Check out the page I created last night 🙂
This morning I had steel cut, which I simmered last night in prep for a busy morning. The husband had to be up and gone by 6:45 to take his poor mom to have a tooth extracted, so I decided a pre-made microwaveable breakfast would be nice. I left for the gym at 5:25 and almost missed him as he was leaving when I got home at 6:44. It was nice not to have to wash pots this morning, which is my biggest motivator for making steel cut oats (although I’m sure I could pre-make rolled too, but I love those most fresh off the heat!)
Snack
Before I left for the gym I had a TJ’s whole wheat pita with some peanut butter. Photographed with my water bottle!
Workout
At the gym I did 30 minutes on the Stairmaster, 15 ET, and started to lift weights (I got through biceps) when I looked up at the clock and it was 6:37 – I was going to miss seeing the husband today if I didn’t leave! So triceps, shoulders, chest and back got skipped for a quick goodbye kiss 🙂
Nuked Oats
I made these steel cut oats with just water (I make 2 servings by adding 2 cups of water to 1/2 a cup of oats and simmer on medium low for about 40 minutes. I find any less than 40 minutes they don’t plump up enough).
Then this morning I added a small banana and nuked them until they were hot. Then I added in 1/4 cup hemp milk to fluff and rehydrate them (I didn’t add this first because I’ve found it likes to separate when it gets too hot) along with cinnamon, brown sugar and flax and nuked for another 30 seconds. Then I topped with almonds I toasted in a dry skillet since the microwave was occupied. And lastly – a dollop of almond butter!
They were good, but not as good as creamy rolled oats!
Along with egg nog tea (made with a splash of skim milk) and my little kitchen table centerpiece again 🙂
This breakfast was 450 kcal, 14 grams fiber, and 14 grams protein.
Off to my long Wednesday with you-know-what this afternoon ( 👿 )
VeggieGirl says
Kath, that “Tribute to Oatmeal” page is brilliant!! I love how you featured all of the scrumptious variations of your “greatest love” :0D
Ahh, the you-know-what MUST be a Chem Lab – hang in there today, Kath!! It’ll be over before you know it :0) I’ll be stuck in school, taking two, hour-long examinations, back-to-back (and the classes are in separate building, on opposite sides of campus, so I’ll be wearing my running shoes today) >:0(
hk says
love the new page, too cute 🙂
Amanda says
I love my morning oatmeal. Just curious about your opinion…do you think that certain types of oatmeal i.e. the steel cut are better than instant oats? I buy a lot of Kashi one’s or things that have high protein and fiber..but maybe I need to test out the straight oats?
Katschi says
Hi Kath, I stay away from the steel cut oats for the same reason that it’s too time consuming. I tried micro-ing them with disastrous results — a very oatmeal-y microwave. Didn’t do that again 🙂
Have you tried almond milk? I like it alot better than soy or rice. Since I have thyroid issues, I think it’s best to stay away from highly processed soy products. Asians do not eat soy the way Americans do…I believe they principally eat it in tofu and soy or tamari sauce.
Unfortunately, it does say that soy lecithin is an ingredient in the almond milk but I’m not sure if the percentage is high enough to be of concern.
I bought some multi-grain instant oatmeal that I’ve been eating lately. I may try to make my own so absolutely no additives get in. I’ll have to check out the bulk food to see if they have the ingredients. I love my oatmeal but the multi-grain is nice for a change. I can’t find raw sliced almonds with the skins still on like I see you’re eating. The only ones I can find so far are blanched. Where do you buy yours? Trader Joe’s? A store that we don’t have here 🙁
Take care, Kath!
Amandamoo says
I, personally, am a convert to the plain rolled oats. I used to use the prepackaged kind but Kath has convinced me that plain is better… let me tell you why…
1. They are cheaper. You can buy them in bulk or in a big tub for less than a package of 6 packets of instant oatmeal.
2. You can cook them quickly (microwave) or slowly (stovetop) and get different results depending on your preference. Plus, you can adjust your serving size to meet your nutritional needs for the day.
And finally,
3. You can make plain oats ANY FLAVOR YOU WANT! Banana, Berry, Apple, Pear, Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, PB, Almond Butter, Cane sugar, Brown sugar, Maple Syrup, Butter, ANYTHING YOU WANT! I seem to remember the husband discussing a hot and spicy oatmeal with eggs and hot sauce.
In conclusion ; )
Plain oats are better than prepackaged instant oatmeal.
P.S. Thanks, Kath, for converting me, I will never go back!
Tina says
Hi Kath,
Off-topic question for ya– how many hits does your blog get a day? Your site is so popular! I am just curious.
