Thanks Ms. V

Ms. V,

Thanks for sharing the Irish Oatmeal recipe.
I have been making it on the weekends. I have learned you can add raisins and top with chopped pecans and cinnamon. Dried cranberries, apricots and almost any dried fruit and add nuts if desired. I've added whole milk to make a more creamy consistency.
When we go to our weekend place on the Guadalupe River unfortunately I am unable to take Big Bertha along and have to make it on the stovetop. But I do make it. The neighbor boys spent the night and I made them breakfast. Their parents were asking me what Irish Oatmeal was. The boys went home and told them how good it was!!

I do add the dried fruit along with the boiling water, nuts when serving. Sometimes
I toast the oatmeal in butter.

There's nothing like waking up to the smell of the oatmeal and it's ready!!

Yum yum!!
Berlyn

You're quite welcome, Berlyn.

My husband wants it every morning, my aunt and uncle had it every morning, summer and winter all their lives and he died last year at 104, and she is still going at 90.

I am going to try cooking with milk; I have found that wiping the pan with butter is not necessary; and I wonder how cooking with fresh fruit would turn out, will need to try that....V

Your welcomed Ms. V,

I add the milk after final cooking. I have a friend who makes it and she adds buttermilk.

I have added fresh fruit like banana's after cooking.

There are just endless possiblities with this.

Ms. V and Berlyn,

I have an oatmeal question. Which McCanns do you use? I was in the store today and one is in a can and is John McCanns Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal and than theres McCanns Quick Cooking Oats in a box. Which one do you use? I purchased the can hoping its the right one. Everyone has been talking about this brand of oatmeal so much it's making my mouth water. I've always used Quaker Oats brand, but this sounds so good. I even picked up dried cherries and cranberries along with a vanilla bean. I'm ready to go tonight for the AM. Just let me know if I got the right one.

Treatmaker

Sorry forgot to add this, I don't know if it's New York prices but I paid $7.00 for a 1lb 12 oz can! I'm going to have to look in my local warehouse outlet when I go again.

Treatmaker

I got was Ms. V suggested, "John McCanns Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal", no instant. I don't remember what I paid, but not that high!! Mine came in a box, although my friend said it use to come in a tin canister for storage. Steel cut irish oatmeal is the first process of the whole oats. Lots of good fiber!! Alton Brown/Good Eats/Food Network had a wonderful show on oatmeal and featured the steel cut irish oatmeal also known as "pinhead oatmeal".

Oh, treatmaker the aroma will make you jump out of bed and head for the kitchen.

Another way I can tell my food is ready in the T-well is by smell.

Berlyn

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ January 20, 2006 11:15 AM: Message edited by: berlyn ]</font>

Berlyn,

Well, I got the right one then. Oatmeal tomorrow am it is! I've got my son looking forward to it too. Need to get the cholesterol down so this will definetly help. I'm going to add some dried cranberries and cherries along with half a vanilla bean. Now I can't wait for the day to end.

Treatmaker

I buy my steel cut oats at my local Wegman's grocery store in their bulk food section. Most stores that have bulk foods have it and it is MUCH less expensive. I've found it to be fresher, too. Give it a good sniff before you commit yourself to your purchase. It should smell lovely, and not have any of that rancid smell that whole grains get so quickly. Those cans of Irish oats can sit on shelves for a very long time, especially at their high price. ($6.99 around here)

Once I get it home, I store mine in the freezer because I don't go through it very quickly (yet).

-Jenn

Oh boy, I'm opening the can tonight to make a pot for tomorrow. I hope they're not rancid. I'll have to have my son take a whiff since I've come down with a wicked cold and can't smell a thing. I'm looking forward to a nice bowl tomorrow with some good maple syrup.

Treatmaker

Mmmmm. I love steel cut outs. Right now, though, I have to cook them the "regular" way - 40 minutes of waiting while I'm hungry!! (I'm always hungry - one side effect of my hiking, a wacked-out metabolism)

I tried them in the slow cooker, but wasn't thrilled with the results - dry and dark. That's why I don't eat them more often. When a functional thermowell is part of my kitchen... look out!

-Jenn

Hey Treatmaker,

Happy Breakfast to you (humming to the tune of Happy Trails to You)

Now you have a neat tin to keep your oats in. The box is much less expensive. Berlyn is right on the money re: the kind and how to cook em.

By the way, thanks for the reminder about oats getting old. My boxes are going in the freezer right now. I have to buy several at a time since we are in the hill country and it takes a while to get to the store...V

Well another morning has passed and I still haven't had my delicious oatmeal! I came down with a whopper of a cold, can't smell, can't taste anything and fell asleep rather early last nite. Hopefully by this evening I'll feel better and have some sense of smell and taste back!

Treatmaker

I made oatmeal for breakfast this morning. Not sure what brand the oats are since they were from the bulk bin. Mine had some water left unabsorbed and weren't very warm. But, just drained the water and re-heated in the microwave and they were delicious! My results could be because I have my pilot lights turned off.
Ann

I asked Ms. V about that very thing when she first posted the recipe. Her pilot is definitely on.

-jenn

Annt,

The pilot has to be on to get the right results.

Treatmaker