Every week we’ll post a recipe that we both made. This week’s recipe was Crockpot Steel Cut Oatmeal, found over at Ground Beef Budget. Printable recipe can be found at the bottom of this post.
Robyn’s Take:
This week’s recipe was Nance’s pick, and I was totally on board. I read, months ago, about how good steel cut oatmeal is, so I rushed right out and bought a container of it. It’s been sitting in the damn pantry ever since. I do that shit all the time, make a special trip to buy some ingredient or another, and then never make the recipe the ingredient was bought for. I drive myself nuts when I do that.
The ingredients:
Steel-cut oats, vanilla, cinnamon, milk, butter, brown sugar. The recipe suggested dried apple slices or other dried fruit and I had no dried apple slices on hand (it’s not a pantry staple for me), I used blueberry-flavored dried cranberries (you blueberry haters can shut it.) Also, not pictured: 2 cups of water.
Step one, combine all your stuff in a heat-proof bowl that will fit in your crock pot and allow room for a water bath. I had exactly one bowl that fit the bill, my Pyrex 1.5-liter bowl, so I used that. When you toss all your ingredients into the bowl and mix, you don’t get the prettiest result. I’m not going to say what this looks like, but I think you know what I’m thinking.
Put the heat-proof bowl in your crock pot, fill it with water to the height of the liquid in the bowl.
Cover it, set it on low, and go the hell to bed.
I started mine at like 8:30 at night, because if Fred gets in bed past 9:13 in the evening, he acts like I’ve forced him to stay up ALL NIGHT LONG. I swear to god, I used to be a night owl. Last night I was asleep by 10:01. Par.tay.
I was up at 5:01 because I had kittens to check on and things to do, and this is what the oatmeal looked like.
Is it just me, or do my blueberry-flavored cranberries look like black olives? I stirred it up, and it looked a little less nasty.
Just a note, getting the damn bowl out of the GODDAMN crock pot without dipping my oven mitts into the hot water proved impossible, and I found it annoying. If I had a higher bowl, I would use that in the future. I do not have a higher bowl that would also fit in the crock pot right, so I should just shut the fuck up.
“Self,” I said to myself, “I wonder if it will be possible to get a decent picture of this stuff?”
Uh… nope. Not really. Not possible for me to take a picture that makes oatmeal look pretty. This might be because oatmeal is not a pretty food. Now, watch: that goddamn Nance will post a picture of her oatmeal that will make y’all drool. Damn her.
The verdict? This stuff is good. I don’t know that I’d use blueberry-flavored cranberries again, but I’d probably use frozen blueberries (I love blueberries, shut up) or maybe I’d suck it up and buy dried apple slices. For that matter, I bet applesauce stirred into the oatmeal would be good.
Will I make it again? Probably. Who doesn’t like oatmeal? In fact, I’m eating leftover oatmeal for lunch later!
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Nance’s Take:
Truth Game: I had never heard of Steel Cut Oatmeal until I read about it on a blog written by a woman named Carrie. She was an overweight mom of two boys who decided to get off her couch one day and OHMYHELL, SHE’S A SKINNY MINNIE THAT IS RUNNING MARATHONS NOW!
NO LIE.
Meanwhile, she had mentioned the oatmeal in one of her entries and I pretty much rolled my eyes because she’s all healthy now so I was all whatever, I get my oatmeal out of an envelope, thankyouverymuch, now please pass the cancer causing chemicals.
And then my mom decided to have some health issues and all the sudden I’m buying whole wheat bread and looking for anything that had a shit ton of healthy whateverthefucks in it. Gawd, do you realize how hard it is for someone like me to eat something that looks like this…
I was convinced that no good was going to come from eating what appears to be the kind of food one feeds a parakeet or hamster/rodent type animal.
The word “oatmeal” is what did it for me. I love oatmeal. I grew up on it (not this kind) and think it’s fabulous. So I really had high expectations for how this was going to turn out. That is, until I opened the package and saw this shittin’ mess.
Please note the time. Yup. I started this hot mess at 11:30 at night because I am an idiot. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to mix up.
Dump your parakeet feed into a bowl. And then dump everything else in with it. Stir. Hey, I can do this! I’m not even that tired!
You need to have a bowl that is heatproof (no rubber) because you’re going to put this inside the crockpot and surround it with water. And that water is gonna get hot. Don’t be STUPID. By the way, that bowl (which is Polish Pottery) was found at a thrift store for $6. Eat your heart out, suckers!
