I personally prefer something warm first thing in the morning so the following are my three favorite ways to prepare Oats overnight, that say "Good Morning!" to the Mama Bear with in me.
Here is a little TMI on all things OATMEAL :)
Oat Groats
This is the Oat in its unadulterated form, with the husk removed.
TO PREPARE:
1 Cup organic whole oat groats, rinsed and drained
4 cups water
1/2 tsp sea salt
The night before: Combine oat groats in heavy stainless steel saucepan. Add water and salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat, cover and let sit on stove overnight.
The next morning: Stir oat mixture and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring often. Continue to cook, stirring often, until mixture is thick and “goopy.” Add a splash or more water if too thick. Add toppings of choice. I personally like dried blueberries with sliced almonds and some cinnamon. The blueberries make it sweet enough you hardly need to add a sweetener.
Makes 3 or 4 servings.
Note: You can refrigerate leftovers and heat in the microwave the next day. Add a little boiling water to thin out mixture, if required. Or refrigerate in the original pan and place the pan back on the burner the next morning, adding a little bit of boiling water from the teakettle, and stirring for a few minutes until heated through
Steel Cut Oats (Sometimes called Irish Oats)
Steel Cut Oats are made from the whole grain groats, these have been cut in to two or three pieces using steel discs. No extra processing or additives and nothing taken out-this is my personal favorite way of eating Oatmeal. Love the texture! Not so mushy. Cooking time is longest for Steel Cut, taking up to 20 minutes, but because they have not been as processed they also have more nutrition.
TO PREPARE: The easiest way to prepare Steel Cut Oats is by starting the night before. Let them essentially soak overnight and then add your favorite toppings in the morning.
Serves 2:
2 Cups water
1/2 C Steel Cut Oats
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add oats and salt and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand overnight.
The next morning, reheat over medium heat, optionally stirring in some milk (or water if your watching calories). Add 1/4 -1/3 cup if desired for extra creaminess.
I enjoy this with some mashed bananas and walnuts for a banana bread flavor, and some Grade B maple syrup on occasion.
Old Fashioned Regular Rolled Oats
Old Fashioned Regular Rolled Oats are made from oat groats that are rolled or crushed under heavy rollers. The first step in the production of rolled oats is to steam the oat groats and then roll them in order to flatten them. They are then re-steamed and roasted before packaging. Because of this extra processing, this type of oatmeal loses a little of the natural taste and texture, along with some of the beneficial nutrients.This is the traditional type of oatmeal you see commercially available today and have probably eaten in the past.
TO PREPARE:
These can also be prepared the night before by placing them in water and reheating them in the morning. These are fine to eat chilled also especially on a hot summer morning.
1/2 C Rolled Oats
3/4 C water
Add more water in the morning if it is too thick for your liking. I add cinnamon, chopped apples a sprinkle or sea salt and sometimes a dab of honey when preparing this for my kids(they like their Oatmeal mushy and thick).
In a pinch: even though they don't say instant, I have found I can make these pretty instantly. In desperate times I have stuck 1/2 C of Rolled oats in the microwave with 1 C water for two minutes (stirring after each minute) and they've been just great!!! If you're worried about your family not beeing able to part with their nutrionally inferior "Instant Oatmeal" packets, I've got trick for you! Sea salt. Yep-those instant packes are full of salt-the bad kind.
(If anyone is wondering, I'm not going to go into the Instant Varieties of Oatmeals because I don't think they're worth my time, stomach real estate, or calories. The more a grain is manipulated the less that grain will do nutritionally. )
For people who would prefer a cold coatmeal (sounds gross but I know many people who LOVE it) there are some great recipes for overnight oats by Angela Liddon at her blog www.ohsheglows.com.
Regardless of how you choose to eat your Oatmeal, you can also make it fun and tasty, especially if you have some young scrutinizing mouths to persuade! I love the idea Pamela Salzman came up with to keep her kids interested in eating Oatmeal. Pameals makes an "oatmeal bar" for her family every morning with all kinds of toppings to choose from with favorites like granola, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits, honey, you name it. Own your Oatmeal! Play around with it until it is just right for you!
Still hungry for more on Oats? Read more here:
Oatmeal - Everything You Wanted to Know about Oats http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/oatmeal/oats.asp#ixzz1qXG8UpBn
