Saturday, January 15, 2011

Steel Cut Oats

Back when I was in the health food store and purchased the gluten free bread mix for Judy, I also purchased a box of Steel Cut Oats for me. Carol told me about the oats. Told me how she prepared them. You bring them to a boil, remove from the stove, cover, and put in the refrigerator over night. I swear she told me that she even likes it cold. Ummm...I don't think so. The next morning you take the oats out of the refrigerator and heat in the microwave (with butter and sugar) then pour in a good glug of milk.

I've prepared single servings a time or two. The other night, I boiled 4 cups of water and poured in 1 cup of oats. I thought that would be good for breakfast on workday mornings. Will NOT do that again! What they call four servings is more like 5 or 6 for me. I got Sam to try them today. When I asked him...he said that the little ...well...wait a minute.

Steel cut oats (also called pinhead oats, Irish oats, coarse cut oats) are whole grain groats (the center part of the oat kernel). They are...well...cut in pieces, of course. And they resemble fat grains of rice.
Unlike rolled oats which are the groats smashed flat then steamed and lightly toasted.

I like it. Instead of just wallowing oatmeal around in my mouth and swallowing...there's actually something to chew before swallowing. Back to Sam...

First thing, he was put off by reheating leftover oatmeal. I told him that these were different...that they were not the glutinous glob of regular leftover oatmeal. When he looked at the oats fresh out of the refrigerator he asked, "This is not a glutinous glob?"

"Not like rolled oats," I answered with a smile. Since I had already eaten my breakfast, I skipped off to the shower while he was eating his. Later I asked him how he'd liked the steel cut oats.

"Not bad," he said. "But when I first bit into one of those little bulbs...well...it was kind of like eating fish eggs."

Can I tell you that that was the end of the conversation? I don't know if I can eat another bowl of steel cut oats without thinking about fish eggs!!! eyeroll

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Almost Messed Up!

I started out to work an hour late only to discover that 95% or better of my route to work was clear! No ice or snow on much of it. Just a couple of spots where the trees hang over the road shading it and on the tops of the hills.

Af
ter work, I went to Mama's to visit with her...changed her sheets and brought her mail in...twice. eyeroll When I first got there, I walked out to the mailbox (rural mail carrier) and got her mail. Changed sheets. Visited. Got up to sweep the snow off her steps and porch edge. She asked me to get her mail.

I thought, "OH NO!" But I smile and say, "Mama, I already have. You even looked at
it."


She smiled sweetly because she knew what I was thinking. "T
hat was yesterday's mail. She (mail carrier) ran again just a few minutes ago."

LOL So I got today's mail too.

Then I headed home...the back way...the back way that still had quite a bit of snow on it...the snow that partially melted today and was in the process of refreezing. I thought about turning around, but nah...I am getting to be an old hand at driving in this stuff. After all, I made it to town and back yesterday without winding up in the ditch. So I'm driving along, over the railroad track, through the woods, around the curve...Almost home free. Then...the hill had ice on it. I started up and almost at the top...spun out. Slowly, reverse downhill a bit. Try forward again. Spin. R
everse again...and I'm thinking STOOPID. Backed about halfway down very carefully and proud of myself for steering into the direction I was sliding like you're supposed to instead of the instinct to turn the wheel the other direction. (Remember, I'm in reverse, people.) Finally got purchase in forward and got over the hill. Whew! Made it home safe and sound. Don't think I'll go the back way again until...oh...about August! ;o)

Tonight we have a hard freeze predicted...about 17 degrees. THAT is cold!

Exercise and diet program...that went out the window when the full time job came in the door. I gained just 2 or 3 pounds during the holidays an
d need to get that off. I'm going to have to really watch the calories. I've thought about the one Sweating to the Oldies VHS that I own...but it almost ruined so many good old songs for me. I still should get it out and just exercise here at home...I can do as I've done before...watch it with the sound turned off.

Hmmm....Wonder why Sean Connery never did an exercise video. Sigh.

Monday, January 10, 2011

It Snowed!

How about a quick dunk in the pool? :-)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Visit With Colt

I don't think words are necessary.