[Knifethrower]

Groats two ways!

Sweet Breakfast Groats

1 cup whole groats
1 shredded apple
1/2 cup raisins
2 dry measure cups of water or apple cider/juice
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
Dash of clove, nutmeg and ginger
Cream or Bolthouse Farms Chai Soy Protein drink

Find a small heatproof dish to use as double boiler in a crock pot (I use my rice cooker insert). Place all ingredients except cream/Bolthouse in inner dish and fill the crock pot with water to the top level of the water in the groat dish. Cover the crock pot and turn on to low. Let cook 8 hours (overnight). Dish up, splash on some cream, sweeten to taste and add butter if desired.

An alternative method is to soak the groats and raisins overnight in the cooking liquid and then simmer them gently for about 50-60 minutes or until they soften. They should be nice and chewy- don't stir them unless you want a nice, gooey mess.

In my experience, the apple adds moisture and a sweetness to the groats, making them less watered down. I don't like them without it, no matter what sweet variation I make.

Add-ins: Change raisins to dried cranberries and add orange zest and cloves. Change raisins to dried blueberries and add lemon zest. Use dried figs and or dates.


Savory Groat Risotto

Prepare crock pot as above.

1 cup groats
2 cups boiling water
2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon mushroom base
1/2 cup dried wild mushrooms (I use Trader Joes)
1-2 cups diced fresh Crimini mushrooms, or your favorite
Black pepper- a healthy grinding
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil or white truffle oil (gawd its good!)

Saute' fresh mushrooms in olive oil. Put into inner dish of crock pot.

Break dried mushrooms into smallish pieces, about a half inch or smaller. Rinse dried mushrooms in a splash under the tap, and soak them in the one cup of boiling water. Add the bouillon to the water, stir and let sit about five minutes. Make sure boullion is dissolved fully.

Add all ingredients to the inner pot. Add water to the crock pot to the inner water level height.

Cover and cook all day (8 hours) on low, or until the smell drives you nuts. I am not sure how well it goes done on Hi at half the time, but make sure your groats are not dry. Get a good water seal on the lid.

Alternative: soak groats overnight and bake them, tightly covered, in the oven about 50-60 minutes next to your roast. I recommend spraying the casserole dish.

Add-ins: Thyme sprig, roasted garlic paste, a last finish with grated Parmesan cheese...

David- let me know how yours turn out and if you came up with any good combinations for me to try!
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

[gingerpale]

Wow--pretty upscale little recettes for any grain/groat/grits type animal! Both sound delicious..

[David]

I especially like the sound of that mushroom one!!
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Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!

[emilyj]

Knifethrower - to ask a silly question, are groats oats?

[Knifethrower]

Emilyj,

Groats are a name for a large grain, commonly oats or buckwheat (AKA Kasha). The recipe I composed calls for oat groats- not rolled or steel cut oat groats- the flat ones people commonly see in the Quaker Old Fashioned container. For a quickie, flattened oats will do, but the full nutty flavor, fiber and texture of the whole groats themselves just marries better than Burns and Allen, if that can be imagined.

David- knock yourself out, my friend!

GPale, I recall you mentioning what you love most about mushroom boullion...
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

[Erin]

One of my favorite things is an steel cut oat risotto recipe I found in Yoga Journal. It's really fresh with lemon and parsley, but at the same time warming.
Thanks for sharing your great looking recipes!
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"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

[David]

Erin!! You live!! So good to see you!
_________________
Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!

[Knifethrower]

Erin,

Must. Have. Recipe.

(fantasizing over here...)

-Jen
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.