Pumpkin Creme Oatmeal

vegan, serves 4-5 (I like to fridge or even freeze any leftovers for re-heating)
*Prepare 4-5 servings of oatmeal anyway you like
Once oatmeal is cooked and fluffy, fold the following ingredients into the oatmeal:

Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin puree (cook your CSA pie pumpkin until soft in the oven ahead of time)
1/2 cup apple sauce (helps to sweeten naturally - sub with mashed banana or favorite sweetener)
1-3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1-3 Tbsp flax seeds
1/2 cup mixed nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts..)
sweeten to taste (maple or agave syrup, organic sugar, your choice)
non-dairy milk to loosen oats (about 3/4 cup added for me)
vegan buttery spread (as desired)

Serving - Add over top:
1/2 cup Pumpkin Cream per bowl of oats (more/less)

Garnish:
1 Tbsp chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp flax seeds
1 tsp vegan omega oil blend (Vega used)
or splash of brain boost Silk soy milk
1/2 tsp vegan buttery spread

Pumpkin Cream:
3/4 cup cooked and pureed pumpkin or squash
1/2 cup soy milk (add more based on how thick or thin you'd like it)
1 Tbsp vegan buttery spread or virgin coconut oil + pinch of salt
dash of pumpkin pie spice
sweeten to taste (1-2 Tbsp maple or agave syrup)

Directions:
1. Bring your water to boiling in a large pot. Add in the steel cut oats, salt, spices and rolled oats. Bring to boiling and cover with lid. Reduce to a simmer and cook until tender - usually 35 minutes or so.
2. When oats are cooked, remove lid and stir in the fold in ingredients. Continue simmering on very low heat to make sure everything melts together nicely.
3. Blend your pumpkin cream in a blender. I advise you to sweeten and salt to taste. You want a rich buttery flavor, mildly sweet. Remember you can always drizzle more maple or agave syrup over top - or add some raw or organic brown sugar to sweeten.
4. To serve, scoop the oats in a bowl and carve a little donut hole in center. Pour a nice puddle of the pumpkin cream in the hole. The hole oats should warm the cream just enough. Add as much pumpkin cream as you like and garnish as desired as well.