Monday, August 29, 2011

Healthy Homemaking Series: Oats

Baby Step 15 - Cooking Oats (and Other Grains)

Challenge: Learn to properly prepare whole grains using the soaking method.

Why: Oatmeal is cheap and wholesome, full of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.  Soaking is important for without it the phytates present in dry grains can lead to mineral loss, allergies, and irritation of the intestinal tract.

How: This challenge made me cringe.  I hate oatmeal.  I can scarf down the instant packets, but real oatmeal?  Sick.  Apparently there is a right and a wrong way to do it, so I am hoping this new method will make it tastier.

1. In the evening put oats and the appropriate amount of water into a pot. (For rolled oats the ratio is 1-1 1/2 cups of water to 1 cup of oats.)
2. Add 1 tbsp of acidic liquid - yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, whey, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice
3. In the morning, turn on the stove and cook the oats according to the type.  They will require less cooking time after being soaked.
4. For rolled oats bring to just boiling, then turn down to low to simmer with the lid on for 5 minutes.
Method from Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie Langford.

Ta da!

I am sad to say, I still hate it.  I tried it first with cinnamon and honey (as pictured above), but it didn't taste any better.  Brad then added jam to it which made it tolerable but certainly not something I would choose to eat.  Other than my two bites, Brad ate it, (Husbands are good for that.) and even he didn't particularly like it either. Unfortunately, oatmeal is not something I can see myself making in the future.

Do you know how to make oatmeal tasty?

PS -
On Wednesday Brad and I are taking a trip from our home in BC, over to Sask, and then back again with a stop in northern Alberta.  For my next two blog posts, I will not be doing any baby steps since I will not be at home.  They will instead be product reviews, which I hope you still check out!

6 comments:

  1. Hey Grace, so I would have to see if I can find the actual recipe, but I used to cook oatmeal with apples. It was so yummy. You really didn't even need to add any sugar because of the apples. I know I cut up one apple and added to the oatmeal and water and cooked it on the stove. I just don't know how much oatmeal and water. Maybe you would like it like that?

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  2. do you have to eat oatmeal? could you try cream of wheat of red river or something? I'm loving my cream of wheat right now and it is easy to make even in the microwave! (not the packets either)

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  3. Why don't you try making steel cut oats instead of rolled oats. They're a bit nuttier, and they have a better texture for those who just can't stand mushy oatmeal.

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  4. Thanks for all the tips! I will have to try them.

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  5. Dear the wife life,

    I love to eat oatmeals, but I have to admit I would use instead first. Just a bit lazy! I was thinking my mom use to make oatmeal for us and she would add vanilla, cloves, cinnamon stick and it was always yummy! Maybe you can try it this way.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Vanessa

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  6. I don't blame you Grace! Honestly, that picture makes the oatmeal look NASTY!! The trick is find just the right consistency. I love oatmeal, but it has to be medium cooked, like the instant stuff. Good try. Who says oatmeal has to be cooked to mush, instead try making granola.

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