Steel Cut Oats

My favorite breakfast cereal ever--Steel Cut Oats.  And super good for you, too.

My recipe is simple.  It goes something like this:

Shuffle to the kitchen.
Say a prayer of thanks for good husband who has coffee waiting.
Stand and sip silently for a few minutes or until eyes are beginning to focus.
Pour 1 1/2 cups of water in saucepan and bring to boil.
Dump in 1/4 cup of steel cut oats and turn heat down to medium low, no need to cover pan.
Take second cup of coffee to the couch and drink while watching morning show.  Pay particular attention to weather forecast realizing immediately after hearing it that you can't remember any of it.
After about 30 minutes, return to the kitchen where oats should be ready.
Dump in bowl.  Add a little brown sugar, walnuts, and splash of milk.
Enjoy your oats.

Pumpkin Soup

I have been craving pumpkin soup after making it for the first time a few weeks ago.  It has that wonderful pumpkin pie goodness combined with the warmth and creaminess of oatmeal or cream of wheat.  It was easy, the house smelled great, and I love the idea of making it with a pumpkin that just arrived home from Farmer’s Market.  It reheats well, in fact, I think it’s better the second day.

The original recipe was from Joy of Cooking.  I felt like it needed more brown sugar and  and spices (since I am such an expert in the kitchen!)—so here’s my take on it. 

3 cups pureed pumpkin

3 cups scalded milk

1 T. butter

1 T. flour

3 T. brown sugar

1 t. salt

1 ½ t. cinnamon

½ t. ginger

½ t. nutmeg

To make the puree, cut a small pumpkin in half and clean out the seeds (have your nice husband do this messy part).  Bake the pumpkin halves on a foil covered cookie sheet at 350 degrees for an hour.   Scoop out the pumpkin (you can almost just peel off the skin) and puree in the food processor until smooth.  I found it easier to blend the dry ingredients with the pumpkin in the food processor, too.  The recipe says the milk should be scalded--just microwave it for two to three minutes to warm it up before adding it to the other ingredients in the pan.  Then mix everything together and heat it up.

This makes a sweet soup.  I found recipes for more savory versions (with onions)  if that’s your preference—though this means you are probably not related to me.

Sorry--no picture of the finished soup.  It just does not take an attractive picture . . .