Oatmeal creation

After recently finding out that instant oatmeal is somewhat processed and contains unneccesary add ins, I bought some bulk rolled oats. May not be a big deal to you oatmeal pros out there, but it is wonderful to me. I am staying fuller for longer after eating, and I can design my own oatmeal every day. I was inspired to post this after this evening's latest creation: banana chocolate chip oatmeal. Pretty self explanatory, but I used:

1/4 cup oats

1/2 cup water

cinnamon

2 tsp splenda

tiny bit vanilla extract

nuked for two minutes, then added:

one sliced mini banana

15 chocolate chips

YUM!!

The best oats for you are steal cut oats, I buy McCann's Imported Quick cooking Irish Oatmeal...1/2 cup has 150 cals and it made from 100% whole grain oats.

I heard about the steal cut oats thing on Oprah...LOL

Yeah, steel cut will be my next step in the world of oatmeal. I'm taking baby steps...

Good stuff....I actually think the whole flake oats (not the instant or the quick) taste better anyway. And steelcut oats are heavenly- really delicious! 

Interesting -- sounds good! I put a little banana, brown sugar (I can't even eat it w/out brown sugar!), skim milk, and pecans in mine. I'm going to try adding some vanilla next time. Maple syrup would be good too -- a litte can't hurt. :) God, I now I want some! haha

i LOVE oats!!!
I have a different type everyday
Check out my blog for some wacky ideas. (mini-spoons.blog.com)
This morning was the best - cheesecake oatmeal
My fav is banana w/ wheatgerm, but i think this morning may overtake it (but not as healthy :( )
Tomorrow is ribena porridge!

I only have a microwave atm but will try steel cut one cday

Kiwifruit and porridge doesnt go. Mango yes, strawberry sure, apricot YUM, blueberries fo shizz, but NOT kiwi. *shudder*

steel cut oats are argued by many time comsuming folks that they take too long.

not true at all, simply take 4 cups of boiling water, and put it into a saucepan, pour 1 cup of oats in, stir and cover. Let sit over night....

in the morning, put them on the burner and put them on medium low until they start to thicken, then reduce to a simmer. WIth the addition of soaking, these oats only take about 20 minutes, without soaking, they might take 40 - 50 minutes to reach perfection.

I like mixing splenda and some kind of fresh or frozen fruit into mine. I use 1/3 a cup so it lands in around 130 calories. If you cook with extra water for longer usually the oats will swell more than normal and it will be more filling without adding calories.

Red Herring... I am about to add your blog to my favorites!

Has anybody else tried whole oats?  I love them.  You cook them the same way you do rice.  I get mine from Whole Foods Market bulk aisle.

I mgiht try steel cut - i just need a stove!
Whole oats. Are they like round like seeds (like an unflat rolled oats)?
Thanks niiko.

dartrinton, I have a variation on your technique for soaking.  I always make my oats or other cooked cereals with 1/2 water and 1/2 non-fat milk, so I can't leave them on the stove overnight.  I've tried putting that in the refrig overnight, but it is so cold when it comes out, that it takes too long to heat up on a busy school day.

I get up at 5 am and do stretches.  By 5:30 am, I'm exercising for 60 min.  Then I shower and get the twins up for school.  Before my exercises, I boil the water and milk. (I have an instant hot water faucet so this is very quick.)  Then I add the grain, stir, bring to a boil, and cover.  Most importantly, I turn off the heat.  While I'm exercising, the cereal is "cooking" from the residual heat.  After my shower, I turn on the heat and let it finish cooking and it is perfect by the time my twins are ready to eat. 

I do my steel cut oats with milk and water as well, but do it overnight in the crock pot!  add a little extra water and some dried fruit -- (cranberries and apples - yum!)

I actually prefer oat bran to steel-cut oats because it has a creamier consistency, reminds me of my childhood risotto.