Oatmeal, Alton's way

I have enjoyed the occasional bowl of oatmeal ever since I was a kid. My grandmother in upstate New York served it to me in her maple-leaf pattern bowls, (pictured above), and that's how I eat it to this day. As an adult I have cooked the ubiquitous Quaker Oats brand on the stove-top. Thanks to Alton Brown, and one of his Good Eats episodes about the various types of oats, I have seen the error of my ways.

Steel Cut oatmeal, also known as pinhead oats and available at most grocery stores, is far superior in taste and consistency to the cereal oats. If you like oatmeal, you owe it to yourself to try the good stuff.

As usual, Alton Brown offers an easy way to prepare it so it is waiting for you first thing in the morning, hot and yummy, as you shuffle to the kitchen in your jammies. Got a crock pot? Haul it out! Add one cup of the oats, four cups of water, and one half cup of half-and-half. (Half milk, half cream). Stir just a bit, put on the cover and cook on low for 8 or 9 hours (overnight).

Alton also adds a cup of dried figs, and a cup of dried cranberries, but I am an oatmeal purist so I omit those. I do like a light sprinkle of brown sugar and a splash of cold milk. Some others who reviewed this oatmeal said that it came out dry, so make sure you have a good thick ceramic crock that does not run too high in temperature. You might want to add extra water or cook for a shorter period of time, but it worked perfectly for me as the recipe stands. I suppose I'll try cooking the oats stove-top some day, but having it ready in the morning for the whole family, at each individual's personal time-table, really works for me. Leftovers even heated up well!

Rolled oats are good for cookies and other applications, Alton tells us. In fact, on this same episode of Good Eats, Alton demonstrated how my own Scottish ancestors must have made haggis. This is surely one of my favorite moments in food tv history. Alton even provides the recipe for haggis online! Thanks Alton, although I don't think I'll be trying that one anytime soon.

Comments

[Amy]

I just love Alton Brown.

I've been reading through your blog, very nice!

[LisaSD]

I'm a fan of Alton too, but don't have crock pot, so haven't tried this version of his oatmeal.