Peel and core apples and dice them. You can keep apples in big pieces if you like the bite of it in oatmeal.

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add diced apples along with cinnamon powder and dash of nutmeg and a dash of sea salt. Sauté for a few minutes until the apples begin to soften. Don't take it too far, apples will continue to cook with oats and become mushy in the oatmeal.

Add rolled oats to apple mix and sauté for a minute. This step is optional. I like to sauté oats before adding the liquid that helps bring out the flavor of oats. Add milk of your choice, and reduce heat to medium-low. Add vanilla extract, and another pinch of salt(optional) and cook by constantly stirring the oats until oats have soaked up all the liquid and turned creamy.

Once cooked turn off heat. Stir in maple syrup.

Transfer hot oatmeal to a serving bowl, add your favorite topping. I prefer apple cinnamon oatmeal topped with cinnamon apples and chopped pecans and an extra drizzle of maple syrup if needed. Serve immediately hot.