Christin says
Yuck, sorry you have to go the Chem lab again, kath! I too hated chem…I had a specific teacher that was definitely evil and the experiments were sooooo boring!! Well, at least once you are done with it you are done with it right? and after you finish it will be the farthest amount of time as it can be from the next time you have to go…so at least you will have that to look forward to!!
i am bummed I can’t check out your chicken video at work 🙁 but I’ll check it out at home!
I really don’t know about the Barefoot Contessa though…she’s one of my least favorite. I like Giada and Rachel and Sandra Lee better I think. haha! I like how Sandra always does a cocktail and tablescape! 🙂
rhodeygirl says
I reallllly love steel cut oats- I find regular old fashioned oats are just a little bit mushier than I like. You won’t know the difference in taste until you try them!! I do make both… but I tend to gravitate towards the steel cut more often.
I make the steel cut oats the night before as I am cooking dinner, then in the morning I pop them in the micro with some water and half a banana- it is a nice big bowl of fluffy yet chewy oatmeal
Elizabeth says
Does anyone know where we can buy bigelow teas without buying 6 cases at a time? I’d like to try the Eggnog and Pumpkin Spice teas, but I don’t want to buy a ton in case I don’t like it.
Emma says
Elizabeth~ ha the Eggnog tea is maybe now my favorite tea in the whole world. But unfortunately, being a seasonal tea, you probably would be quite lucky to find anymore boxes of it…. so sad… until next year *tear*
Kath~ ha i have the dreaded you-know-what tonight as well. And we get to mix lots of sulfuric acid, so ofcourse I can’t wait for those fumes.
suzanne says
I love steel cut oats but i soak them in 1/2 milk and 1/2 water with vanilla and whatever i’m using to sweeten them. They take but a few mins to cook in the a.m. I saw this on alton browns show and it’s really good!
suzanne says
Sorry meant to say soak them overnight.
Kath says
Amanda,
Do you mean are the bulk oats better for you than the packaged ones? I think so. When you make them from scratch you are controlling what does in. The packaged oatmeals often have lots of sugar (unless you’re getting the low-sugar ones) and you get HALF the volume for the same calories as plain rolled oats. So 1 packet of instant is usually about 150-160 kcal and makes about 1/2 a cup of oatmeal whereas the real stuff is 150 for a full CUP of prepared oatmeal (although that’s without any added mixins). I would never eat instant, but if that’s all you have time for, you choose a low-sugar and/or all-natural brand and enjoy it, then it’s a good choice for you.
Katschi ,
I have tried Almond Breeze but I prefer skim milk to it. I thought it was rather chalky and tasteless. I did not try the vanilla kind, just plain though.
We buy our sliced almonds at TJ’s. I believe they are raw.
Amandamoo,
We should be spokespeople for Quaker!
Elizabeth,
The egg nog is available by the single box around the Xmas holidays but it’s usually gone by this time of year. If you like black tea in general, I would put a 90% chance that you’d like it. I think it’s worth the 6-box risk! Or perhaps you could go in on it with 5 friends?!
Emma,
No need to wait – you can buy the Egg Noggin’ at Amazon!!! Do you have to buy a few boxes at a time though (as Elizabeth was alluding to). My Amazon store links right to it.
Suzanne,
I totally forgot that AB did that – I definitely watched his oatmeal episode! I’ll have to try the soak this weekend! Thanks for reminding me. How did you think they compared in volume to slow-cooked ones? Did they soak up ALL of the milk and water? Thanks!
Kath
ariana says
can you use quick oats and still get the creamy texture of the old fashioned oats?
i have a day off tomorrow and want to try making the oatmeal. yum!
Becky A. says
Christin-I like Sandra Lee, too! Her recipe’s aren’t always the healthiest, but they can be modified. My boyfriend calls her “the one who pours dip in a bowl and then makes a martini!” Hahaha…
Kath says
Ariana,
I think using Quick Oats are better than instant packets but rolled are the creamiest. But give ’em a try and be sure to add all your favorite toppings!
Kath
Caitlin says
I actually HATE Sandra Lee! I find her sooo annoying, haha. Something about her voice or the way she talks is really whiny or something. And a lot of the stuff she makes is kinda…gross! Sorry, not trying to knock down anyone else’s tastes, she just really bugs me! 🙂
bev says
Yea for the oats….Is that a plastic water bottle in you breakfast snack 🙁
Yaz says
I am a big steel cut oats lover. I’ve heard they are better for you than regular oats. Soak them over night to cut down on the cooking time or just buy McCann’s Quick and Easy Steel Cut Oats. They cook in just 5 minutes. Check out www.mccanns.ie for more info on where to buy.
suzanne says
They didn’t soak up all the milk but they also didn’t seem to take as long to cook