Steel-Cut Oats with Pumpkin

Hallelujah, it’s pumpkin season! Last night, I had half a can of leftover pumpkin that needed to be used up, so I tweaked a recipe I had for cooking steel-cut oats in the slow cooker. The result was like eating dessert at breakfast - it really captured the flavors of fall.

You can’t beat spiced pumpkin with cranberries and nuts! But unlike some Thanksgiving dinners, this dish is also packed with vitamin A from the pumpkin, fiber from the steel-cut oats and dried fruit, protein from walnuts, and omega-3s if you decide to add in some flax seed. This dish packs quite a nutritional punch, and will keep you going all morning.

Note: the sugar and syrup amounts are approximate, and you may add more if you like a sweeter oatmeal.

Steel-Cut Oats with Pumpkin

1 c. steel-cut oats

½ c. organic pumpkin puree

2 T. brown sugar

2 T. maple syrup

½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon with dash of nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, etc.

pinch sea salt

4 c. water

Half and half, milk, cream or soy milk

Chopped walnuts and dried cranberries or currents

Ground flax seed

Mix all ingredients together through water together in a slow cooker. Cook overnight for 7-9 hours. In the morning, swirl in a bit of half and half, milk, cream or soy milk to add creaminess. Sprinkle with nuts and dried fruit and ground flax seed as desired.

Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal in a Slow Cooker

How would you like to wake up on a chill winter morning to the smell of apple and cinnamon? With just about 10 minutes of prep the night before, you can, with this recipe! When cooked in a slow cooker overnight, the rolled oats take on a wonderful creamy texture. Real oatmeal cooked this way is miles apart from Quaker Instant! You can also add dried fruit if you like, or try substituting apple juice for the water. Steel cut oats also work beautifully in a slow cooker overnight. The combination possibilities are endless!

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal

1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
2 T. brown sugar
1/2 to 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, to your taste
Pinch of salt
2 1/2 c. water
1 1/2 T. butter
1 medium-size apple or pear, peeled, cored, and chopped

Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-9 hours, or overnight, or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.

Stir the oatmeal well and scoop into bowls with a large spoon. Serve with milk, soymilk or cream.