the quest for the perfect easy bowl of oatmeal

[bmccasland]

Not too long ago was a thread about cooking oatmeal. Me, being a biologist and all, had to contuct a scientific experiment.... This was in the name of science afterall.
The oats - steel cut, what else?
Methods of cooking: traditional simmer on the stove, crockpot (and I have to get those liners for my non-removal crock), and boil/let sit.

Simmer on the stove - you have to stir it, otherwise it burns which is Not Good. Stir - labor intensive. Low simmer and ignore - burned.

Crock pot - follow the recipe, add dried fruit to satisfaction, cook on low overnight. Result: creamy oats, really soft fruit. I happen to like the nutty texture of steel oats, and this did get somewhat creamy. But not like rolled oats. If you're cooking for a family - this would be my method of choice. Hot oats for all in the morning, little fuss.

Bring to boil, cover, and let sit overnight. I really like this one. Of course the oats are cold in the morning, so you have to portion out and reheat in the microwave. I put in dried fruit when I brought the whole thing to a boil, and the fruit didn't get real soft. Also the pot is easier to clean than if I did the simmer and stir method.

Preferred method after this highly scientific experiment: bring to boil, cover, and sit overnight.

Bonne Appetite!

[Dianyla]

There's yet another option to try. I've done this when camping.

Soak steel-cut oats overnight in water, then cook in the morning.

[hellosunshine]

ashamed to say i microwave.time is money when youre self employed!

[bcipam]

Funny Oatmeal story...

A number of years ago I was on a Backroads Camping trip. 6 days riding through Oregon. On the 5th day, after sleeping 6 nights on the ground, I was in a mood. Tired, sore and just down right grumpy.

The offering that morning was oatmeal. Just not my favorite and worse yet, no milk, or sugar to make it better. They offered some raisins thats it. UGH.

All the way back to the picnic bench I was grumbling about this stupid bowl of oatmeal. As I was sitting down on the bench, between two other cyclists, the 3 people on the other side got up, as I sat, the bench started to tip over. The people on either side of me were able to bail. Being in the middle and holding a bowl of oatmeal, I could not. The table continued over sideways, the bowl ended up flying up in the air and as I landed on my back with a big "THUMP" the oatmeal came down and landed right in my crotch! I'm sure it was a pretty site to behold. The other riders got quite a laugh. Ha Ha on me. :(

Anyway that was an omen for the day. That was my last pair of clean shorts and I had to wash them out and wear them wet to start the ride (the day started out 40 degrees BTW). Within an hour of starting I got a flat and had difficulty patching the tube (I was out of spares), and later that day, in a race to catch up to the other riders, I had an encounter with some railroad tracks and had a serious accident... so as you can see...

I don't do OATMEAL! :mad:

[margo49]

Soak overnight in cold water
Then simmer a minute or two
Never microwave - it desroys something I am sure
And most important - salt not sugar (Scottish background)

[spokewench]

I have German Mennonite background and we never added sugar either (I still dont)

[MomOnBike]

My oatmeal recipie is as easy as I can make it for my really-stupid-in-the-mornings self.

Pour boiling water over thick oats and nuke 'til done. (The water is left over from making tea)

Brown sugar and 1/2 tsp butter are all that is needed, though a few pecan bits are always nice.

[Rai Sue]

I'm curious. I've always gotten rolled oats (right now I actually prefer the Bob's Red Mill 5 grain rolled hot cereal), and they cook a lot faster and are (to me) a nicer texture.

Recently my mother (I'm temporarily back living w/my parents) switched to my kind from steel-cut, because hers took 40 minutes to cook! Also, the steel cut ones were not optimal for baking with, we sadly discovered a loaf of persimmon bread later.

So, why are steel cut preferred? Is it just tradition?

[spokewench]

I like them cause they have a little more flavor (nuttier) and they are not so mushy!

[SouthernBelle]

I'm curious. I've always gotten rolled oats (right now I actually prefer the Bob's Red Mill 5 grain rolled hot cereal), and they cook a lot faster and are (to me) a nicer texture.

Recently my mother (I'm temporarily back living w/my parents) switched to my kind from steel-cut, because hers took 40 minutes to cook! Also, the steel cut ones were not optimal for baking with, we sadly discovered a loaf of persimmon bread later.

