the quest for the perfect easy bowl of oatmeal

[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!

[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