It turns out, oats are a pretty neutral flavor, and can take on a variety of
seasonings. Besides the popular flavors of sugar, or fruit and cream, they
can also be quite good when savory.
Bring to a boil. Unless directed otherwise, add flavorings.
Simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat. Oatmeal will thicken
somewhat as it cools to a proper temperature for eating.
(Without flavoring, it tastes most like “toasted oat cereal,” which is
logical, I guess.)
The flavoring amounts quoted are intended to give a moderate amount of
flavor. It should fall between subtle and
overwhelming. That said, anything and everything can be adjusted
to taste; the final power lies with you.
Sapphire Cat’s Favorite Thick Oatmeal
Unfortunately, there’s no substitute for time:
Make oatmeal, per the chosen recipe
Allow to cool
Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight
Reheat and enjoy
Honestly, as a kid, I hated the texture of oatmeal. It took me going on
hunger strike to get the message across that I was serious about not liking
them. As an adult, I finally discovered the recipe above, which makes a
truly thick oatmeal, and fixes the texture problem.
This recipe differs from “overnight oats” recipes, because it cooks the oats
first. Overnight oats, by comparison, don’t absorb enough liquid to reach
the difficult texture. But I don't always want “cinnamon-raisin oats in
milk.”
Savory Flavors
Garlic and Onion
Add 3/16 tsp of garlic powder, and ¼ tsp onion powder.
Garlic, Onion, and Celery Seed
Use ¼ tsp garlic powder and ⅜ tsp onion powder. Add one pinch of
celery seed.
Sausage
About 1/16 tsp salt, ¼ tsp rubbed sage, and a pinch of
marjoram. Adding ½ teaspoon of bacon grease, if available, will really
round this out.
Taco (Tacoats)
Use a pat of butter (about 1 tsp), and ¼ tsp taco seasoning blend, to taste.
Note that the strength of taco seasonings may vary; I tested this recipe with
some from a bulk store, and we used to make our own before that.
Peanut Butter
After removing from heat, stir in 3 tablespoons of peanut
butter. Cooked peanut butter does not taste good here.
Macaroni and Cheese (Maca-roats)
After removing from heat, stir in 1 tsp butter, 1½ oz
extra sharp cheddar, and ½ oz of a melting cheese, like Monterey Jack, Colby,
or mozzarella. Optional: add ⅛ tsp Worcestershire sauce,
1/16 tsp salt, and a pinch each of garlic and onion
powder (to taste.)