Easy, yummy and healthy steel cut oatmeal recipe, that isn’t just for breakfast, a great way to start your day!
My love for Oats
I got my love of oats when I worked at PepsiCo – which of course owns Quaker Oats. We worked a lot – some of my best friends were found / made at Pepsi. ❤ We were building and installing SAP across all the plants (4 plus years!) and it was a BIG deal and we worked a LOT. (Did I say we worked a lot ?!).
Anyway, besides free soda – one of the things that you could always get as a snack in the break room was instant Quaker oatmeal. Needless to say, we ate a lot of instant oatmeal. (or, at least I did.) Now fast forward – healthy california gurl reading and learning about oats and finds out how healthy steel cut oats are – and wanting to make them yummy! I found if you make em’ with Milk and water – and then toss in some brown sugar and spices it is a delicious breakfast. (!)
Nutritional Value
I read an article today about how amazing the oats are this way. Low glycemic index, high in fibre, high in iron, complex carbs – helps you sustain energy – just tons of reasons to eat them. And besides, on a coooold winter day it provides comfort in your belly just like a warm hug.
Cost Effective
Did I mention how cost effective steel cut oats are ? if you buy them at the bulk bin at your local store they are super cheap. (which is of course, what I do!) If you need them to be gluten free – be sure you buy a package that notes that. It seems that oats are really susceptible to gluten cross contamination in processing – so you need to watch that if you have celiac or other intolerances.
Can’t teach an old dog new tricks
I was having such a love affair with these oats, it was fall (or should I say pumpkin spice season?), and I’d made more pumpkin spice and thought my Parents would LOVE this ! My dad LOVES pumpkin pie – so I thought this would be a fantastic surprise! I bought some oats, packaged up some of my homemade pumpkin spice and sent it all to them with DIRECTIONS. (Important to note, they are in their late 80’s…. ) My dad tried it, used only water, and declared them terrible. Well, ya, no sugar, no milk, no spice…. How in the world did I come from them? Dad still prefers his honey nut cheerios. WHAAAAaaaaa ? Never mind my P’s…. Try this !
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Equipment
- 1 Sauce Pot
Ingredients
- 1/2 C steel Cut Oats
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 C water
- 1 C milk (whatever you have)
- 1.5 tbsp brown sugar
- +++ spices of your choice. cinnamon / nutmeg / pumpkin / vanilla sugar
- +++ fruit of your choice blueberries / banana / apple
Instructions
- Bring the milk and the water to a healthy simmer. Be careful – you don't want to boil your milk…
- Once the liquid is simmering, add your steel cut oats and a sprinkle of salt. Continue to simmer / nearly low rolling boil for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and check on progress by sampling the oats.
- I typically want the consistency to be porridge like – creamy. I've learned NOT to cook it till no liquid is left – it's like polenta – it firms up after cooking – so I like to leave it a bit creamy…. Since it's steel cut there is still a bit of chew to the oats – which I like…
- After the oats are to your preferred consistency, serve and consider topping with the brown sugar, maybe some berries, maybe some vanilla sugar or homemade pumpkin pie spice? There are a lot of options and ways to mix up your healthy breakfast !