[Lynnie]

I make my oatmeal in my crock pot (Recipe in old forum) but for convenience I will add here as well.

1 cup of steel cut oatmeal
4 cups water
Add to crock pot (my crock pot's lowest cooking time is for 4 hours - however I prefer the texture of my oatmeal in about 2 hours - but have had it in the 4 hours and it is just fine.

While oatmeal is cooking, I dice up dried fruit (a few each)- apricots, dates, prunes, I add about a tablespoon each of raisins, cranberries and crushed almonds.

When oatmeal has cooled somewhat (so the fruit stays nice and doesn't become mushy) I add the fruits and almonds and blend throughout oatmeal. I store it in one large zip lok and have a small container that holds a bit more than a half cup - just big enough to add a bit of milk if you want - some days I just eat this plain - the fruits and almonds add such a nice flavor to the oatmeal that nothing more is really needed.

This amount lasts me for at least a week's worth of breakfasts. I also eat this for my 3 meals on my Detox day - I add a whole banana which I have by itself in between my meals.

I find this to be very satisfying and filling.

I also make my oatmeal blend into bars - after cooking the oatmeal and adding the fruits and almonds. I prepare a pan (usually about 8x10- or a brownie pan will do) and layer the bottom with waxed paper and pour in the oatmeal (the mixture will be very thick - the depth will be about an inch) and press it into the corners and smooth out the top. The wax paper serves to keep the oatmeal from sticking to the pan and allows you to easily lift your baked oatmeal out of the pan.

I bake this in an oven about 350 degrees and keep an eye on it - it's done when the top is lightly browned. I like the bar when it has shape but is still very moist - I would imagine that you could bake it longer if you like it more crispy texture.

When done to your likeness - remove wax paper and set it on a cutting board and cut into oatmeal into bars - I wrap each bar with a fresh piece of waxed paper and fold it up and then place it in a zip lok bag - so they are ready for a "quick grab" when you are on the go.

I originally made these for my D-I-L - who loves my oatmeal but always said she didn't have time to sit down and eat it in the AM - so the bars were invented - now she can just grab and go and eat them on her way to work.

Enjoy

[bludaffodil]

Lynnie, I'm gonna make your oatmeal bars. They sound absolutely yummy!!!

Thanks!

bludaffodil

[greatdeedo]

lynnie: those bars sound great! Would they turn out the same using regualr old fashioned oats cooked stove top? Actually, what's the differece between steel cut & old fasioned?

[Aomiel]

Steel cut looks a lot like grapenuts cereal only smaller. Rolled oats will probably be too mushy for this.

I'm doing mine on the stove top but am beginning to wonder if this will work. It said to cook 10-20 minutes and I only cooked for 10 minutes but they still seem to be somewhat mushy . For the cost of these puppies, I'm going to attempt it anyway.

[Aomiel]

ok...I did a double batch (3 c. water, 1 c. steel cut oats), added 1 c. dried cut up fruit and I dusted it with pecans that I'd ground in my cuisinart to keep them from stickng to each other. We'll see.

[Aideen]

Lynnie,

I want to try your oatmeal bars, hoping to make some tomorrow. I was wondering how long they keep? Do you store them in the refridgerator or pantry?

And if that isn't enough questions, have you ever tried freezing them?

[Lynnie]

I haven't perused this section on the forum for a while - glad I did - to answer some of your questions and comment on others...

I am not sure if the "regular oatmeal" would work - I am not sure as I have not tried it - but I tend to think not as the texture would be more mushy - the texture of the steel cut oatmeal when cooked, should be able to be formed into a ball and easily hold its shape - my oatmeal is very thick and does NOT spread easily into the pan - I have to work it into the pan -hope this helps.

Sorry I don't really have a precise time that it takes to bake them - I just keep an eye on them and when they are nicelyand lightly browned on the top they are done (I am always doing something in my kitchen so this is not a bother for me - next time I do them up I will try to keep a better watch on the time and repost here).

As for storing them - I keep them refrigerated - they seem to last for quite a while - I just keep them in my meat drawer in the fridge - I have not tried to freeze them but don't know why that wouldn't work - now maybe I will just have to try that! Thanks!

Aomiel - I just love the pecan idea - that sounds so delish and would add a whole new taste and texture - the crushed almonds would probably work as well with that application. I just love pecans - will have to try that way - Thanks!

Hope I have answered all your questions -if not just ask again and I will attempt to answer them for you.

[Lony]

Hey Lynnie, since you seem to be the test pilot~~Any chance you might try a small batch of oat bars made with regular (i.e. original Quaker ) oats, the ones you cook for about 14 minutes)--not this week though. We've got the same heat and humidity.

[Lynnie]

I do have some "regular" oats in my cupboard so will give it a try - but as you said my oven is off limits until this H/H breaks - I only use fans - have no a/c, a red hot mama (menopausal) - nuff said!!

[greatdeedo]

Thanx Lynnie for answering our questions. I soooo want to make these soon, but we too are in a heatwave... 101 today. No oven for awhile!

[Aideen]

Just wanted to share, I made and enjoyed the oatmeal bars, yum!

Also, I froze some of them on July 16th and have been eating them from time to time and they have been fine. I would say at this point that they will keep frozen for at least a month, per haps a lot longer.

[Leeney]

Now I see this thread!! Not yesterday when I was making the things! I searched but couldn't come up with it. Anyway, I have been making the crockpot oats. Do they stick to the bottom for you? They do for me. Maybe I have the heat too high. I added a cinnamon stick and some vanilla extract while they were cooking. Very tasty. Then having made a double batch, I decided to make the bars. I think there was too much liquid left in mine (after finding and reading this thread) because it took them a long time to bake, and they were still rather soft and mushy when I took them out. Had one this morning and it still tasted fine. Froze the rest. Looking forward to doing some more experimenting with these.

[Lony]

Can't believe this was stuck way back on page 7! We need portable Real Ricer Food--for ourselves during shopping trips.

Another thought: wouldn't it be nice if everywhere we went during the holiday season there was real food, good for us, in the little glass dishes and the food trays?

We could do this in our home: not just the "usual" so-called goodies. ALSO the healthy food. Other people just might take a taste as well.

[Lony]

Bumping this up to the top of the board.

[sailgal]

Bumping this up