Every morning (literally) my second born Niara, sleepily makes her way into the kitchen with one question on her lips…”Is the oatmeal ready?”
Niara is the original oatmeal girl.
Although none of us are exactly sure why she loves it so much, or even when her oatmeal crush started, we all know that she loves her oatmeal.
And everybody (MeeMaw, Nana, Aunties, Cousins) knows it and has oatmeal ready to serve her when she visits.
Over the years I have grown to be an expert oatmeal maker. We love it topped with delicious nuts and fruits. I even make oatmeal smoothies!
Oats, known scientifically as Avena sativa, are a hardy cereal grain able to withstand poor soil conditions in which other crops are unable to thrive. Oats gain part of their distinctive flavor from the roasting process that they undergo after being harvested and cleaned. Although oats are then hulled, this process does not strip away their bran and germ allowing them to retain a concentrated source of their fiber and nutrients.
Oatmeal not only helps you have staying power throughout the day (it sticks to your bones) but it also contains a specific fiber called beta-glucan which has proven positive effects on cholesterol levels. The high fiber content found in oats help to remove cholesterol from the digestive system that would otherwise end up in the bloodstream.
What You Need:
- Oatmeal, slow cooking (I use Quaker Old Fashioned Oats)
- Milk (any kind you like, I use Almond Original Unsweetened)
- Cold Water
- Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon)
- Nutmeg (1/2 teaspoon)
- Vanilla ( a splash)
- Salt (a pinch)
What You Do:Put OATS in a pot depending on how much you need. I tend to make 1/2 dry oats per person I am serving.
Add equal parts COLD WATER and MILK to the pot. Make sure the liquids cover the oats by about an inch.
Cook on the LOWEST HEAT you have and stir in CINNAMON, NUTMEG, VANILLA, and SALT.
Cook for about 30 minutes, giving it an occasional stir (cooking time will vary from stove to stove).
You will know when it is done because it will have a nice creamy, dreamy texture.
After it is cooked, serve and top with nuts and fruit it you like, or enjoy plain.
