"Ugly Oatmeal" - a savory way to enjoy steel cut oats

Topped with flaxseed, berries and oat beverage,
this bowl of steel-cut ugliness is loaded with nutrition.

This recipe comes from Mic the Vegan.  He is one of the first vegan Tubers I watched with any regularity.  This recipe below is inspired from his cookbook, although I altered the proportions since Mic can apparently eat a lot in the mornings.  The original also calls for sliced bananas on top of the oats.  Not my thing, but I left it in as an option.

A warning for you add water and microwave folks.  This recipe requires the stove.

Gasp.

Whaaaaat?

I know.  I was shocked at first, too.

But, once I got over it and gave it a try, this became my go-to breakfast and I won't go back.  It soothes my soul to take the time to prepare this food, rather than microwaving gooey oats in 90 seconds.  I sip my coffee and do some writing work while I wait for these oats to work their magic in the pot.

Steel-cut oats have a different consistency from Quaker Oats.  The "steel" nature of them is where all the health benefits come in.  Embrace this difference and you will fall in love with these quirky little oats.  Between the roughness of the oats and the flaxseeds, your innards will love 'em.  The soluble fiber found in steel cut oats dissolves in water, forming a gel-like substance that lowers your cholesterol levels and stabilizes blood glucose (Mayo Clinic, 2015.)  Steel cut oats also contain insoluble fiber which again is a huge win-win for your lower intestines.

Cooking the oats has become a new morning ritual.  The house smells lovely as they bubble on the stove, as I throw a healthy dash of pumpkin pie in the mix.  Mmmm.  Cloves.  Cinnamon.  Ginger.  Nutmeg.  Cloves.  Allspice.  It's like a wee bit of heaven in your oats.  And, if I wake up early enough, I mediate while I wait for the oats to cook.  Give this one a try (Meditation for Anxiety by Adriene.) ...  Namaste.  

Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 cup dry steel-cut oats
- 1 cup of water
- generous handful frozen berries (about 1/2 cup) Bonus: your hand turns purple.
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- 1 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice* (Trader Joe's)
- oat, hemp, rice, soy or coconut beverage
OPTIONAL: Sliced banana (for topping)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Add water and oatmeal to pot.
2. Cook on high until bubbling.
3. Add in pumpkin pie spice.  This can be tossed on top at the end, but doing it now makes the house smell good.
3. Cook on low until soft, (15 - 20 minutes depending upon your stove.)   Toward end of cooking time, stir frequently to avoid sticking.
4. Toss in frozen berries.  Melt those iceberg blobs.
5. Remove from heat and top with flaxseed and plant-based milk.

Stir often toward the end so it doesn't stick.
Plus, it's fun to play with your food.