With no apologies for my TWO MONTH ABSENCE in which I did TONS OF COOKING and even TOOK PICTURES but NEVER POSTED FOR YOU, I'm going to launch right in with a question: how is it that I've never told you about Crockpot Oatmeal?
Oh, I guess it turns out that I sort of did.
I have to tell you, though, I recently told some friends about the Crockpot Oatmeal and when I saw them a month later, they HUGGED ME. ABOUT THE OATMEAL. This is a true story. It's changed their lives (their words). I'm just saying.
And it's not hard to make. All you need is:
1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups liquid (water is perfectly fine, but sub in one cup of soymilk or ricemilk or what have you for extra flava), plus a bit extra
Spices and dried fruit to taste
A crockpot
Mix it all together, set the thing on low before you go to bed, and the next morning you will have a nourishing breakfast treat with an amazingly creamy, slightly chewy texture. I'm raving because I'm eating some right now. My current version used a cup of soymilk, a cup of spiced apple cider, two cups of water, a handful of dried apricots, a handful of currants, and a healthy dose of ground ginger. As god is your witness, you'll never go hungry again.
About every other day, I make a pot of steel cut oats for breakfast. I can't get enough of their creamy, chewy texture, which is so perfect with spices and dried fruit. They take awhile to cook, but they keep and reheat well, so you can make a bunch one day and have instant breakfast the next day. They are also good for you.
Delicious Oats
1 cup steel cut oats, not to be confused with rolled oats or quick oats
4 cups water
two or three handfuls of raisins, cranberries, or mixed and chopped dried fruit
1/4 t ground ginger
1/2 t cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
Combine oats and water in a pot and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add fruit and simmer 5-10 minutes more. Stir in spices and any sweetener you like, and serve topped with soy milk or yogurt or what have you.
You can also toast the oats in a little melted butter before you add the water. Or mix up the spices. Or add a teaspoon of vanilla at the end. Or sweeten with molasses.
I've also made this overnight in the crockpot, with the heat on low and about an extra cup of liquid and more fruit (dried apricots, specifically). It is divine. As are the grilled steel cut oats they serve at the Longfellow Grill with heavy cream and fruit compote.