So, why are steel cut preferred? Is it just tradition?

Steel cut oats are less refined. Generally speaking, the longer the cooking time, the less refined. Less refined means more fiber in the case of oats. So steel-cut=best, rolled=good, instant=don't bother.

HTH,

[Rai Sue]

Thanks for explaining.

i gotta admit I like the rolled style better, though. And convenience wins out for camping and bike-touring--I think I will probably settle for instant when cooking outdoors.

My favorite additions? Butter (salty) and dried cranberries (sweet and tart!)

RS

[Aint Doody]

Easiest--uncooked with walnuts and blueberries (fresh or frozen) and fat-free vanilla yogurt. Sticks with you, but it's not exactly a warm breakfast.

[Geonz]

What does steel cut mean, anyway? Or Rolled? (and does that mean instant has been put through my lawn mower and mulched:)?)

[Dianyla]

What does steel cut mean, anyway? Or Rolled? (and does that mean instant has been put through my lawn mower and mulched:)?)
Steel cut oats have been chopped coarsely with a metal blade. When you look at them, you can see the little oat grains whacked into bits.

Rolled oats have been flattened, as if by a steamroller or like a penny put on a railroad track.

Now, I'm not totally sure about instant. I think it means pulverized + high fructose corn syrup. :rolleyes:

[equus123]

I'm just a big fan of the Quick 1-minute Quaker Oats 1/2 cup + 3/4 cup Skim Plus milk on the stove. I like to just heat the milk up quickly - as soon as its about to foam over the top of the pot, dump the oats in and cook it for a minute. When its done and I put it in a bowl, I just cover the top of the oatmeal with honey.

As for the cleanup - when I'm done eating, enough time should have passed for the pot to cool. I put the pot, spoon, and bowl into the sink and soak it in soapy water until I come home from work. By the time it soaks - everything comes off instantly! :D

[equus123]

Easiest--uncooked with walnuts and blueberries (fresh or frozen) and fat-free vanilla yogurt. Sticks with you, but it's not exactly a warm breakfast.

Yours isn't warm...mine isn't oatmeal....

But I really love Grape Nuts in Dannon Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt - delish!!

[mimitabby]

we use "original" quaker oats and they are always a big hit. we like to add dried fruit or fresh fruit and chopped nuts to it.

We add milk and brown sugar, DH must have cinnamon.

It never really seems to take that long to cook, while it's cooking I'm cleaning up other messes in the kitchen anyway.
Bmccasland, thanks for doing the experiment. Crock pot cooking of oats seems like way too much work for me!

[five one]

we use "original" quaker oats and they are always a big hit. we like to add dried fruit or fresh fruit and chopped nuts to it.

I use Safeway's version of oats labeled "old fashioned". Same as Quaker "original" I'm sure. I have some hand made deep bowls, so I put together 1/2 c. oats, 1 c. water, a pinch of salt, and dried fruit du jour. Usually cranberries or blueberries. Zap in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes on high, then let it sit covered for 3-5 minutes. Add brown sugar or honey. Yummy. And no pot to clean :D. But the bowl has to be deep enough so that the oatmeal won't boil over.

In the summer I put it together the night before using vanilla soy milk rather than water. Refrigerate and eat it cold and uncooked in the morning.

Getting hungry. Must find lunch.

[Tuckervill]

I use Quaker 1-Minute oats. Boil water for tea. Put oatmeal in a bowl with the raisins and walnuts and brown sugar. Pour my cup and then poor water over the oatmeal until it looks right. Stir and eat. No messy pot.

But just *today* I heard someone talking about Irish oatmeal on XM, so I bought some and I'm going to try them tomorrow.

Karen

[java]

If I'm in a hurry I use instant. Slice up a banana, put it in the bowl, dump the instant over the banana and add boiling water. Top with a little soy milk and I'm good to go.

If I"m not in a hurry though, I prefer steel cut.

[Barb]

Don't know what it is about my grocery stores, but I can't find anything but quaker or store brand. I really wanna try some steel cut, but can't find it. Give me some brand names please? Maybe I can call some whole food stores and check it out. Unfortunately our whole food stores + $$$$ :o

BTW..I'm baack! Fisrt post in ages!

