We tend to go through a good amount of oats each week. There is a lot of variety in the texture depending which type of oats you use, quick, old fashioned or steel cut. Of course there is also the variance in cooking times and methods.
My everyday favorite breakfast is oatmeal using old fashioned oats. I have tried the little instant packets in the past, but they do not leave me as full for as long and the texture is rather mushy to me. I like to start the oatmeal before I get ready for work. My method is to boil the water add the oats, cover the pot and turn off the heat and go do my thing. By the time I am done with my morning routine, the oatmeal is ready for me.
For a change of flavor, oatmeal works well with an assortment of add-ins bananas, dried cranberries, raisins, cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, you can even make it savory if you prefer. I used to have a co-worker that liked to add peanut butter to hers.
To save time in the morning before I was working from home I would make overnight oatmeal. Just put all the ingredients in a heat proof jar and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning all I needed to do was grab the jar and head out the door. A quick minute in the microwave at work to heat it up and breakfast is ready. However, if my add-In is going to be fresh berries I add them after I heat up the oats. That is just my preference so the berries do not get mushy.
I have an early riser that is not a breakfast person and is just not ready to eat until a little bit later. For her I use quick oats, peanut butter, dried cranberries and a few other tasty ingredients to make protein bars. They are a wonderful take along breakfast that does not have to be refrigerated and keeps well until she is ready to eat.
If you are not the hot cereal type how about making oatmeal cookies instead. I love them! You can add raisins, chocolate chips, nuts again a very versatile food item. I do not mean for breakfast, though you could. Why not, it is still oats regardless of how you use them.
What is your favorite way to have oats? If you have had success with steel cut oats, I’d really like to know your secret.