I was so pissed off when I took this photo because, of course, there was no one around when I could have used a hand to take this picture. I might have cussed LOUDLY. Maybe. Probably. Okay, YOU KNOW I DID.
Oh, hello probably more than two tablespoons of butter. I didn’t bother to technically measure it. I eye-balled it and called it good (and it turned out that I was right, hmph).
This was my kitchen assistant for the recipe and as you can see, TOTALLY USELESS and DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION.
I set that baby up and threw myself into bed because my dumb ass was tired.
Do you think you can get your head in there any further, Maddy? Sheesh. By the way, I would like to note that this is the asshole cat from Alabama that I adopted (oh, so stupid was I). It was also the first bottle fed kitten that Robyn fostered. She is the biggest pain in the ass, hates Rick with a passion, and is really kind of rude to company. But I love her dearly and wouldn’t change a thing about her.
This is what it looked like the next day. No, the bowl did not move while it was cooking. My husband had some for breakfast before he left for work and he moved it.
It smelled fabulous. I was dying to try it because I was amazed that it didn’t look like the stuff I put in it the night before.
I threw a few craisins on it (Cranberry/Cherry) and it was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. Loved it. It’s just like oatmeal, only better. That’s the only way I can describe it. And it’s supposedly healthy so it’s a win-win. Rick loved it, my mom loved it, and Trey says, “I don’t eat oatmeal” so he never tried it. His loss. More for me!
It will definitely go into the recipe book as a winner!
- ½ cup Steel Cut Oats
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup milk or half and half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ dried apples or other dried fruit (optional)
- Start this recipe just before you go to bed:
- Find a heat proof bowl that will hold all the ingredients and will also fit into your crock pot with a space around it for a water bath. Note: If you are using dried fruit they will plump up when cooking so also allow space in the bowl for that as well.
- Mix all the ingredients and pour into the heat proof bowl that will fit into your crock pot.
- Pour water into the crock pot surrounding the bowl for the water bath and fill to the same level of the liquid in your bowl. Place the lid on your crock pot, and cook on low for 7-8 hours. If you like a creamier oatmeal add some warm milk or cream to thin it out just a bit.
- You can top with cream, raisins, dried cranberries, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans and walnuts, etc. (Get all your toppings out in bowls and cover with plastic wrap so that it will be ready also in the morning.)
Damnation, Robyn. Your oats look like red beans and rice!
That is EXACTLY what I thought!
(That was me.)
I just thought you put in too much cinnamon (until I read your entry).
Robyn – maybe you can make a loose basket of string that you put under the bowl with threads that lead out of the crock pot so you can get it out next time.
I had the same problem getting the bowl out of the crockpot. I think I’m going to find one with handles for next time!
I cook mine on the stove and then put in small containers to freeze or refrigerate for later eating. Might have to give this one a try. I like tart dried cherries on mine.
Oh, I didn’t know you could freeze it. Thanks for the heads-up! And could you please tell me where you find tart dried cherries? Is it something I could do myself or do I have to go to some fancypants store to find them? I could only find those Craisins – I thought they were just dried cherries, until I got home and read that they were cranberries injected with cherry juice. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good. But I think I would love tart cherries!
Nance, I have picked up the dried cherries at our Safeway, and I think Sam’s Club has them over by where you get raisins. Of course, I can never depend on Sam’s to have what I want one week to the next, but you could keep a lookout for them. I love to put them in salads, so yummy.
I’m going to have to try this. I love steel cut oatmeal, but it’s such a pain in the ass to make… I always end up settling for the envelopes of instant oatmeal. Robyn did you use more cinnamon than Nance?
I probably did – I’m skeptical that Nance actually measured her cinnamon because she’s just like Fred, who never measures ANYthing and everything he makes is 10,000 times better than what I make. I ended up using a heaping teaspoon of cinnamon because I was at the end of the jar and wanted to use up the rest rather than put a teeny bit back. 🙂 (Also, I love cinnamon!)
Okay, I admit it, I did not measure my cinnamon (who has time for that shit?). And yes, Robyn – it tasted perfect with just the right amount of cinnamony flavor. I can’t help it that you’re not as special as Fred and I are. 😛
This looks delicious (although I’m going to have to wait for cooler weather, I think, to make it). I may have to finally get a crock pot.