[Tuckervill]

Barb, I live in Wal-Mart land (the real one--near Bentonville, AR), so no one within 30 miles has steel cut oats (although Wal-Mart's organic and "not found in Arkansas" selection is growing--I can get cous-cous, now, but not capers in my local Wal-Mart). But I happened to be in funky Fayetteville when I found steel cut oats--in the little health food boutique section of the grocery store closest to the only food co-op in the area.

What I'm trying to say is, try the health food store, or the regular store closest to the health food store! ;)

Karen

[surgtech1956]

I'm in the mood for oatmeal. Usually buy the Quick Oats, don't eat the instant anymore. I finally found Steel Cut Oats at a local health food store, going to make some in the crock pot this weekend.

[kelownagirl]

Didn't read all the replies - sorry, but just wanted to add a variation of your plan. 1/4 steel cut oats, 1 cup boiling water into thermos. Put on lid, sit on counter overnight. Still warm in the morning although I nuke it for 20-30 seconds to warm it up more. The thermos will have a slimy coating inside but no dried on oatmeal and it cleans up with hot water and soap, no scrubbing.




Not too long ago was a thread about cooking oatmeal. Me, being a biologist and all, had to contuct a scientific experiment.... This was in the name of science afterall.
The oats - steel cut, what else?
Methods of cooking: traditional simmer on the stove, crockpot (and I have to get those liners for my non-removal crock), and boil/let sit.

Simmer on the stove - you have to stir it, otherwise it burns which is Not Good. Stir - labor intensive. Low simmer and ignore - burned.

Crock pot - follow the recipe, add dried fruit to satisfaction, cook on low overnight. Result: creamy oats, really soft fruit. I happen to like the nutty texture of steel oats, and this did get somewhat creamy. But not like rolled oats. If you're cooking for a family - this would be my method of choice. Hot oats for all in the morning, little fuss.

Bring to boil, cover, and let sit overnight. I really like this one. Of course the oats are cold in the morning, so you have to portion out and reheat in the microwave. I put in dried fruit when I brought the whole thing to a boil, and the fruit didn't get real soft. Also the pot is easier to clean than if I did the simmer and stir method.

Preferred method after this highly scientific experiment: bring to boil, cover, and sit overnight.

Bonne Appetite!

[Aquila]

I'm another microwaver: 1/2 cup oats, 3/4 cup water, 45 seconds in the microwave, stir, add raisins, another 45 seconds in the microwave. Add milk, cream, sweetener, whatever and it's a good breakfast that sticks with me for hours. I cover the bowl with a small plate to keep things from going all over.

[Blueberry]

Has anybody tried the fuzzy logic rice cooker? I've heard it works well, but haven't seen the specifics...

CA

[JaneE]

We're big oatmeal fans. :)

Alton Brown had an oatmeal episode of Goods Eats some time back. I believe that he explained that "steel cut" are chopped, uncooked oats, "old-fashioned, long cooking" oats are rolled (squished) oats that have been steam-cooked to an extent and "instant" are rolled oats that have been steam-cooked completely.

Alton's "Overnight Oatmeal" recipe is our absolute favorite:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/overnight-oatmeal-recipe/index.html

We use whatever dried fruits we feel like using but I think our favorite combo is half raisins, half dried cranberries. We use fat-free half & half and sometimes add a few tablespoons of flax seed that I grind in our never-used-for-coffee grinder.

I make this recipe several times every week. The leftovers keep very well for a couple of days. A little zap in the microwave to warm it up is all it takes.

I have found, however, that our old (30-year-old) wedding gift crock pot works the best. Our newer crock pots, I swear, are hotter than the old one and tend to scorch any low-liquid food I make in it. The old one makes a perfect batch which is ready to eat in the morning. Since finding this recipe I've used our old crockpot more than in all the years that we've had the thing! :)

[malkin]

Steel cut in the fuzzy rice cooker is great!
But daily, I go for old fashioned rolled, cold, stirred into yogurt with whatever fruit is handy.


And by the way, since I started eating oats/yogurt, I could be a statistic on those evangelical, "lower your cholesterol" ads!

[sgtiger]

Has anybody tried the fuzzy logic rice cooker? I've heard it works well, but haven't seen the specifics...

