Oat Lovers, I Need YOU!

Calling all oat lovers on CC! And I KNOW you are out there because there is already so much discussion on oats. However, some of these threads are pages and pages long, so let me get to the point...

I LOOOOOVE oatmeal. And my love for it reached a whole new level when I recently started buying it in bulk at Whole Foods...its super cheap and for some reason, really exciting to dump piles and piles of the stuff into a bag...

Anyway... I've heard alot about soaking your oats overnight in liquids so that you can eat them cold in the morning, and I'm intrigued. Can someone enlighten me: How much oats, and how much liquid, do you use for this? Also, what liquids work best...just water, or yogurt (how much yogurt?!) So many possibilities...

Also, does anyone use their oats to make their own muesli? I'd like to try experimenting with this to find a low-cal alternative to the granola that I could eat tubs of every day...Yet the store-bought muesli seems to have MORE cals... I would be eternally grateful if someone could point me towards a recipe or just give me some tips on this.

Here's a bonus question, too. I used to measure my 1/2 cup of oatmeal with a measuring cup, but I recently got a food scale, which shows me that 40g of oats comes much closer to 1/4 cup in my measuring cup. But now the 1 cup of water seems like too much...how do YOU measure out your oats and water??!

Thanks! =]

I know you can mix oats with like yogurt & cottage cheese overnight and it's soft in the morning. There was a recipe for something like that in a Jillian Michaels book I have. It was really thick though since the oats stole all of the moisture from the yogurt and cottage cheese, so i would add a tablespoon or two of milk, and then warm it up a little in the microwave. Oh and add raisins, because they are amazing.

Original Post by elizaveta_joy:

Anyway... I've heard alot about soaking your oats overnight in liquids so that you can eat them cold in the morning, and I'm intrigued. Can someone enlighten me: How much oats, and how much liquid, do you use for this? Also, what liquids work best...just water, or yogurt (how much yogurt?!) So many possibilities...

Here's a bonus question, too. I used to measure my 1/2 cup of oatmeal with a measuring cup, but I recently got a food scale, which shows me that 40g of oats comes much closer to 1/4 cup in my measuring cup. But now the 1 cup of water seems like too much...how do YOU measure out your oats and water??!

Thanks! =]

Overnight oats: mix 1/2 c quick oats + 1 c milk/soy milk + 1 tbsp dried cranberries & 1 tbsp sunflower seeds (+/- anything else you want. I always add cinnamon and ground flax in the morning). Put in a container, close the lid, leave in fridge overnight and that's it!

My oat to water ratio is always 1 part oats to 2 parts water. I measure it using measuring cups.

For overnight oats, you can use any amount of liquid you want. I usually use way more liquid than dry, mainly for extra protein and calcium. I would start with 6-8 oz. yogurt or milk, try it, and then adjust it accordingly.

As for the muesli, there's no right or wrong way to do it. It's just any combination of oats, nuts/seeds, and dried fruit. Choose your amounts and what ingredients based on how many calories you want it to be and your preferances.

As for the measuring cup, if it says 1/2 cup and you're measuring it and leveling it off, then it shouldn't be too far off from a serving. Like before, there's no right or wrong amount of water to use. If one cup is too much, then add less and see if that's any better.

I make all sorts of overnight oat "muesli". You can experiment and add whatever you want in whatever quantities work for you.

Today I made...tropical oats.

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 cup wheat bran
• 2 tbsp milled flaxseed
• 1/4 cup mashed fresh pineapple (NOT canned!)
• 1/2 a large VERY ripe banana
• 1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/2 tbsp each of almond and cashew butters

I also like it with pumpkin and raisins or flavored fruit yogurts with organic yogurts like Cascade Fresh.

I put 1/2 cup oats in an 8oz container of natural yoghurt and 2-3 tbsp water. I top it with about 3/4 cup frozen blueberries. Cover and stick in the fridge- the next morning I add some almonds and mix it all up. The juice from the blueberries defrosting makes it perfect eating consistency.

