Steel-cut oatmeal

This is based on a recipe of Alton Brown's, from the TV show "Good Eats" (on Food Network). It serves three fairly generously.

Fill up your tea kettle with at least 4 cups of water and turn it on high. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large (at least 3-qt.) saucepan over medium heat; when it's melted, add the oats and stir for two minutes to toast - you'll know when the oats are toasted from the lovely nutty scent. Then turn the heat under the saucepan down to low. When the water boils, pour 4 cups of it into the oats, stir to combine, and simmer for 25 minutes without stirring.

Add the milk, buttermilk, cinnamon, and salt to the oatmeal and stir to combine. Bring back to a simmer, and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to check the consistency and keep it from sticking to the saucepan too much. When the consistency is the way you like it, turn off the heat and serve, topped with more buttermilk, brown sugar, freshly grated nutmeg, dried fruit (favorites around here are raisins, cranberries, blueberries, and cherries), or anything else that flips your switch.

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Last updated 11 October 2007.
All text and photographs © George Mitchell and Margaret Johnston, unless otherwise noted
Comments, questions, suggestions to margaret@lonelymountain.net.