Steel Cut Oats: The Short Version

I like oatmeal. So does Rob. I know how to cook it. So does Rob. I always make steel cut oatmeal. Rob pulls a Houdini and I end up busting my ass over a hot stove for 45 minutes while those little oaty bastards make up there mind about how quick they're gonna finish cooking.

Now that I have picked a fight with oatmeal and checked off my list another inanimate object with which to yell at, I'll show you a short cut.

What you'll need:

• a bowl - big enough to hold 5 cups of stuff
• liquid measuring cup
• dry measuring cup
• If you need the "See Spot Run" version of what-you-need lists by now, just give it up and marry/date someone who knows what their doing.

Ingredients

• oats
• water
• salt

Let me start by saying, this UCC blog entery was inspired by the radiant Felicia Day. One of her tweets popped up on my Twitter feed referencing steel cut oatmeal, how good it was and what a pain it was to make. I agree. It's a bitch sometimes. Here's to you Ms. Day! I hope this is helpful.

Step 1: "Go soak your head" was once an insult.
I don't know what it means or why it was an insult, so don't ask. That's a Rob question. Let him bore you to tears with an explination. I'm here to feed you.

Take your bowl and using your LIQUID measureing cup add 4 cups of water to it. Why can I just use the dry measuring cup? Because you're figuring out volume not weight. The water doesn't have to be icy and it should never be hot. Luke warm or room temp is fine. Now, take the DRY measuring cup and throw in 1 cup of oats.*  Leave it on the counter overnight. The oats will  slowly suck up all of the water and be easier to cook the next day.

*Note: This is what is called a 4 to 1 (or 4:1) ratio. That means you have 4 cups of water to each cup of oats. With me? Good....::sigh::

Step 2: Look Ma! I'm eating my oatmeal!
Technically you can boil the oats for 10 minutes and then let them soak overnight. Either way, when you get up in the morning put the soaked oats in a pot and bring it to a hard boil and cook for another 7 to 8 minutes. Remember to stir and scrape the bottom of the pot so nothing sticks to it.

Remove from the heat and add in whatever you like: raisins, brown sugar, butter, cranberries, go nuts!

Nuts would be good too :)