Steel Cut Oats

Last year, my husband introduced me to steel cut oats. (If you are as ignorant as I was as to what steel cut oats are, wikipedia can fill you in.)

There is some debate about whether steel cut oats are better for you than rolled oats (not the quick-cooking kind... rolled and steel cut are better than instant). Most people seem to agree, steel cut will keep you feeling fuller for a longer time than rolled, because they take longer to digest.  Here's a quick visual so you can see the difference:
  

(source)

I would love to say I eat oats because they are healthy and sound awesome and health conscious like that.  But that would be a lie.

I just eat them because they are tasty.   Plus Abe will make them for me, which is awesome since I start work every morning at 6am.

Here is the overnight recipe that Abe uses.  

You will need:

2 tablespoons of butter

2 cups of steel-cut oats

6 cups of water

Toppings of choice (I use buttermilk, cinnamon, and brown sugar)

Melt the butter in a pan on medium heat (difficult start right?)

Add the oats and toast for 5-10 minutes.  Stir frequently to avoid burning the oats.  

Add the 6 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil and boil 2-5 minutes.  Adding a 1/2 cup to 1 cup more water makes the oats turn out creamier.

Put on lid and turn off the burner.  Leave on the stove overnight.

In the morning, all you have to do is heat them up.

Add a splash of buttermilk, a dash of cinnamon, and a spoonful of brown sugar (or drizzle a little maple syrup).  Abe likes to add raisins or dried cranberries.  Doesn't it look good?

  It's delicious!  Gilbert says you should try it...

He is bossy like that.  

I apologize.

Wait... no I don't... oats are good for you.  Gilbert is only thinking of your health... and buttermilk.

 Don't resist.  Try it.

A useful tip for the kitchen

Did you know that you can regrow green onions?  

It's awesome.

You can just chop off the tops of the onions when you need some, stick them in a glass of water, set them in a window sill, and watch them regrow.    

Voila...

(the batch in my kitchen window sill)

 I topped off my poor man's chicken cordon bleu with some of these this evening.

Because garnishes are classy.

Shrimp Stuffed Avocados and Laziness.

I like simple recipes. 

On rare occasions, I will feel ambitious.  I will attempt one of those recipes that contain 100 ingredients.  It will take 3 hours of prep time and taste incredible.  Then I will never make it again, because I don't have the time.

I have a husband I want to spend time with...  and a baby to cuddle... and a full time job... and now a blog.

I want something that requires minimal prep time, has few ingredients, and tastes great.

Yesterday shrimp stuffed avocados fit the bill.

Now I'm sharing it with you, so you can share in my lazy cooking habits.  You're welcome.

Here you go:

Shrimp Stuffed Avocados

You will need:
1/2 lb small or medium shrimp
2 large avocados
1/2 head of lettuce or greens of choice (I used iceberg)
1/2 cup cocktail sauce

Step One: Dice up your lettuce and divide equally between two bowls.

Step Two: Then cut the avocados in half and place on the lettuce. 

Step Three: Divide the shrimp equally, filling the avocados and spilling out into the bowl.

Step Four: Add a spoonful of the cocktail sauce to the top of each shrimp filled avocado.

Step Five: You're done.  Grab a spoon and eat up.

(forgive my lack of photography skills)

I think I'm going to make this next time I have leftover pico de gallo.  Maybe mix the pico in with the shrimp and put a splash of hot sauce on it.

Well... time to go do productive things.  Like paying bills... and cleaning... blogging is so much more fun than that.

Craigslist Eggs

Today I bought two dozen eggs off of Craigslist... seems legit, right?

I have friends who have had success with finding quality goods for a fraction of the supermarket price by going online and finding farmers who will sell directly to them.

Needless to say that I was skeptical.  Going on Craigslist to find food?  It just seems... well... sketchy.

Last week, I spent almost $5 for a dozen pastured eggs at the natural food market in Wenatchee.  Why pay that much?  I like my yokes to be orange, not sad and yellow.

See the difference?

(source)

Spending that much for a dozen pastured eggs gave me the motivation I needed to get our eggs from an alternate source.  I went online, searched "eggs" on my local craigslist, and found a few options.

I finally decided on one, gave them a call, and went out to pick up the eggs.  I was surprised and excited when the farmer took Abe and I around to visit his seven lovely hens and handed us these beauties:

 $5 for two dozen large, farm fresh eggs.  Double the eggs at half the price.  I'm planning to go back in a few weeks for more...

This leaves me wondering what else I can find from alternate sources? 

I think this may have started a new obsession.