There are few things as satisfying as walking into the kitchen to wonderful aromas wafting through the air and delicious food ready to be enjoyed…without having to do any work!  The slow cooker may not have a fancy name or glamorous appearance, but this kitchen tool is a busy woman’s indispensable sous chef. It does all the cooking and gives you all the glory!

Our slow cooker was given to us as a wedding present and to be completely honest, I didn’t begin using it regularly until a few years ago. Growing up, the only thing that cooked in our family slow cooker was pot roast.  I simply didn’t know all that it could do for me or how it could lighten the cooking load.  But as I began to test its skills, I realized the slow cooker does more than keep apple cider hot, cook a roast or warm up the green beans for a large family gathering, it has the power to save me loads of time I don’t want to spend in the kitchen!

Another confession…I love steel cut oats, but I rarely made them because I simply didn’t want to babysit them on the stove top for 20-30 minutes until they were cooked through.  So, I would opt for old-fashioned oats, which are fine, but simply do not compare in texture.

My friend, Josten Fish, RDN, recently wrote a fantastic post on The Complete Guide to Oats.  She clearly differentiates between steel cut, old fashioned, instant and several others, identifying how to use them, cooking times and nutritional value.  Definitely check out her article!

Unlike wheat and many other types of grains, oats almost never have the bran or germ removed from the grain during processing, ensuring that oat flour and products are almost always 100% whole grain!

A research review published in 2014 looking at long-term intervention studies on the effects of oats and oat bran consumption revealed that 37 out of 64 studies showed a reduction in total cholesterol by 2-19% and 34 of the studies showed a reduction in LDL cholesterol by 4-23%.  Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.  How about a bowl of oats to start your day?

Oats also boast one of the highest sources of beta-glucans, a specific type of fiber that research is showing has the potential to lower insulin resistance and blood cholesterol.  Beta glucans may even help your body’s immune system fight off cancer and reduce the risk of obesity.  Have another scoop of oatmeal!

To top off your warm bowl of goodness, oats have over 20 polyphenols called avenanthramides which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  You just can’t go wrong with a bowl of oatmeal.

Now, let’s get our slow cooker going and whip up some tasty breakfast! The basic blueprint is SUPER simple… just 3 ingredients.  But you can really jazz it up with add-ins and toppings.

A few weeks ago I made it with reduced-fat coconut milk and water and adored the coconut flavor that came through!  Bananas are my favorite “non-sugar” way to add a touch of sweetness, but you can choose what you or your family enjoy best.  The recipe makes 4-6 servings, depending on your hunger.  It’s really a no-brainer…just toss in the ingredients, stir it up and let the magic happen while you are enjoying your well-deserved sleep or living life vibrantly during the day.

Let the magic begin!

Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Stirring her ‘breakfast’ brew 😉

Warm, sweet, chewy and satisfying!  

 

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