One of my very favorite indulgences is a cozy hotel breakfast delivered straight to the room. There's just something magical about waking up and starting your day with a warm, delicious spread of food brought to your door. No work, no dishes, no hassle. There are few better ways to start your day other than sipping hot coffee and cream [which is always in the cutest little container], taking your time to eat and enjoying a relaxing conversation. Wouldn't it be nice to start every day that way? Pictured here is one husband and I had earlier this year. For me, that little rosebud made the table.
I'm obsessed with hotel oatmeal. I've always wondered, "how do they make it so creamy and smooth???" Of course a trained chef or someone more seasoned in the kitchen would know, but alas I do not.
Mmmmm, nothing better a chilly morning.
No matter how hard I try, I've never been able to duplicate the texture or taste of that comforting warm pourage in my own kitchen. It usually results in a dry or sticky pot of gooey bleh. Or a big, overcooked mess that spills over the pot and onto the cooktop. Horrible to clean up. Which puts me in a seriously grumpy mood.
But I've finally cracked the code. Well, my version, at least. And I want to share it with you.
You won't believe how easy it is.
All you need is...
This
[it's an adorable little 2 qt crock pot which is currently at wal-mart for $9. The model number is SCR200-W]
And this.
The beautiful part is you make this right before you go to bed. So when you wake up in the morning, a warm breakfast awaits you. Almost as good as room service!
Certainly less expensive. It's an extra yummy treat on cold school mornings with hungry kids. Or for a busy professional who's flying out the door before rush hour. Who really wants to cook then? I sure don't.
Important: make this no earlier than 10pm the night before [I usually do it at 11pm before crawling into bed]. Cut off the crock pot the next morning no later than 7am.
How to make it:
Pour 4 cups of filtered water into your crockpot
Pour 2/3 cup McCann's steel cut oatmeal into crock pot
Close the lid and switch the knob to "low"
Wake up in the morning, turn to "off" and stir the oatmeal.
...........................................
That's it. Could it be any easier?
In the cold months, we like to top ours with sliced bananas, a little brown sugar or honey, chopped walnuts, coconut shavings and a splash of cream. In the summer months, it's seasonal berries topped with cream.
Hope you like this as much as we do. If your kids give you any trouble trying it, try reading the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" the night before. I promise you'll peek an interest.
