Sunday, May 15, 2011

Gimme Some M'Oatmeal





This is my Buby.  She was one of the smartest, cutest, nicest, cleverest ladies in the world.  She raised her voice at me a total of one time (when I was eating muffins on her stairs with my sister Becky).  She somehow managed to remember the intricate details of her million family members and friends' lives.  She had a knack for making people feel special.
When I had sleepovers at her house, she'd always make me stovetop oatmeal (that is, when she finally woke up - Yes, she was a night hawk).
My Buby was a phenomenal cook, so of course it was always cooked to perfection.  The consistency just right that we could make a well in the middle for brown sugar.  We'd pour milk around the edges, like a moat around an oat castle.  And BUTTER - one big blob that would melt all over the oatmeal and seep into the milk river.
Now, I'm not sure how Bub would feel about baked oatmeal (she didn't love change) - but she also supported anything and everything I ever did.  So Bub, this one's for you.

What you'll need:

2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup brown sugar (you can always add more...)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup soy or almond milk
1/4 cup (or less) butter or substitute
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 apple
blackberries and raspberries to top it off

What to do:

  • Preheat oven to 350 
  • Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl
  • If you have a cast iron pot:
    • Melt butter on stove and add remaining wet ingredients
    • Add dry ingredients to the pot and stir it all together
    • Stir in sliced apples and pop it in the oven
  • If you're not using a pot, you'll be doing more dishes and:
    • Combine all wet ingredients, including melted butter
    • Add wet and dry ingredients together, and stir in your sliced apple
    • Transfer mix to square baking dish and pop in the oven
  • Cook for about 20 minutes, until you have a nice, slightly crunchy top
  • Scoop into bowls, add a milk river, and top with berries or your other favourite fruits
This is a perfect Sunday morning treat, and if you make extra, you can take it to work to make Monday more bearable.  I don't have leftovers...but my house does smell delicious.