Original Post by elizaveta_joy:

Anyway... I've heard alot about soaking your oats overnight in liquids so that you can eat them cold in the morning, and I'm intrigued. Can someone enlighten me: How much oats, and how much liquid, do you use for this? Also, what liquids work best...just water, or yogurt (how much yogurt?!) So many possibilities..

Hi elizaveta_joy,

I love oats and most whole grains and have been doing a lot of research on how to best absorb the nutrients they contain.  Basically, many whole grains and legumes contain phytic acid, which prevents them from rotting during storage.  However, if this acid isn't properly broken down prior to eating, phytates can bind with other nutrients in our bodies and prevent these nutrients from being absorbed.

A book, "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon, has a lot of this information, but I have also found some websites that have additional information as well as recipes. 

How to soak whole grains and flours in more detail:  http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/04/w hole-grains-grinding-soaking.html.

Soaked Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe:  http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/09/s oaked-oatmeal-breakfast.html.

Homemade Granola Recipe with Soaked Grains:  http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/07/h omemade-granola.html

I hope this helps!

If you love oats, you should try kamut flakes, spelt flakes, quinoa flakes, wheat flakes and all the different grains that cook in 5-10 minutes and are excellent for making "oatmeal" for breakfast.  When I make mine I make enough for 3-4 days and it can contain 10-15 different grains, seeds, berries etc.  You can make it creamy or thick or watery or more bulky...any way you like just by using less or more water and varying the grains and seeds you use...it's great every time!! 

I like to mix my muesli with about a tablespoon of honey, and the spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake it for 20 minutes or so.  Lately I like oats, grape nuts, chopped almonds and dried cherries.

My favourite Bircher Muesli Recipe

Soak overnight:

-1/2 cup rolled oats
-1/4 cup plain yoghurt
-1/4 cup milk
-3 tbsp raisins
-3 tbsp almonds

In the morning add:

1/2 grated apple
1/4 cup milk.

Stir and yum.

Hey everyone, I know that I'm way late on the recent responses, but I wanted to pop in and say thank you all so much -- these suggestions sound delicious and they really motivate me to eat my oats! I wrote them down and I can't wait to try them all.

(And Camillech -- thanks for the links, too -- I can't stop reading the Passionate Homemaking blog now! I love it.)

Original Post by elizaveta_joy:

Anyway... I've heard alot about soaking your oats overnight in liquids so that you can eat them cold in the morning, and I'm intrigued. Can someone enlighten me: How much oats, and how much liquid, do you use for this? Also, what liquids work best...just water, or yogurt (how much yogurt?!) So many possibilities...

I've done this two ways:

1. Combine 1 cup soy milk (or any other milk) + 1/2 cup flake oats (quick, rolled, etc) + 1 tbsp sunflower seeds + 1 tbsp dried cranberries. Leave in the fridge overnight and it's good to go (though I do heat it for a few seconds so it's not so cold) and I add some other things if I feel like it (flax, maple syrup, cinnamon, berries, etc). (EDIT: lol... I answered this question back in April!)

2. My current favourite: the breakfast cookie. I love this, especially this version made with protein powder because it keeps me full for a long time. I described my attempts at it in my journal here and here and here.

Cellophane_star, I can't even thank you enough for the recipe for the breakfast cookie!! I made it last night and had it for breakfast this morning and holy cow is that baby filling!! And delicious! Looks like I have a new morning staple.

My favorite mueslis:

1/2 c. oats

1/4 cup vanilla soymilk

1 pot Fage 2% (6oz plain greek yogurt)

Soak overnight and in the AM add sliced banana, dried figs or cherries, almonds, walnuts and PB.

Other favorite:

1/2 c. oats

4oz soymilk

4oz cup of Peach or pear yogurt

Soak overnight and in the AM add: 1 sliced banana, almonds/walnuts, flaked coconut and marmalade.

Original Post by elizaveta_joy:

Cellophane_star, I can't even thank you enough for the recipe for the breakfast cookie!! I made it last night and had it for breakfast this morning and holy cow is that baby filling!! And delicious! Looks like I have a new morning staple.

 No problem! I buy bananas now just to let them get overripe so I can make these cookies! I'm going to try them using applesauce instead of banana some day. I tried pumpkin but wasn't crazy about it. Anyway, enjoy!