I have oatmeal for breakfast each morning. But not just any oatmeal. I like steel cut oats. I don't like mushy oatmeal. Every night I put a cup of water in a small pot and bring it to a boil, then I add 1/4 cup of oatmeal, cover the pot, take it off the heat and set it aside overnight. In the morning I'll cook it over low heat for about 20 minutes. I'll top it with a teaspoon of maple syrup, some fresh fruit and sometimes a little bit of nuts.
I do this every day. I have three one quart saucepans so I don't have to wash the same one every day. There is always a a clean one.
The problem is I like to keep the counters clean, or at least not cluttered, but it's kind of a PITA to go hunting for the 1/4 cup measuring cup every evening. WHERE could I put it so it would be handy, but not lying around on the counter all day long?
SOMETIMES I find if you ask a question, the answer pops right up. The measuring cup isn't stainless steel, so it sticks to a magnet. I don't remember how I figured that out, but as soon as I did I knew what to do. I remembered a pack of business card sized magnets I have with adhesive on one side. I stuck one to the inside of the cabinet door. Problem solved.
This works for any kind of problem, but you have to formulate a question first, Normally if I've got a problem rattling around in my head I will ask the question before I go to bed at night. I generally have an answer when I wake up in the morning, or shortly thereafter.
8 comments:
Your measuring cup looks like one of the set I have down here. I know people in Europe cook or partly cook their oats the night before and put it in a " Hay box" the heat is retained and in the morning all done. Not sure of the exact method. I am going to try my measuring cups and if they will stick to a magnet, get Hugh to make me a board that can go inside the pantry door. A whole lot easier than way down in the bottom drawer.Love your innovative ideas that stretch far and wide.
Our brains can do amazing things when we ask the right questions. Elegant solution.
We call that rolled oats here and I too am like you I like the bigger pieces not the tiny chopped up bits..... I'll give this a try......
I cook my steel cut oats like you do except I make a larger quantity. The next morning I fill my bowl and reheat in the microwave. The rest are refrigerated and microwaved on successive days. I like to double the recipe so I have only to make it once a week. This is my go-to recipe:
3 3/4 c. water
1/4 t. salt
1 c. steel cut oats
1/2 t. cinnamon
Bring the water and salt to a boil in a medium or large saucepan (big enough to accommodate about 4 cups cooked oatmeal with a bit of room to spare). When it reaches a rolling boil, stir in the oats. Boil for one minute; watching closely so it doesn't boil over. Remove from heat and stir. Cover the pot and let it sit overnight, 8-12 hours. In the morning before serving, stir the oatmeal to recombine the oats with any residual liquid and heat over medium for 1-2 minutes (or microwave) until the oatmeal is heated through. Serve with your favorite toppings such as bananas, craisins, a bit of brown sugar, blueberries or other fruit. Yield: 4 servings.
Simple solutions are the best. They become obvious at the best times.
Where you need it when you need it...kitchen or sewing room!
I prefer steel cut oats also. I make it in the microwave, in a nice large deep 28 oz Corelle soup bowl. No pan to wash, deep enough it doesn't ooze over the top. I like it with a bit of dried fruit, pecans, and a touch of maple syrup or brown sugar.
I keep a quarter cup measure right in the sugar container, just right size for mixing up the hummingbird food, and it can't be any handier. It's odd how not forcing thinking about a problem often leads to the best solutions. Figure out the question, then go do something else.
You gals are making me want oatmeal! We grew up eating grits, not oatmeal, so I have never aquired a taste for it. Unless it is a cookie!!!! With your add-ins, it sounds like a cookie! I'd think if it sits all nite it would be a mushy mess?
I keep measuring cups in all of my jars-sugar, flour, grits, rice, cornmeal. So convenient! Love the magnet idea!!!!!
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