Fast Breakfast: Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats

Good morning!  I wanted to share a recipe I sometimes make for our family:  Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats.  I found this recipe from Biochemestia (she's studying to become a PA and posts a lot of healthy recipes)

This is definitely a recipe I would make the night before going to the gym or if we had a busy day planned.  Not much mess to clean up, and breakfast is served as soon as you wake up!

I altered her recipe just slightly:

1 1/4 cup steal cut oats

1 can pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not canned pie filling)

3 cups water

2 cups Milk (I've even used Almond Milk)

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

2 pinches sea salt

Sweetener (Use maple syrup, or Sucanat, or brown sugar) 

Instructions:  Mix all your wet ingredients together.  Then add your Steel Cut Oats and mix until combined.  I usually add my sucanat in the morning to my own bowl. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  If it's too dry in the morning, mix in a cup of water. (I've never had a problem with it being to dry)

I love this recipe because it's super easy.  You basically dump all the ingredients into your crockpot the night before, set it on low for 6-8 hours and wa-la!  A warm, healthy breakfast in the morning!  Plus, there are some great health benefits to eating steel cut oats and pumpkin!

This is what Steel Cut Oats look like

Steel Cut Oats:  Are considered a "power food" because of their excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium.   (read more at livestrong.com)

Pumpkin:  Helps with Diabetes prevention (it increases insulin, which lowers your blood sugar) as well as heart and cancer protection.  It also contains fiber, antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, B-vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium and phosphorous.  (read more at livestrong.com)

Her recipe makes a lot of oatmeal.  You can reheat the leftovers the next day, or throw it in a smoothie.