Baked Oatmeal

• 2 cups rolled oats
  
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ¹/₂ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¹/₂ teaspoon fine-grain salt
• 2 cups milk
• ¹/₃ cup maple syrup
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 bananas, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 ¹/₂ cups blueberries or a mix of berries

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter the inside of a square 8-inch baking dish.
2. In a bowl, combine the oats, half of the walnuts, the baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, the milk, egg, half of the butter, and the vanilla.
4. Spread a single layer of bananas across the bottom of the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle about two-thirds of the berries on top. Cover all that with the oat mixture and then drizzle the milk mixture over the oats. Scatter the remaining berries and walnuts over the top.
5. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden and the oats are set. Let cool for a few minutes. Drizzle with the remaining melted butter and serve.  Recipe and photo by Heidi Swanson