CA

I have one of these and I've been wondering how well it would work for oatmeal. I'll have to try it out. Though, I have used it to cook dried beans that weren't soaked and it worked fabulously.

[Colleen]

I never knew steel cut oatmeal could be so easy! It's one of those things I rarely make (and only on the weekends) because it takes 30 min or so. Somehow despite owning practically every other kitchen appliance (even obscure ones like a food mill and an ice cream maker), I don't have a slow cooker! I will have to get one so I can wake up to some oatmeal too :)

I'm enjoying all the things that I've learned from TE!

[shootingstar]

In last 2 years, I restarted having abit of microwaved oatmeal (about less than 1 c.) for brekkie with abit of skim milk. Real fruit..whatever we have in fridge on hand. Blueberries or raspberries only when in season and cheap. No sugar nor raisins necessary for my oatmeal bowl. :)

It has to be microwave, I'm jumping onto the bike for work commute, just before 5:30 am to start work..after dragging outta bed at 4:30 am.

Before oatmeal now...last time I had oatmeal..was when I was 19. I had it often as kid and teenager. It was made in a big pot over stove, for 6 children ..and lots of milk added to it. But no sugar nor spices. Probably a good thing.

I used think of oatmeal..as ugh. But now, a great quick breakfast start for early/lazy birds...

[NbyNW]

Has anybody tried the fuzzy logic rice cooker? I've heard it works well, but haven't seen the specifics...

CA

I have one, but the only thing I've ever cooked in it is rice. I think my little sis has done steel cut in hers, but this may have come up in conversation once five years ago, and my memory is fuzzy . . . :o

I use a small thermos for my oats when I don't have time to stand over a stove during the week. Can't stand instant. I use rolled oats here, but I am also a fan of steel cut, which I have not tried in the thermos as someone else did above.

Night before: 1/4 cu. rolled oats plus a bit of brown sugar, chopped walnuts, or flax seed, or whatever other dry ingredients I'm in the mood for, and maybe a pinch of sea salt.

Morning: fill with hot water from the thermal pot (really cool gadget that boils water then keeps it at 203 degrees -- available at any asian grocery store), and stir in a pat of butter. Seal thermos and put in pannier.

My commute is about half an hour, so oatmeal is ready by the time I get to work. I sometimes add a little bit of milk when I get there.

[Bruno28]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7665854.stm

[michelem]

Has anybody tried the fuzzy logic rice cooker? I've heard it works well, but haven't seen the specifics...

CA

I don't know about the "fuzzy logic rice cooker," but I do make steel cut oats in a rice cooker/steamer combo thing made by Sunbeam (unfortunately, it appears to be discontinued -- we got ours as a wedding gift over 8 years ago and we use it at least once a week). I've found I do need to add more water than is called for in the usual boil-on-the-stove method, or it comes out like a brick! :rolleyes:

[badgercat]

I guess this is sacrilegious, but I love my oatmeal sweet. I buy "regular" rolled oats and and usually add a couple pinches of brown sugar and/or a splash of (real) maple syrup. I don't often have them around, but my real favorite is to add chopped pecans on top of that. I usually cook my oatmeal in the microwave (another travesty!) in rice milk, or water if I don't have any rice milk on hand. This works very well for someone who doesn't have a slow cooker and likes having a hot breakfast that is a. ready in 5 minutes, b. very tasty, c. and requires next to no work. :p

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I switch bfast around alot and one of the things I like to do is take the oatmeal (steelcut or old fashioned or even scottish) and add skim milk to it and refrigerate. I also add in whatever else I would of if I was cooking it, brown sugar, berries, nuts, etc. I leave it in there over night and then microwave it. The micro way is okay but sometimes I put it in a pot and refrigerate overnight and put the pot, lid and all, on the stove while I"m getting ready. Either way you put it in the fridge, put a cover on it or the fridge is going to suck the moisture out of it. Just a warning, it's pretty soft and creamy, some people don't like that.

[OakLeaf]

Nobody has trouble with cleanup of your rice cooker?

Oats get so foamy and gummy on the stovetop - and when rice is foamy (seems to be worst with short grain regular brown rice) it's a real PITA to clean my Zojirushi cooker.

I tried barley in the cooker once and it sent foam all over my kitchen counters, the inside and outside of the cooker top, it was ugly.