Robyn, the bowl that you used to serve your oatmeal — is that a FireKing bowl? Those things are the perfect size and shape for a bowl. I used to have a couple of those (found in junk/antique/flea market-y shops) and I loved the heck out of them. So much that I eventually broke them.
YES, it’s a Fire King bowl – it originally belonged to my grandmother (I have two of them), and I love them so much! When we’re in antique stores, I always look to see if they have some because I’d love to add to the collection, but they tend to be pretty expensive. I use them at least once a day, you’re right that they’re perfect. 🙂
Alexandra, I am definitely not a big fan of crock pots, but this was my year because I was sick of heating up the house when it’s hot outside. I am LOVING IT. So my point is, break down and get one, I doubt you’ll regret it ! And no, we’re not sponsored by any crock pot companies. Although we probably should be, dammit. Heh.
Hey ladies, thanks for sharing my recipe. I love it, I love me some really good oatmeal and this is the best. Nothing easier than sleeping while it cooks and waking up with breakfast ready.
Thanks again,
Shelley
No, thank YOU for posting that recipe and making it easy enough that I could find it and simple enough that I wanted to try it!
Ladies, why not remove the bowl from the crockpot in the morning using DISH GLOVES? They’re meant to be used in HOT WATER, after all. Just a suggestion.
What is this dish gloves of which you speak? I have never heard of them, but they certainly sound intriguing.
I had a pair of them that I bought to wear for scrubbing out litter boxes. But then I couldn’t be bothered to put them on because, as I figured it, my hands are washable. I bet they’re still around here somewhere, I’ll have to look!
Robyn, I was cracking up because I have that exact same container of steel cut oats sitting in my pantry from like a year ago! I also run out to the store and buy special ingredients, just so they languish in my kitchen for years, giving me the stink eye every time I open the pantry door.
Isn’t it maddening?! Oh, I drive myself crazy when I do that!
I’ve been wanting to try steel cut oatmeal. Looks delicious! Nance, you can get the cherries at Giant Eagle in the produce section. With the prunes and raisins. Costco also has a big bag. They are delicious. I have to hide them from my son. He will eat half the bag. I read the ingredients one day and they are loaded with added sugar. No wonder they are so good.
Robyn, you can buy steel cut oats at EarthFare over in the bulk items. Much cheaper than the containers in the stores. I also cook mine on the stove-top. And freeze them. I say EarthFare since Robyn and I have that in our town, but I would assume other stores that sell bulk items would have them. The huge bags of frozen blueberries at Sam’s are very good.
If you want to eliminate the bowl in the crockpot, use Alton Brown’s recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/overnight-oatmeal-recipe/index.html
It is very good. Plus, you have lots more for the rest of the family.
p.s. Robin & Nance, I just love this site. Great inspiration that makes me try to make new things. (I HATE TO COOK, and my husband won’t…)
Nance’s oatmeal looks delish! Wish I could have had Trey’s portion!
Robyn where is the inspector?
The inspector went to his forever home;(
Traca’s right, Inspector Stompers is now in his forever home in Georgia. Another Inspector hasn’t shown up… but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. 🙂
Where is the ever-loving hell does one find blueberry-flavored dried cranberries?? Seriously, woman… pick a fruit! I love blueberries but would never think of ruining them by mating them with cranberries… blech.
Nance, Maddy apparently neglected to inform you that her job is to *inspect* not *assist*. If she’s helping at all, it’s helping herself to the milk at the bottom of that measuring cup.
My cat Cassie used to love drinking the last bit of milk out of the big wide mouth beer mug I used to use for milk – she would pivot the whiskers ears back perfectly when they got within a millimeter of the rim of the glass.
I used that mug for milk when I found that milk fractured my plastic tumbler glasses every time I used them – I could hear tiny crackling and finally they started to leak. Since I was in college, I wasn’t oversupplied with options after plastic was ruled out.
They were near the raisins, they had pictures of blueberries – I just assumed they were blueberries, and found out that they weren’t (true dried blueberries would have been much better, I think.)
Am I really the only one to find the last sentence in the recipe–“(Get all your toppings out in bowls and cover with plastic wrap so that it will be ready also in the morning.)”–brain-bustingly hilarious? Perhaps not: have a feeling Maddie was chortling like mad inside that measuring cup.