, 114 mg sodium