pumpkin oatmeal

[Blueberry]

I love the taste of those creamers too, but they are not healthy at all, and they're actually not fat-free -- they just make the serving size small enough that they can say that. The fat in them is partially hydrogenated -- very bad. I keep trying to get my in-laws to stop buying them.

Here is the ingredient list for Coffee-Mate Coffee Creamer, Hazelnut, Fat Free:

Water, Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Caseinate (a Milk Derivative), Titanium Dioxide, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 60, Carrageenan, Beta-Carotene Color.

Kinda scary! I'm lucky to have low cholesterol so can get away with a splash of real half-n-half in my oatmeal. Yummmmm!

*Sorry to rain on your parade! I almost hated to respond, but just in case you weren't aware of what you were ingesting...

Yep - it's sad. The Pumpkin Spice creamer I tried many years ago (before I knew better) was divine The gingerbread was tasty too

CA

[surgtech1956]

Emily, your DH cooks the oatmeal in the crockpot - overnight? What's steel cut-organic oatmeal, is this like long cooking oatmeal? Thanks ------ pumpkin oatmeal sounds, yummy, I love oatmeal, anytime of the year.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily, your DH cooks the oatmeal in the crockpot - overnight? What's steel cut-organic oatmeal, is this like long cooking oatmeal? Thanks ------ pumpkin oatmeal sounds, yummy, I love oatmeal, anytime of the year.

Yes, the steel-cut is much coarser so takes a lot longer to cook. Perfect for overnight in the crockpot. Ready when you get up!

Here are some links:
http://theslowcook.blogspot.com/2007...-cut-oats.html
http://www.slashfood.com/2006/01/23/...l-cut-oatmeal/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel-cut_oats

We buy ours at the local food co-op in bulk. You should be able to find them at places like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and similar stores you might have where you live.

[Eden]

mmmmmm steel cut oats.... I do it in a crockpot as well. It is super nice to be able to get up in the morning and voila, instant hot breakfast. I don't normally cook anything in with the oats (though I do make it with soy milk for a bit of extra protein), but I add lots of cinnamon, dried blueberries (love the big bags from Costco!) and pumpkin seeds (if I have them) on top. Maybe I'll have to try some pumpkin some day.

Oh - btw, if anyone has any suggestions about how to prevent a "skin" from forming on the sides and bottom of the crock pot, I'm all ears. Usually I just stir it in and it softens up and incorporates mostly.... I've tried greasing the crock and using less soy milk (even all water), but it still happens.

Of course if you want to go decadent, my grand-mother-in-law makes a killer pumpkin chocolate chip cookie.... yes this sounds a bit on the weird side, but they are delicious cookies.

[SadieKate]

Can I have the Killer Pumpkin Choc Chip recipe? Purty please? Will she share?

I've had tarts made with apple, pumpkin and choc that were to die for.

[Eden]

its based around 1 can of pumpkin...

2 tsp baking soda
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 cup of oil
2 tsp milk
2 tsp vanilla
1 can of pumpkin
1 package chocolate chips

typical cookie construction - mix the dry stuff together (except chips + sugar), mix the wet stuff + sugar together, gradually mix the dry into the wet, add the chips last
bake at 350F

[SadieKate]

Thanks!

-- Dark or milk chocolate chips?
-- About how long to bake ya think?

[OakLeaf]

-- Dark or milk chocolate chips?

We just had some from the store with white chocolate chips. Mmmm, mmm, mmm. (I've got to stop with the desserts... )

[SadieKate]

We just had some from the store with white chocolate chips. Mmmm, mmm, mmm. (I've got to stop with the desserts... )

That ain't chocolate. That's just fat. Yuck.

[OakLeaf]

That ain't chocolate. That's just fat. Yuck.

<cue the Homer Simpson voice> Mmmmmmmm. Fa-a-a-at.



<marveling at how this thread morphed from something pretty healthy to white chocolate chips. Guilty!>

[Eden]

I like dark bitter chocolate myself.... so I'd probably go with Ghiardelli bittersweets myself.... but its up to your own taste.

I'm guessing they'd need to cook for about 15 min... but its really a grandma recipe - nothing but the ingredients...

[channlluv]

My DH makes yummy steel-cut oatmeal (organic!) in the crockpot overnight during the cooler times of the year. Adding pumpkin sounds like a great idea -- thanks! He'll typically put raisins, sometimes dried cranberries, and lots of cinnamon in it. Ooooh, it's so good!

We have our first cold weekend coming up here in NC -- I feel an oatmeal morning coming up!

What's his recipe for this? I'd love to try it. I have to get up and out of the house pretty early to get to work on time, but I'd love to be able to feed my daughter a hot, healthy breakfast every day. I have steel cut oats, but I've only made them once because it took so long and I just don't have that kind of time in the morning. They turned out really thick, too.

Do any of you use them in cookies or home-made granola/energy bars for long rides?

Thanks!

Roxy

[emily_in_nc]

What's his recipe for this? I'd love to try it. I have to get up and out of the house pretty early to get to work on time, but I'd love to be able to feed my daughter a hot, healthy breakfast every day. I have steel cut oats, but I've only made them once because it took so long and I just don't have that kind of time in the morning. They turned out really thick, too.

No really formal recipe, but he throws in the steel-cut oats and water (ratio of oats to water is 1:4), a nice bit of cinnamon, a small handful of dried cranberries or raisins or cherries or all of the above. You can also add honey or other sweetener at this point (he doesn't). A shake of salt is good too if high blood pressure is not an issue.

Cook in the crockpot on low overnight. Add milk or whatever else you like right at serving time.

And Eden, I've never noticed a "skin" on our oatmeal when he makes it this way. Not sure why/why not?

We had some this weekend (our first really chilly fall weekend here in NC), and it was lovely! A little Vermont maple syrup, chopped walnuts, and half-and-half on top made it to die for...

[Blue_Wildflower]

I made Pumpkin Oatmeal without the splenda and with skim milk. I sprinkled pumpkin seeds and chopped dried figs for sweetness.

I am looking forward to having this again tomorrow.

[letsride89]

yay! someone tried the pumpkin oatmeal!!