Oatmeal

When I was a kid I don't remember ever having oatmeal for breakfast.  I lived in Michigan, the home of Kellogg cereals.  I didn't like the way oatmeal looked, all lumpy and pasty.  Why would anyone eat that stuff. My mom was sweet , we had Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes.

My first experience with oatmeal was in 1959.  I was just starting 4th grade and I had to have an emergency appendectomy.  

Don't I look pitiful.  During my recovery, I was wheeled to a communal dining table with other little sick kids and was served oatmeal.  I took one look at it and thought, no way. I quietly whispered "I don't like oatmeal".  "I'm sorry", the nurse said," but it is what good little girls eat if they want to get better".  I took one bite and promptly threw-up all over the table.  Immediately the nurses wheeled me back to my bed and served me jello.  Victory was mine.

The next time was in the summer 1962 when I was a camper at Camp Cedar Lake. 

Because we were near Battle Creek, the home of Kellogg Cereal, most of the time for breakfast we had a choice of those cute little boxes of different cereals that Kellogg made.  But one day they decided to serve lumpy, pasty oatmeal.  I told my counselor, Stormy, I didn't like oatmeal and would I be able to just have a bowl of cereal instead.  " No, she said, "all the campers must eat oatmeal today."  That didn't seem quite fair to me.  So I just sat at the table and didn't' eat my oatmeal.  Another counselor finally noticed and was very stern with me about not eating.  I said, " I didn't like oatmeal."  She told me I had to eat it before I could leave the table. Well, she made me sit there for what seemed for hours, while the rest of my group when on to do something else.  I was in tears.  Finally, she did let me go, but I didn't have any breakfast that day.  

In 2003 Ed started to make the steel cut oatmeal.   It took me a long time to try it.  It smelled toasty and wasn't lumpy or pasty.  Hey, everyone she likes it!

Eddie's Famous Steel Cut Oatmeal *
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup steel cut oats (you can find this in the bulk aisle of the grocery store)
3 cups of boiling water
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions:
In a large saucepan, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes or until lightly toasted. Add the boiling water and reduce the heat to a simmer (take care when adding boiling water).  Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes, without stirring.

Combine the milk and the buttermilk with the oatmeal.  Stir gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes.  Spoon into serving bowls and top with additional buttermilk, brown sugar, dried cranberries, toasted almonds or cinnamon.  Your choice.

*adapted from a Food Network recipe

On most Sunday mornings, Ed makes this oatmeal.  It is so yummy especially on a cold  January day.  Hope you will try it.  You won't be disappointed.

Until Next Time-Kyle