Maple Brown Sugar Bacon Oatmeal

Another one of the habits I kept from the SBD was definitely using steel cut oats instead of regular rolled oats. The good doctor had some explanation about how the steel cut oats took longer for you to digest therefore it didn't spike your blood sugar as much. If someone tells me something is better for you, I usually switch if it tastes about as good or better. In this case, steel cut oats definitely taste more like oatmeal to me. I love the chewy texture too.

If you're not one of those dash-out-of-the-house-with-wet-hair-and-finish-getting-ready-in-the-car type people, this probably isn't the right recipe you'll want try, but they certainly are tasty. It's not as labor intensive as the breakfast pizza, but it's just as good and good for you.

Now, we didn't start adding in the bacon until one morning, Gabe had a hankering for some bacon w/ the oatmeal. Then I launched into a story about how I grew up on savory oatmeal. That's right, my mom ONLY cooked savory oatmeal. None of this maple syrup, brown sugar stuff. I had oatmeal w/ ham. Chicken. Salt. I think the sweet oatmeal thing is NOT popular in the Chinese culture therefore, I didn't even know about sweet oatmeal until I was in high school or something like that.

Anyhow, Gabe heats himself up a slice of bacon and hangs it off the side of the oatmeal bowl. It falls in, he eats it w/ the oatmeal, and the rest is history.

These are what we call steel cut oats.

I toasted them this particular morning. Was feeling frisky. Notice the salt. Definitely don't forget that salt.

Add the water to the toasted oats.

After it comes up to a boil, crank the heat back to low and put a tight fitting lid on it. For this particular instance - one of the hundreds of times I've made this, I tried out the blue agave. It's better than sugar since it doesn't spike your glucose levels as much..allegedly.

The oatmeal is going to cook for about 20 minutes so depending on whether or not you have raw or par cooked bacon, start accordingly. This precooked bacon that I use on every post will only take a few minutes to heat up.

When the bacon looks like this..

Try not to drool. Or just cook another piece if you can't control yourself before the oatmeal's done.

If you can control yourself, blot the excess fat off (or don't) when the bacon is heated and crisp and chop it up.

This is what it looks like after 20 minutes. If you remember, the last 5 minutes of cooking, take the lid off to let the excess liquid evaporate a little.

Plate up.

Agave or maple syrup now. And the agave in my opinion, doesn't have nearly enough flavor. But if it is better for you, whatever. If I had to pick one to go on a desert island, I'd go maple syrup hands down.

Mmmmmmm.

Raisins

and cranberries for the Mr.

Mine gets some walnuts. My mom says they make you smart. In fact, she says a lot of things that don't make much sense.

Then..the bacon. If this looks at all weird to you, it's that whole sweet/salty thing.

Mr.'s gets bacon.

Then a sprinkle of brown sugar.

Mr.'s too.

Excellent.
Mix it up.
Going...
..going...
After this bite, it's gone. Take my word for it. I forgot to take a picture but who wants to see an empty bowl?

Maple Brown Sugar Bacon Oatmeal

makes 2 servings

2/3 c. steel cut oats (*I think Irish oats are the same thing)
2 c. water
1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Toppings (this is per serving, depending on your taste - this is what I like on mine)

1 tsp. brown sugar
1/4 c. chopped toasted walnuts or pecans (or both)
1 tbsp. raisins
1 slice bacon
1 tbsp. 100% pure maple syrup

Bring water to a boil and add salt. Stir in oats and simmer for anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending on your preference of texture. I like mine on the chewier side so we do about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

You can also add whatever toppings you like instead. Gabe doesn't like nuts in his oatmeal nor does he do the maple syrup (crazy). He adds dried cranberries in his but you can certainly add a number of different dried fruits or nuts, even granola if you want.

Another variation would be to just use some maple glazed bacon which would be fantastic. Just try with the bacon. It's DE-lish.