So I've been afraid to try anything but plain rice.

[Blueberry]

I haven't had any cleaning problems - white rice, brown rice, quinoa, soup, risotto, and pretty much everything else you can think of. I'm usually cooking for 2 - maybe I don't fill it up enough to have a problem?

CA

[Tuckervill]

While I'm waiting for the water in the tea kettle to heat, I put old-fashioned oats in a bowl with raisins and walnuts and a hint of brown sugar, and pour hot water over it from the tea kettle. While my tea steeps, I eat the oatmeal, and then the I drink my tea. This is an every single morning ritual. I don't care that the oatmeal is not cooked to a creamy mush. I think it's better chewy.

I started doing it this way when a friend gave me some oatmeal mix for xmas. It had powdered milk in it, too. She has a big family and keeps this homemade mix (oats, raisins, walnuts, powdered milk, brown sugar) in a container on the counter for the kids to make when they want. I don't put the powdered milk in it because I don't need it, and I mix it by the bowl. When I travel, though, I do mix up a big container and take my electric tea kettle with me.

Karen

[roadie gal]

Another nuker here...

1/2 cup rolled oats in 1 cup water. Microwave for 2 1/2 minutes. I usually add 1 tsp of nutritional yeast and about 1 tbsp of honey.

[OakLeaf]

Old fashioned oats can cook in the microwave too, you just have to use a large enough bowl that it won't boil over. Six to six and a half minutes at 50% power (it will boil over if you use full power).

No sugar, sometimes raisins or other fruit, a big dollop of peanut butter.

[surgtech1956]

Haven't tried any dried fruit in my oatmeal yet, we do have some dried cherries I'm going to try. Sometimes I will put just a little peanut butter in my oatmeal, I love peanut butter.:D

[lovelylibrarian]

If I add pumpkin to my oatmeal but want to cook it overnight in a crock pot, would I add it the night before or just before eating?

Thanks.

[AutumnBreez]

Rolled old fashioned quaker oats We have a water dispenser that has water heated at 175 always. All you have to do is take handful of oats in bowl and push button and fill bowl with water till the oats are saturated and little on top.* Let it sit for 3 min. and stir, add your extras, milk, brown sugar, pure maple syrup, nuts, fruit, whatever you like.* The oats are still hot and that is it! OR if you don't have dispenser - Just boil water on stove and pour over oats in bowl and let sit.* Turn out just right. Not mushy like overcooked and not hard and firm either.

[julesey]

I LOVE cream of wheats...I just make them in the microwave (or stove top if I have more time) add some raisins and honey and you're good to go. It's a nice change if you get sick of oatmeal.

[surgtech1956]

I've never tried Cream of Wheat, from the picture on the box it looks like mashed potatoes. Whats it taste like???? I loved hot cereal in the winter.

[Blueberry]

I've never tried Cream of Wheat, from the picture on the box it looks like mashed potatoes. Whats it taste like???? I loved hot cereal in the winter.

Very plain - or like what you put in it. I make mine with milk, and add a little maple syrup. It's really good (but not nearly as nutritious as oatmeal - which I don't like as well...).

I also like grits for breakfast. Also not as nutritious (but very good when butter and cheese are added...)

CA

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Tucker, I like your style- that sounds so simple. I have to admit I've never just put hot water in them and eaten them like that, usually I cook em. I will have to check it out.

Oakleaf- do you rinse your rice/grains before cooking them to get the loose starchy dust? Sometimes that helps keep the foaming down. I know that certain types of rice makes mine foam. I got a rice cooker that has a plastic vent so it keeps some of the foamy stuff inside. But as I learned you have to clean that plastic flap vent every time because well...rice juice gets moldy here on the east coast!!! Out west it just dries up and turns to cement haha...

[carpaltunnel]

I love steel cut oats too. I usually chop up an apple and throw it in at the halfway point with some cinnamon. Sometimes pecan pieces . I'm going to try dry rolled oats and yogurt, that sounds good. Sometimes I make granola with honey, just to get some oats into my husband, but it has so much fat and sugar.

[letsride89]

1/4 old fashion oats
3 packets splenda
1/4 cup sugar free syrup
1/2 banana
walnuts

eat up my friends, eat up.

[jobob]

After much experimentation LeeBob & I have come up with our never fail method.

