Steel Cut Oats. Who knew? I didn't.

Thursday mornings before work when I lived in New Jersey, a friend and I would meet for coffee and a light breakfast at Small World Coffee in downtown Princeton. Aside from the charming art provided by local schools, and the hilarious tip jars (dueling jars where you use your tips to vote for things like "chicken" or "the egg") the atmosphere was cozy, but a few notches down from hipster. I would occasionally order the oatmeal and wonder "why has MY oatmeal never tasted this amazing?" I recently discovered the answer. STEEL CUT OATS. 

Some of you are reading this thinking, duh! Well, I didn't know there was such an enormous difference, okay?  So, if you've grown accustomed to the expensive, sugar-laden, albeit convenient, instant-oatmeal packets like we had, I have your alternative RIGHT HERE.  Straight from Chi-beria, this recipe will warm you up.

Maple & Brown Sugar Overnight Oatmeal

1 cup steel cut oats (recently located at Meijer on sale for $1.89 for a 18 oz. box)

4 cups water

1/4 cup real maple syrup

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

Put all ingredients into a slow cooker, stir.  Set on LOW before bedtime. Cook for 7-8 hours. That is it!

Top with fresh fruit (bananas in our house).  You could also go "naked" and just put in the oats and water, adding other flavors after cooking.

This makes four 1-cup servings.  Frankly, 1-cup is a large portion for me, especially when you add some fruit on top.  What didn't get eaten we stashed in the fridge for the coming days and quickly reheated in the microwave for 1 minute. 

Old School Crock-pots are THE BEST!

So delicious! (oops, my bowl is chipped)