Courtney's Homemade Fruit and Nut Steel Cut Oatmeal

One of my favorite cold winter morning treats is warm oatmeal. I like to add various fruits like raisins, cranberries, apples, or apricots. Fresh fruits are healthier than the dried fruits but the dried fruits tend to cook a little better in the crock pot. If you choose to add fresh fruit instead of dried, I recommend adding it sometime during the last hour you are cooking the homemade oatmeal.

Not only is homemade oatmeal much tastier than instant it also has many more health benefits than any other type of oatmeal. MrBreakfast.com lists the top ten health benefits of oatmeal which include lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, help with weight-control, and reducing the risk of type II diabetes.

My favorite way to make crock pot oatmeal is a recipe my best friend Courtney passed on to me. She taught me how to make it with steel cut oats which I think have a much better consistency and according to FormerFatGuy.com are healthier for you.

And this homemade oatmeal is more of a dessert than an ordinary breakfast. Between the fruit and the brown sugar (and the nuts too if you add them), this homemade oatmeal is enough to send any sweet tooth into overdrive! I not only enjoy this for breakfast but as a late night snack.

There are many things you can top it with, but I prefer brown sugar and walnuts and occasionally a little half and half if I want it a little creamier. But usually the brown sugar and walnuts are the perfect mix with this sweet and creamy concoction.

Enjoy!

Courtney's Crock Pot Fruit and Nut Oatmeal

1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
1/2 cup half and half or milk
1 cup dried or chopped fresh fruit (apples, raisins, cranberries, apricots)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 - tsp vanilla extract
2-3 Tablespoons cinnamon sugar

Chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix steel cut oats, water, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon sugar into crock pot. Add dried fruit or chopped apple. Stir mixture. Set on low heat and let cook for 8 to 9 hours.

Serve in bowls and top with brown sugar and chopped walnuts if desired.

Serves 8

Calories: 193.9, Total Fat: 1.6 g, Cholesterol: 0.8 mg, Sodium: 30.4 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 44.1 g, Dietary Fiber: 3.6 g, Protein: 4.4 g

Sources:

FormerFatGuy.com
Oatmeal - Everything You Want to Know About Oats
http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/oatmeal/oats.asp

MrBreakfast.com
Top 10 Reasons to Eat Oatmeal
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/article.asp?articleid=27