Get the largest pyrex bowl your microwave can hold, to prevent those messy boil-overs.

Mix 1/2 c. steel cut oats with 2 c. water in the bowl.

Microwave on high for 9:99 (depending on the power of your microwave)

Stir

Microwave on high for 6:66 (depending on the power of your microwave)

Stir. Let sit a bit*.

Spoon into 2 bowls, add a pinch of salt and some combination of milk, sugar, splenda, a pat of butter, brown sugar, cinammon, whatever, to taste.

This makes fairly chewy oatmeal.

*If you want it a less chewy consistency, let it sit for 1/2 hour or more, or even overnight (covered of course), then add a bit of milk and nuke it for 3-4 minutes.

[tzvia]

Skimmed over some of these posts. It sounds like some people can handle oats. I sure can't.:o Instead, I just pop some 50/50 cous cous 'n water with a little butter into the microwave for 2.5 minutes. Add a little honey and a dash (or more) cinnamon and some strawberries or blueberries, and I have a nice hot breakfast that doesn't make me feel like I swallowed a leaky gas canister.:) And my loved ones can actually sit in the same room with me. Another substitute is good old fashioned Farina. Love the stuff, as long as I've got my lactose pills as I like a little milk in mine. Either that, or my loved ones have to sit in another room again :o.

Too bad I can't stand rice based hot cereals as I could handle them in a gastric sense but I just don't like em. If I could find something that could take the bloat out of oats that would be great, as I actually like oatmeal, but it doesn't like me.

[shootingstar]

Am not familiar with a bit butter in oatmeal or couscous. particularily in oatmeal.

Am impressed by those of you and steel-cut oats. Guess I'm lazy...microwave works before 5:00 am for me. I have enough memories as a child asked to cook a big pot of oatmeal over stove for 7 other people. Did it often enough.

But even now, I still like my oatmeal..milky without sugar. Sometimes I will add an easy fruit..ie. berries.

[Eden]

Am impressed by those of you and steel-cut oats. Guess I'm lazy...microwave works before 5:00 am for me. I have enough memories as a child asked to cook a big pot of oatmeal over stove for 7 other people. Did it often enough.

That's why a crock pot is so great... so easy, put your oats and liquid in before you go to bed and in the morning you have a nice pot of hot cooked oatmeal. Just scoop and eat - takes even fewer wakened brain cells than microwave usage.

I tried pumpkin in with the oats. It's pretty good, though I think I might need a little sweetener. Usually I make it without sugar and put some dried blueberries on. With the pumpkin it seems to need a bit more something sweet to bring out the flavor.

[buddha_bellies]

OMG! Steel cut oat tastes SO GOOD! After reading about it in here, I decided to buy some Bob's Red Mill steel cut oats. It has a texture similar to quiona. I quite like it. Though I don't think I can live w/o maple syrup in it. And a bit of nutmeg and almonds. Yum!! And it wasn't too hard to cook. I cooked it in an iron casted pot for 20 mins. Ate it with some soya milk and still had left over for next morning. I think cooking it this way the night before is the way to go for me. I just heat it up in the microwave with milk and it's pretty much instant breakfast the next day.

Question: How's Scottish Oat different then your reg. oatmeal? Is there a different in texture?

[newfsmith]

I find that if I use cider as my liquid I don't need to sweeten the oatmeal, just add cinnamon.

[Raindrop]

I like steel cut oats mixed with Quinoa cooked in the crockpot. In the morning I add some salt and pepper and a little butter...and eat it like the grains they are.

In the Summer I'll add fresh berries, but in the Winter...it's back to comfort food time.


P.S. Quinoa tastes like dirt to me unless I roast the grain a little before I cook it. I add it only because of the protein.

[buddha_bellies]

I find that if I use cider as my liquid I don't need to sweeten the oatmeal, just add cinnamon.


Do you mean apple cider?

[OakLeaf]

In the Summer I'll add fresh berries, but in the Winter...it's back to comfort food time.

pick some extra berries and freeze them, and you can have them in your oatmeal all winter!

[newfsmith]

Do you mean apple cider?

Yes, I didn't know there was any other kind of cider.

