Tasty Tuesday {Crockpot Oatmeal}

Are you cold yet?  It is especially cold here today after a system came in that included over an inch of rain (yay!) yesterday morning, followed by freezing temperatures, high winds and blowing snow.  The wind blew all night, and the high today is 28 degrees -- everything is frozen! 

One of my favorite things to make for a cold morning is Crockpot Oatmeal.  It is a great start for school mornings, since you prepare everything the night before, and it is ready when you wake up!

My family has never been a big fan of oatmeal, until I introduced this recipe.  The consistency is a bit different from instant oatmeal or stovetop oatmeal -- very creamy -- and when I add toasted pecans, everyone gobbles it up! 

I apologize in advance for the photo quality.  The photos look fine in my library and when I select them to upload, but when I upload them to blogger, there are lines and color distortions - not sure why, but I re-uploaded several of the photos more than once, and they would look different -- and wrong -- almost every time!  I didn't have time to re-upload every picture until each was right.

Here's what you need:

Steel cut oats (very important), water, milk, cinnamon sugar, brown sugar, butter and vanilla.

Place 1 c. steel cut oats in a bowl that will hold 4 1/2-5 cups of of liquid.  The bowl should also easily fit in your crockpot with the lid in place.

Add the other dry ingredients:  1/4 c. brown sugar, 2 T. cinnamon sugar, and 1 T. butter (cut into small pieces).  Stir gently to combine.

Add the liquid -- 4 c. water and 1/2 c. milk; stir to combine.  Stir in 1 t. vanilla.

Now, the fun part!  First, put about 1" of water in the crock pot.  Carefully place the bowl of oatmeal mixture inside the crock pot.  Gently pour additional water down the side of the crock pot, so that the water level is at about the same level as the oatmeal mixture.  This creates a water bath that will gently cook the oatmeal.

Put the lid on the crock pot and set it on "LOW" - cook for 6-8 hours. 

When you wake up in the morning this is what it will look like: 



I usually toast some pecans in the oven while everyone is getting ready, and crumble them on top.  Additional milk is optional.  Nothing like a piping hot bowl of oatmeal to start the day -- yum!

You could add fruit to the mixture before cooking, but we're not really fruit people.  You are what you eat, after all, and I guess we'd rather be nuts!

Here's the recipe:

Crockpot Oatmeal

1 c. steel cut oats

1/4 c. brown sugar

2 T. cinnamon sugar

1 T. butter cut into pieces

4 c. water

1/2 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients, including butter in a bowl that will hold at least 4-5 c. liquid.  The bowl should also be able to easily fit in crock pot with the lid in place.  Add water and milk; stir.  Stir in vanilla.  Put about 1" of water in crock pot; gently place bowl of oatmeal mixture in crockpot.  Pour additional water into crockpot to the same level as oatmeal.  Put lid on crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

"My mom is your biggest fan" - {Meeting The Pioneer Woman}

A couple months ago, The Pioneer Woman, my favorite blogger/cookbook author, announced her Amarillo booksigning on Facebook.  Needless to say, I was floored, and immediately called my husband.

Me:  "Guess who's coming to Amarillo?!"

Dennis:  "Matthew McConnoughey?" (see this post)

Me:  "No....guess again!"

Dennis:  "Selena Gomez?" (not sure where that came from...)

Me:  "No...whose blog do I read EVERY day, and whose recipes do you love?"

 - PAUSE-

Dennis:  "Get OUT!"

Me:  "That's right, The Pioneer Woman!"

Dennis:  "Please don't do anything weird, okay?"

That afternoon, when the kids got in the car, I asked the same question..."Guess who's coming to Amarillo?"
Their first guess was Selena Gomez.  Again, not sure where that came from!

Rewind a few months back -  February, I think it was.  I sent an email to Ree Drummond -- The Pioneer Woman -- telling her she should do a booksigning in Amarillo, since I knew she had a great fan base around here.  I suggested things they could do while they were here, etc.  Now I know it wasn't my email, but was still so very excited that she decided to do a booksigning while in town for the World Championship Ranch  Rodeo.

Anyhow, November 13 could not come soon enough.  My sister, Judith, agreed to come with me, and we met some new friends while we were there.  We figured there would be a long line, so we decided to try to be there around 9 a.m. -- two hours before the signing.  Judith thought I was crazy, but when it was all said and done, we were both glad we arrived early.  Jack, Rachael and Avery also came along.  Jack had a basketball tournament that afternoon, and I was afraid I wouldn't have enough time to drive back to Hereford to get him to the tournament, so he had to tag along.  Rachael and Avery were excited to meet The Pioneer Woman.  Sam stayed with our sitter, and I know he was much happier at home than waiting in line!

We were near the front of the line, and once the signing began, it wasn't long before it was our turn. 

Rachael walked right up to Mrs. Drummond and said, point blank,

"My Mom is your biggest fan!"

"I bet someone told you to say that," was Mrs. Drummond's response.

She signed the many books I brought, conversing as she signed each book.  She complimented the girls' outfits (thank you, Hannah Andersson!), and when she signed a "Charlie" book for my niece, Quincy, she said she would have to add that name to her list of names she liked for babies.  So sweet! 

Of course, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet Marlboro Man, and he was very nice -- and tall, too!

Thank goodness Judith brought her camera, because I could not find mine!  Thank you, dear sister, for the photos!

This was such a fun morning, and I have to say that I am an even bigger fan of The Pioneer Woman.  She is so nice and down-to-earth, as is her husband.  Great people!

I hope to be in more of a blogging mood over the holidays.  We've had a whirlwind fall, with so many activities and detours along the way.  I hope to fill you in soon.