Oatmeal

I have a slight addiction to oatmeal. Slight addiction as in eat it twice a day...every day. Like start my day and end my day with a big bowl of oatmeal. Hi, my name is Organic Amber and I am an oatmeal addict. I guess there could be worse things, right? My oat of choice is steel cut (a groat that has been chopped into three pieces utilizing a steel blade, the chewiest form). If you care to learn about the different types of oats click here. In our house, there are two ways we cook steel cut oats, one is on the stove and the second (my favorite) is in my beloved rice cooker. I love the fact that I can dump everything in, push a button, and voilà...when I come downstairs in the morning I have a big batch of hot oatmeal waiting for me! I like to "beef up" my oats with flax seed, wheat germ and chia seeds...talk about a bowl full of nutritional goodness. Want to jump on the oatmeal bandwagon with me? Check out the two recipes below and join me for a piping hot bowl of oatmeal tomorrow morning.

Steel Cut Oats (on the stove)

4 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup chia seeds

Directions:

1. Add water to large pot and heat to boil.
2. Once water reaches rolling boil, add steel cut oats.
3. Return to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes stirring frequently.
4. Once oatmeal reaches creamy texture and the thickness you desire, remove from heat.
5. Add wheat germ, flaxseed and chia seeds, stir until mixed thoroughly.
6. When ready to eat, top with your choice of berries, nut butters, cinnamon, brown sugar, nuts, or whatever your heart desires.

Steel Cut Oats (in the rice cooker)

4 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup steel cut oats
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup chia seeds
4 cups water

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to rice cooker in order above, stir to combine.
2. Set rice cooker to porridge setting.
3. Once cooking cycle is complete, stir generously to be sure the ingredients are combined thorougly.
4. When ready to eat, top with your choice of berries, nut butters, cinnamon, brown sugar, nuts, or whatever your heart desires.

P.S. I put everything in the rice cooker the night before and use the timer setting programmed to cook them early in the morning before I wake up.