I made oatmeal for the first time, and I have to admit, it was really easy to make. Usually, my idea of oatmeal is; boiling some water and adding a package of Quaker Instant Oatmeal - apple and cinnamon.
This time, I went old school, and made it from scratch. For this recipe, I used old fashioned rolled oats.
There are 3 types of oats that can be purchased from your grocer.
Many people think that the nutritional value is different for each oat, but they all have the same nutritional content. Here is a quick run-down of the three.
1. Steel-Cut Oats - are made when the groat (whole oat grain with outer shell removed) is passed through a steel cutter, which chops the grain into 3 - 4 pieces. These oats take the longest to cook (30 min), and produce a chewy texture.
2. Rolled Oats - are made by steaming groats and flattening them with a roller. Advantage - they retain most of their shape and cook faster.
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats - are made by steaming, then partially cooking the whole groat, then passing it between rollers.
- Quick Cooking Rolled Oats - are made by steaming, then partially cooking steel-cut oats, then passing it between rollers.
3. Instant Oats - are made in a similar fashion to quick cooking rolled oats, but they are steamed and pressed for longer, and then they are dried. These oats cook the fastest. Just add hot water.
Oatmeal with Brown Sugar Recipe
Ingredients (serves 2)
1 cup dry oats
1/3 cup dates
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup dried cherries
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup pecans
1. Bring 1 cup of water and the oats to a boil. Reduce temp, cover, and simmer until water has been absorbed. Once oatmeal has cooked, add the remaining ingredients.
