Comments on: weekend seekers

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 20:42:52 +0000

Can I use a rice maker to make oatmeal? Is there any special appliance that will make homemade oatmeal besides a crock pot? Thanks.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:11:20 +0000

You can use a wine cork to replace the dial. Just drink a bottle of wine and then press the cork on the little nubbin thingy.

By: Laurel

Laurel — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:01:24 +0000

try to plan your next to trip to georgetown to include brunch or lunch at the newish Hangar Cafe-- its cool, sweet and tasty.

By: emily

emily — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:22:57 +0000

We make overnight oatmeal every night, and we love it! We use dried granny smith apples and dried cranberries. It's the best.

By: janet

janet — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:00:44 +0000

We got a small round crockpot at Walmart for about $9. It does the overnight oatmeal really nice, tho still working on the proportions.

BTW, I discovered that the extra oatmeal reheats quite nice in the microwave.

By: Molly

Molly — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:15:42 +0000

I love good thrift store finds. :)

By: megan

megan — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:27:06 +0000

Thanks so much for the information about the newer slow cookers cooking hotter. It sort of makes me want to hoard old slow cookers now! Though, if I feel like I'm getting serious about using the slow cooker I think I would seek one with an insert, this one is a slightly bit tricky to clean.

Nicole - Thanks for the tip!

By: Sharyn

Sharyn — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:05:31 +0000

I heart AB - but one thing about that recipe always cracks me up, every time I use it. "This method works best if started before you go to bed." Awww, but I like cooking in my sleep...

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:06:58 +0000

I don't know if you eat meat but Alton Brown's swiss steak recipe in the crockpot is divine. I cook it on high for 3.5 hours after I do the front end work in a skillet work.

By: A different Megan

A different Megan — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:02:08 +0000

I wanted to thank Quackyduck for confirming that I was not crazy. I use a lot of crock pots (not all mine) and I am annoyed at how hot the new ones get! Even on low I feel like stuff is getting way over cooked.

By: medea

medea — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 06:59:30 +0000

You could try getting some acrylic putty and mix it, stick it to the crock pot nubbin, smoosh it and make yourself a knob.

By: Quackyduck

Quackyduck — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:20:18 +0000

I have been making Overnight Oatmeal for 15 years, and I even called it that, so I wonder if Alton stole the name and idea from me! I like to add an apple, cut into largish pieces and let it cook with the oatmeal.

I put frozen berries (straw, blue, or rasp) in my oatmeal when I serve it - the hot oatmeal thaws them. Other add-ins: walnuts, almonds, candied ginger bits, dried fruit, cinnamon, maple syrup, honey, plain yogurt. Sometimes I take an insulated container of the oatmeal with me as I dash off to work.

I have lots of crockpots from Goodwill, and here are some suggestions for what to look for:

~a crockpot with a removable liner. This is so much easier for cleanup - you can even put it in a dishwasher.

~I like the lid to be plastic instead of glass - so much lighter weight and less likelihood of breaking it.

~The older crockpots cook at a lower temperature so they may be better for some recipes. (The new ones are designed more to prevent food-borne illness so they heat the food hotter.)

~ A one quart crockpot is a nice size to make 1 baked potato, or a smaller portion of oatmeal.

~A two cup or one cup size CP is perfect for one baked apple.

By: kristie

kristie — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:35:18 +0000

I have the same crockpot! We got it 19 years ago for a wedding present. So far it's been a steady friend for spicy foods. Maybe it's time to try some oaty goodness!

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:59:32 +0000

That oatmeal sounds great... I wonder if my 2 year old would notice the dried cranberries & figs!

By: Mary-Lynn

Mary-Lynn — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:44:47 +0000

For the last few months I've been eating crockpot oatmeal for breakfast at least twice a week. YUMMY.

I don't make it with the figs or cranberries but when I'm about to put it into a container to take to work, I will put raisins or, now, blueberries in the bottom. By the time I get to work they've plumped and warmed up and are so good.