Pears with Brown Sugar Bourbon and Millet – Need to warm your soul on a chilly fall morning? This cozy, hearty, and healthy breakfast will put you in the right frame of mind to seize the day.
Life can be a hustle. The day-to-day responsibilities constantly seem to demand my attention and distract me from the priorities that I hold dearest to my heart. At the end of the day, I’m left feeling exhausted and stretched thin.
Some distractions are necessary and unavoidable. For example, performing well at my job and stocking the fridge. Others feel necessary, like saying “yes” to every favor others ask of me or burden they place on me.
The thing is, in the end, I get to choose whether I say “yes” or not.
You know… I have a boundaries problem. If you have a similar problem I’m guessing you understand the compulsion to say “yes.”
For me, it’s not so much out of the desire to please or gain approval, but it comes from a place of genuinely caring about the people in my life. If someone is struggling, I feel the need to fix their problem, save them, or sometimes just convert them to my point of view. It’s an unhealthy complex.
I think it developed from being a firstborn and growing up in a home where substance abuse was an issue. There’s a belief that “if I just do or say the right thing, then so-and-so will change or make better choices.”
What I’m learning is, more often than not, that’s not the case. There’s a difference between being empathetic and inappropriately taking on the burdens of others. The latter is unhelpful and doesn’t make you a better friend or loved one. Maybe the change needs to begin with me…
There’s a passage in the Bible that says “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” It would seem that I have some speck, or perhaps some log removing to do.
The stillness of early morning, before my 4-year-old releases his bright sunshine and energy throughout my home, affords me some precious time to enjoy a cup of coffee, some breakfast, and a little quiet self-reflection in order to work on some of that speck removal.
This cozy, hot cereal is the perfect accompaniment on a chilly October morning. The millet has a light, nutty flavor and the walnuts add a hearty crunch to the cereal. And who can go wrong with warm pears dripping with brown sugar, bourbon, and a little butter?
Why not make a bowl and share in some quiet introspection yourself?
- 1 C cooked millet
- 1 C 2% milk
- ½ tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 1½ Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp organic light brown sugar
- splash of bourbon
- 2 pears cut into bite-sized pieces
- ⅛ C walnuts
- Combine cooked millet*, 2% milk, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and slowly heat over low heat until it reaches scalding temperature, which is 180ºF. Basically, you'll be heating it until it's about to start simmering. If you see any signs of a simmer or a boil starting, immediately remove the pot from the heat. You can also heat the millet and milk in the microwave, on high, in a microwave safe bowl, in one minute increments until it's heated through.
- While the cereal is heating, prepare the brown sugar bourbon pear topping. Place butter and brown sugar in a pan over medium heat. Cook while stirring frequently until it begins to bubble, and then add a splash of bourbon. Simmer the bourbon for one minute while continuously stirring in order to cook the alcohol off. Finally, add the pears and the walnuts to the pan and continue heating until it returns to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
- Divide the hot millet between 2 bowls and serve topped with the brown sugar bourbon pears. Serve immediately.
If you like this recipe you may also enjoy…
Vanilla Hazelnut Granola with Strawberries
Apple Wheat Morning Muffins
All-Natural Irish Coffee Creamer
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
October 12, 2015 at 7:56 amWhat a wonderful bowlful of goodness! I love the combination of flavors. Cab;t wait to make the recipe. Thank you.
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:13 pmThanks Marisa!
Louisa [Living Lou] says
October 12, 2015 at 9:29 amThis looks like the perfect dish for fall! I love that you’re using millet here too, this needs to become more mainstream – it’s just a matter of time.
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:15 pmI totally agree! Millet is pretty fabulous. I love it’s nuttiness and how it kind of “pops” in your mouth.
Kathi @ Laughing Spatula says
October 12, 2015 at 2:32 pmYou had me at Bourbon! This looks so comforting and perfect. I have never had millet but it’s a great recipe to give it a try!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:16 pmBourbon cooked into things always gets me too… millet is pretty great and you should give it a go!
Tina Marie says
October 12, 2015 at 3:10 pmThis will warm the heart and the soul on a cold morning.
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:17 pmI love how hot cereals do that during the cold months.
Lucy says
October 12, 2015 at 4:13 pmWhat a beautiful post! I’m obsessed with millet and currently have a big bag in my pantry. I’m definitely going to try this!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:17 pmThanks Lucy, that’s so sweet. I have a big bag in my pantry too!… we’ve been eating it a lot lately.
adina says
October 13, 2015 at 1:13 pmThis sounds like a perfect breakfast, I love millet but am not using it often enough I think. I will love to try this with my canned pears, I have a lot of jars in the cellar. 🙂
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:19 pmMaking this with canned pears sounds lovely. I just love having jared items to extend the different fruit seasons!
