Slow Cooked Steel Cut Oats

Los Angeles went a little big loco this weekend!  I was up in the Burbank/Los Feliz area over the weekend, and it started to SNOW!  Yes, it snowed in LA, as in there was a thin layer of snow on my car and covering the grass when I walked outside.  In this rainy weather, nothing is better than a hot breakfast to start your day.  Though I wasn't a fan of oatmeal growing up, nowadays I find it fills me up and leaves me feeling comfy and cozy till lunch.  This week I got the chance to help create a warm, nourishing breakfast for my entire department!  I've been trying to change my eating habits for almost a year.  It hasn't always been easy for me, or those that I work with... (not gonna lie there were some mood swings as I weened myself off candy, soda and bread)  Now that I've embraced it, I'm encouraging others to make the switch as well.  Each month we have a departmental meeting in which a light breakfast is served.  We've had everything from yogurt parfaits, salami cheese and crackers, bagels, donuts all of the typical breakfast meeting fare. 

This month we did a Steel Cut Oats Breakfast Bar!  A couple of us cooked up some steel cut oats overnight in our crockpots and set up a buffet of toppings for people to dress their oats as they please.  What's more fun than an oatmeal bar!  Soon my whole department will be rocking their skinny jeans too! 

Steel Cut Oats for the Slow Cooker
recipe from co-workers wife, yields 4 cups of cooked oats

1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
1 pinch salt
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Additional toppings: Craisins, brown sugar, almonds, etc

1.  Spray crock pot bowl with a cooking spray.  Add in one cup of steel cut oats, pinch of salt and sugar.  Pour in 4 cups of water.  * You can also cook half with some 2% milk or even half and half.  This will create a creamier texture for your oats!*

2.  Cover and turn your crock pot on low and cook for 8 to 10 hours.
Note:  I've read online depending on your crock pot cooking time may vary.  If you feel that your crock pot tends to cook at a higher temperature it is recommended that you place an empty tuna can (with no wrapper) in between the heat plate and the bowl of the crock pot if you would like to cook overnight. 

3.  In the morning add in 1 tsp vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg (season to taste). 

To serve we had bowls of brown sugar, honey, craisins, raisins, fresh blueberries, milk and other toppings for people to dress up their bowls of creamy goodness.  The great thing about this recipe is that the flavor combinations are endless!!  This is even a great thing to cook on the weekend and heat up each morning on your way to work.  I like mine with a spoonful of pumpkin butter, some almonds and chia seeds; and the Trainer likes his with some brown sugar, honey and a spoonful of almond butter.  Just add in any additional flavors in the morning and mix into the batch.

Nach-oats from Tastespottings Oatmeal Project

If you want even more Steel Cut Oat/Oatmeal goodness, check out Project Oatmeal by Tastespotting.  They are doing a great Oatmeal challenge of eating and preparing Oats in 28 different ways.  Who would have thought you could have Nacho oats or Japanese Curry over oats!  Check it out!!