I remember growing up with oatmeal almost every morning of my life. I was so grateful when I moved out that I could enjoy something other than oats. Now that it's been many years since I've lived at home, I am now beginning to appreciate this amazing grain! Not only is it very inexpensive, it is also packed with nutrition that will help keep you satisfied for hours. Oats are very rich in potassium! They are also a wonderful carbohydrate that will give you energy over a long period of time. Oats are also a good source of protein, calcium, iron, B vitamins, riboflavin, thiamine, & phosphorous. Oats are very easily digested and will help fight infection and aide in protecting you from getting sick. It isn't any wonder that this is one of the first grains introduced to babies! 
Oats are actually made from a grain called oat groats. The grain is rolled in a special machine called an oat flaker/roller. You can buy attachments for your Bosch or Kitchenaide's or just buy them separately at your local health food store, if you desire rolling them yourself. There is a higher source of nutrition when you take a whole grain like oat groats and roll them and immediately eat them versus storing them. Most grains will lose a portion of their nutrition after the grain is cracked, or processed in any way within 24 hours. Don't get me wrong, they are still VERY nutritious! Oat groats are also very yummy if cooked whole. It is a very chewy and delicious way to get all that nutrition without breaking the grain. I cook my oat groats just like I do brown rice; 2 cups water to 1 cup of oat groats. Bring water to boil, add in oat groats and simmer on low for 30-45 minutes or until the grain is soft.
Now, how to fix this grain on regular basis without it getting BORING? Well, I've got a few recipe's to share, if you have any to add, please feel free to share them in my comments!
Oat Groats
2 cups water
1 cup oat groats
Bring water to boil, add in oat groats and simmer on low for 30-45 minutes.
Rolled Oats
1 1/2 cup water
3/4 to 1 cup rolled oats
Pinch of Salt (optional)
1 teaspoon butter (optional)
Bring water to boil, add in rolled oats. I add more oats for a thicker cereal.
Microwave Oats (my kids make this themselves)
2/3 cup rolled oats
1 cup water
Combine in a large bowl (so it doesn't boil over in the microwave), cook on high for 2 minutes.
TOPPINGS
Sweeteners
Stevia
Xagave or agave Syrup
Brown Sugar
Honey
Apple Juice Concentrate (frozen is my favorite, only 100% fruit juice varieties)
Fruits, Nuts & Seeds
mashed banana's (my favorite, I don't add any sweeteners when using mashed banana)
raisins
mashed or chopped prunes
apples (grated or chopped and cooked with the oats or oat groats)
peaches
strawberries (all berries are yummy)
mango
dates
chopped almonds
walnuts
sunflower seeds
sesame seeds
Milk
Soy Milk
Rice Milk
Almond Milk
Canned Evaporated Milk (very rich and yummy)
Regular cows milk
Cream or half n' half
Enjoy!!!
3 comments:
HECK YEAH! thank you for this post i have never heard of oat groats! i will have to get some now! and i guess i was pretty lucky growing up we had oatmeal(we called it mush) every other day and we could LOAD on the brown sugar..hahah! matt said you guys had to eat it plain! UGH!
This is my second day trying to cook oat groats and I'm really losing it. I keep getting a very glutinous result, kind of like overcooked rice. Can't tell if this is what oat groats are supposed to be like -- or have I just landed in a strange land where I'm destined to never eat a properly prepared grain again. Help!
I just LOVE oat groats! I read the book "Food Matters" about a month ago, and have been cooking a big pan of oat groats every week for the past month. I cook with 1 cup groats to 3 cups water, or so. I watch the pan simmer, and add more water/turn down the heat if they start to stick. Then, after about 45 minutes, I take the pan off the heat, put the cover on and let the groats soak up any additional water. I put them in a glass casserole dish with lid and then eat them during the week.
To re-heat, I put about 1/2 to 1 cup of groats in a bowl or mug and add about 1/2 cup of water to them and microwave for three minutes. Then, I stir them and let sit for a few minutes, at which point they are still nice and chewy, but not globby. Sometimes I add nuts or dried fruit, but I love 'em just the way they are!
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