Sarah says
October 13, 2015 at 4:16 pmAs always I enjoy reading your posts and seeing what you have to say. I feel like I am also a member of the yes-club, always wanting to care for and help others. As always I enjoy seeing what amazing food you come up with and I am not disappointed – these pictures look amazing and I’m sure it tastes even better than it looks!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:27 pmThanks for sharing Sarah. Us “yes-clubbers” need to stick together! Thanks for all of the kind compliments too.
Leslie @ Bessie Bakes says
October 13, 2015 at 7:57 pmI could definitely cozy up to this every morning! Thanks for sharing this beautiful recipe, and for sharing your personal struggles too. Saying no can be hard, but sometimes there is only so much we can do for others before we have to step back and do for ourselves:)
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:32 pmI agree. There’s an art in deciding what to say “yes” or “no” to! I’m a visiting nurse by day and I’m always telling the caregivers of my patients the importance of taking care of themselves. If a person wants to be helpful to others they need to take care and energize themselves first!
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says
October 14, 2015 at 5:02 pmseriously looks like the perfect fall breakfast on a chilly morning! Ive never ever tried millet, but I really need to after seeing this recipe!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:32 pmThanks Bethany. Millet is definitely work a go!
Whitney @ That Square Plate says
October 16, 2015 at 12:09 amLove your writing! and the breakfast looks absolutely AMAZING. Brown sugar is a weakness of mine and bourbon is a beautiful thing!!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:34 pmThanks Whitney! I was recently feeling frustrated with my writing, so that means a lot! And yeah… brown sugar and bourbon…this recipe was developed in a moment of weakness when I was overcome by my sweet tooth.
Paige @ Where Latin Meets Lagniappe says
October 16, 2015 at 5:17 pmWhat a lovely post! I also have a very active four year old (my youngest of 3) and my morning quiet time is essential 🙂 Perfect way to start the day with this amazing millet 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:35 pmYou must have such a busy household! Kids are such a blessing, but boy can they tire their mamas out!
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
October 17, 2015 at 12:56 pmA lovely breakfast recipe – I do love variations on porridge with different grains.
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:36 pmAgreed… I’m a big fan of oatmeal, but it’s fun to switch things up from time-to-time!
CiaoFlorentina says
October 18, 2015 at 4:18 pmOh wow I’m all about this. Pears are my favorite fruit in the fall , what a lovely way to use them.
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:37 pmPears are awesome! I feel like with all the pumpkin and apple recipes floating around right now that the pour pear hasn’t gotten enough attention!
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
October 19, 2015 at 7:53 pmI’ve been wanting to try millet, this sounds like the perfect recipe to give it a go, it looks delicious!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:38 pmThanks Joy. If you give it a go, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
[email protected] says
October 19, 2015 at 8:46 pmWhat a comforting breakfast recipe. I love working with millets. They are comfort food for me.
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:39 pmThanks Deepika. It really is a comforting grain. I love it al dente like in this recipe, or cooked a little longer and soft and creamy.
Diane says
October 20, 2015 at 12:59 pmThank you Rachel for a glimpse into your inner world. A thoughtful, introspective post with a unique, delicious sounding breakfast. Millet is a grain I enjoy, I just never thought about eating it for breakfast! This looks yummy!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:40 pmThanks Diane! The nuttiness of millet work out perfectly for breakfast when fruit and milk are added!
dixy @ food, pleasure, and health says
October 20, 2015 at 1:57 pmwhy have i not tried this yet?
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:41 pmIt you give it try, let me know how it turn out!
Platter Talk says
October 20, 2015 at 1:57 pmWe have been savoring our fall pears; this looks like the next thing to go on our list; great job with this recipe!
Rachel says
October 20, 2015 at 6:42 pmI love fall pears, but I ate all of mine! I guess it’s time to go shopping!
Heather says
October 21, 2015 at 9:55 pmPears and brown sugar are perfection on their own … throw in the bourbon and now we have a party!! Excellent recipe!!!
Oana @AdoreFoods says
October 22, 2015 at 9:44 amNow, this is the perfect fall breakfast on a chilly morning! Looks really good
Molly Kumar says
October 25, 2015 at 6:56 pmIf breakfast looked this good, I can have them everyday 🙂 Delicious!