Overnight Steel Cut Oats

Breakfast can be a tricky meal, especially on a weekday when you are trying to get out the door in time for work, remember one million things and convince your kids to get their coats and shoes on before they "escape" to the other side of the house and begin a chasing game with you (or just lay down int he middle of the floor refusing to budge.  Fun times.) :) 

Breakfast is also the most important meal of the day.  I love soaked oatmeal, and it only takes a few minutes to cook, but at some point my little guy decided he was sick of it so we have taken a break for a period of time.  Steel cut oats cooked overnight in the crock pot is very different than the soaked oatmeal - it turns out much more like baked oatmeal this way.  Plus, steel cut oats have incredible nutritional value compared to other oatmeal variations.  It's the "real deal."  Cook this oatmeal overnight and it is ready when you wake up in the morning.  This is great leftover, as well - just warm it in the microwave for a minute.

I have taken a couple of recipes and converted them to my liking.  With a little trial and error, here is what I have come up with!

Overnight Steel Cut Oatmeal

Ingredients

1 cup steel cut oats

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup ground flax seed meal

1 tbsp. whole cane sugar (a.k.a rapadura) or organic brown sugar

4.5 cups water OR 4 cups water and 1/2 cup organic cream or half and half (note that the oatmeal will brown a little on the edges and bottom due o the cream but it does turn out delicious)!

Add-ins (for the morning):  Organic half and half or cream (coconut oil is a wonderful dairy free dd in!), maple syrup, raw honey, nuts, chia seeds, other dried fruits, chocolate chips, Sunbutter or peanut butter.  A fun idea - make a few little bowls of toppers and let your kiddos top the oatmeal themselves!

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients into a slow cooker (a 4 quart works fine for this recipe).  Cover and set to low before you head to bed - ready 8 hours later!