Apr 21, 2013

the complicated backstory of steel cut oats REVEALED!

Readers,

Perhaps you too have woken up in the morning and shoveled spoonfuls of instant oats past your morning teeth and caught yourself wishing for the weekend luxury of half-hour steel cut oats. Pine no more! It has taken years, but I've finally absorbed all my father's steel cut secrets.

Hark:

  • 1:4 oatmeal to water (cups, grams, ounces, gallons...)
  • salt
  • toppings of your choice 
    • (I suggest dried dates, apricots, diced apple, and a cinnamon stick)

The complicated backstory:

Secret #1: BEGIN THE NIGHT BEFORE!
Place water and oatmeal in a pot (I haven't decided if it is better to add the toppings at this stage or later) and bring to a boil. Cover and turn off the burner. Caution your dish-doing roommate to leave the oatmeal pot alone. Go to bed. Seriously, this is it. Go to bed.

Secret #2: WAKE UP IN THE MORNING!
Your steel cut oats are cooked. No joke. An overnight miracle. Turn the burner on again, or reheat using your preferred method, add your toppings if you didn't add them the night before, and eat.

What kind of week isn't better after miracle oats?