Crock Pot Oatmeal

I have been reading about Steel Cut Oats and their nutritional benefit plus the different ways to prepare it. So I was anxious to try this new method out.

It required cooking in your crock pot over night while you slept so you would wake up to breakfast ready. I liked that idea, but wasn't sure if my new crock pot would handle it. I was afraid it might run too high even on low. So I made it during the day when I could keep an eye on it.

This is what you do.

Get an oven safe type bowl that will fit inside your crock pot.

Add 1 cup of steel cut oats and 4 cups water (or a combination of water and milk) into the inside bowl . Then set bowl into crock pot.

After bowl is placed into crock pot fill the inside of the crock pot with water (about to where the water is in your bowl works well.)

Put lid on and set tempurature to low for 8 hours.

I purchased this small 24 oz. canister of oats at Wal Mart for $3.78.

It was the only Steel Cut Oats they had and I am sure I paid too much. Can't wait to check out my other options. I am sure Costco must have some in bigger quanities.

I happen to make this on a day that I had to be somewhere right when it was due to be done. So I turned it off and ran to my appointment.

This is what I came home to at 10:00 that night. It had sat for 3 hours at this point and was still a little warm.  As you can see, It Worked!

It is amazing how much just ONE cup of oats will make.

So we made up 2 bowls for a late snack taste test, with raw sugar, milk and blueberries.

We really liked it!

The next morning I had another bowl, that I had to warm in the microwave.

This time I added milk, raw sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, a dash of vanilla and some pumpkin seeds.

Another winner!

I am so full !

Now I played with making this in a bowl set inside the crock pot. However, you can also just cook it directly in the crock pot itself without the extra bowl.

You could make a simple bowl of Oat Meal a MEAL simply by adding whatever was in season.

 Could you imagine some freshly sliced peaches, or apples or berries. Try nuts, peanut butter, chocolate chips or whatever your family loves. Set out several  small bowls filled with items they will love, to make their own creation. See, now you are having a fun family breakfast time together.

Try it, it will make you feel so healthy.

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HERE IS A LITTLE OAT HISTORY...

Oat Groats

Oat Groats - Whole grain of the oat, with only the outer hard husks removed, then toasted.

 

Steel Cut Oats

Steel Cut Oats or Irish Oats- These are groats which have been cut into two or three pieces. Cooking time is considerably longer than for rolled oats. Typical cooking time for Steel cut oats or Irish oatmeal is about 20 minutes.
Steel cut oats are bigger pieces of oatmeal.

Scottish Oatmeal

Scottish Oatmeal - is very similar to Steel Cut Oats, but are cut a lot more and much finer. They seem to cook much quicker, in about 5 minutes instead of 20.

Rolled Oats

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats - These are made by steaming the groats and flattening them with a roller.

Quick-cooking rolled oats -- These are made by flattening pre-cut groats. They cook in about 5 minutes.

Instant Oats- are usually packaged with salt and sugar.