The cooler morning temperatures have arrived and fall is definitely here. It’s funny how the body adapts and I’m noticing that I’m already craving more substantial and warm comfort foods. While I wish I could solely live on the ultimate comfort food (mac and cheese and/or grilled cheese with tomato soup), it’s sadly not at all realistic. So, I’ve put my healthy thinking cap on and am trying to figure out ways to fuel my body as the degrees drop.

One of the perfect kitchen tools that will help me through fall and winter is definitely my new Hamilton Beach rice cooker. The great thing about this appliance is that it not only cooks rice, but also a variety of grains like quinoa, cous cous and oatmeal. AND, it doubles as a vegetable steamer and can even steam some fish if you’d so like (not this veggie girl here though).

Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker

Obviously being Indian, the rice cooking portion is going to be a godsend and part of my weekly cooking routine. But, for this post I thought I would try making something other than rice as an experiment. I decided to see how the rice cooker did with oatmeal, since I’ve never made oatmeal in a rice cooker before.

Getting Ready To Make Some Oatmeal

And, it worked like a charm! You can even set the timer so that it cooks up at your desired time when you wake in the morning or while you are finishing up your morning routine.

I created a little Indian twist on my oatmeal and added some cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, brown sugar and crushed roasted almonds. It was so perfect and the best breakfast after my morning spin class. I think next time I will add some raisins for a little added sweetness.

My Indian Twist On Oatmeal

And, because there was plenty of oatmeal to go around, I used it for the next few days in my smoothies, which was a great addition.

The Hamilton Beach rice cooker is perfect for anyone looking for healthy, hot meals, and I think it’s especially great for a family since it can make large quantities (4-20 cups). It’s a wonderful addition to your kitchen and the best for those healthy comfort meals as the cold weather sets in.

Please Note: While I was provided with this product, all opinions are my own.