Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal/Hot Cereal

IF you want oatmeal, without having to worry in the morning, why not try overnight steelcut oats. It is the whole oat groat cut into smaller pieces (like cracked wheat). The nutrition is mostly the same as rolled oats, but it takes longer to cook. 

• 1 cup steel cut oats (or other whole grains...a blend of them is great. You can even throw in a few lentils.)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or dates
• 1/2 cup dried apples
• 4-5 cups water
• Milk (or rice milk...both are optional)
• small pinch of salt
• milk (opt.)
• cinnamon (opt.)
• sweetener (opt., as desired)

Heavily grease a slow cooker and then place all ingredients in it and set to low heat. 

Cover and let cook about 8 hours (make sure there is plenty of water and check at 8 hours, because this could be done at 6 hours and get burnt and crusty if you're not careful and don't add plenty of water).

Add milk, cinnamon, and maple syrup or sweetener as desired once done. Otherwise it will be too bland. I prefer mine more runny and milky, and not thick mush.

You can also put the spices in during the night (even when i used a whole cinnamon stick)--though mine still seem lacking in flavor this way sometimes. so dont forget the salt and extra fixings. And the best option would be to soak the oats for about 12 hrs (with a spoonful of kefir, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice or buttermilk), and then cook it slow. This helps to break down the phytic acid in the whole grains and makes it fluffier and easier for you body to digest.