[Red Rock]

My version of oatmeal has changed a bit through time. I cook the basic old fasioned oats from quaker but then my addon list is this:

Wheat germ, walnuts-pieces, almonds-pieces, yogurt, grapenuts, flaxseed ground, rasins, and a banana.

I usually add cinnamon and flax to the aots when they are cooking.

surgtech1956-I grew up on Cream of Wheat. I agree with what everyone else has said about it being bland. However, I add cinnimon while it is cooking. Then once it is finished I add everything else from my other list. So it is never boring.

Also, I use Zoom. It is a whole wheat cereal as well. I just repeat my same process as above. It is realtivily cheap at 2.00 a box.

[cylegoddess]

This is called 'horse chow'but tastes great!
add to DRY oatmeal
raisins, currants, dates etc
lemon juice
pinch of sea salt

Eat like that!
Also good with OJ poured on it.

[msincredible]

My most common version:

- rolled oats and water cooked in the microwave (mine has an "oatmeal" magic button :D)
- add frozen berries, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, and some unsweetened soymilk

Once in a while I will do steel cut oats...I just discovered it is much easier to cook a large batch, divvy it up into single serving containers (with my frozen berries) and freeze it, then just microwave them in the morning.

I've also been known to put cinnamon and soymilk on other grains including plain brown rice for breakfast.

[Sarabeth]

Watch me in my kitchen. A How to video on the way I love my oatmeal.

I just uploaded a video of myself making my super bowl of oatmeal that I stuffed with good things. I have oatmeal I bet 364 days a year!!

It's on my blog today and on YouTube:
Blog post: Too healthy Oatmeal (http://bycycletrips.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-make-stuffed-oatmeal.html)
Posting other videos of me cooking stuff on BicycleGirlCooks (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BicycleGirlCooks&view=videos) Watch for more new videos of me in the kitchen!

[Red Rock]

I was wondering if anyone has used bulgar wheat in their hot cereals? I had some tonight with cinnamon, lightly cooked veggies and chicken pieces. As I was eating this, it occured to me to ask.

I was thinking of perhaps something like this:

1 cup oats-steel or old fashioned
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup bulgar
plus whatever else you might want to add.

This is a lot for one serving. I was thinking ratios here. Mix it all together then take whatever amount you want to cook with and go from there.

Would this work? To much of anything?
Thankyou for your help and suggestions.
Red Rock

[shootingstar]

Breakfast is not my home meal where I spend much time nor creativity. Unless we have an overnight guest..which the meal usually morphs into a brunch. :D

But this recipe might meet your needs:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=682629

I've made this Cranberry Walnut Tabbouleh as a side dish several Thxgiving dinners ago:

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=682629

[jef09]

Didn't read all the replies - sorry, but just wanted to add a variation of your plan. 1/4 steel cut oats, 1 cup boiling water into thermos. Put on lid, sit on counter overnight. Still warm in the morning although I nuke it for 20-30 seconds to warm it up more. The thermos will have a slimy coating inside but no dried on oatmeal and it cleans up with hot water and soap, no scrubbing.

I had been using one of those mini crock pots to make my steel cut oats, but this is one of the most brilliant things I have ever read. It is so simple, and would work wonders for me. I am so short on time in the am and forget to put water in the crock pot to soak.

Thanks!

[featuretile]

I make an oatmeal/oatbran mix every morning:

1/3 cup regular oatmeal
1/3 cup oatbran
1 tsp. sugar
some raisins
cinnamon
1 Cup Water
Microwave on high for 3 minutes.

Add if you want:
Ground Flax Seed (about 1 tsp.)
Vanilla Protein Powder (couple of teaspoons)
Chopped Walnuts (about 5 halves)
Fruit (strawberries, blueberries, banana or peach)
Milk

The oatbran gives you extra soluble fiber and it makes the oatmeal have a better consistency than plain. The raisins keep it from boiling over in the microwave. The protein powder gives you something that keeps you from getting hungry again in the middle of the morning. Tastes great, is fast and works for me. While it's in the microwave I grind and make coffee. Everything is ready in 5 minutes.

[ccbloom]

This is my favorite way to eat oatmeal, with some banana whipped in while cooking on the stovetop. Natural sweetness and it makes it sooooo creamy!!!

I learned the method here: http://www.katheats.com/kaths-tribute-to-oatmeal/