Fruited Irish Oatmeal (Slow Cooker)

Last year, St. Patrick's Day was on a Saturday, which made for the perfect opportunity to make some Irish-inspired food (and some green milkshakes) for my family.  I came across this recipe using steel-cut oats in the slow cooker - it was perfect!  I hit up the bulk foods section at our local grocery store (huge cost savings, especially on the mango and syrup) and threw it together the night before.  We awoke to a wonderful, hot meal that the kids loved, and you can't go wrong with the health benefits of steel-cut oats, which are rich in B-vitamins, calcium, protein, and fiber.  Plus, we had plenty of leftovers to heat up for breakfast during the week!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups steel cut oats
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cup dried mango 
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5 cups water

Optional toppings:

• milk
• chopped nuts
• maple syrup or brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a 3-1/2 or 4-quart slow cooker, combine oats, cranberries, raisins, apricots or mango, cinnamon, and salt.  Add maple syrup, water, and apple juice.
2. Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.  (I have actually cooked for longer overnight and it was totally fine.)
3. Serve oatmeal with brown sugar or maple syrup, chopped nuts, and milk, if desired. Serves 8-10.

Note: This oatmeal is great reheated or it can be frozen.  (It does make quite a bit.)

Difficulty: very easy

Time: 5 minutes prep, 6 hours in slow cooker

Source: www.betterrecipes.com