Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 cup Irish, Scottish, or other steel-cut oats, or 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 4 cups water
• Pinch coarse salt
• Infused Honey, recipe follows
• Stewed Fruit, recipe follows
• 1 cup honey
• 4 star anise
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup brandy or apple juice
• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
• 8 pitted prunes
• 12 dried apricot halves
• 1/4 cup golden raisins

Browse by ingredient

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add oats, and toast, shaking pan and turning oats until browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add 4 cups water and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer until most of the water has evaporated and oatmeal is tender, about 30 minutes for Irish oatmeal, or 5 to 10 minutes for old-fashioned rolled oats. Serve hot with desired toppings.;
2. Warm honey, star anise, and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat; let rest for at least 30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight. Serve over hot cereal. Yield: 1 cup;
3. Place brandy, vanilla bean seeds and pod, prunes, apricots, and raisins in a medium saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer fruit until liquid is reduced by about three-quarters. Serve warm over hot cereal.
4. Makes 1 cup