Weekend Special Oatmeal

We really love oatmeal around here, and eat it a couple times a week at least. While good, old-fashioned oats are delicious, on the weekends we've been kicking it up a notch with steel cut oats and make what we call Weekend Special Oatmeal. It's delicious, and really good for you too.

Weekend Special Oatmeal

4 c. water

1 c. steel cut oats

pinch salt

1 tsp. vanilla

4 dried apricots, cut into small pieces

1/4 to 1/2 c. dried cranberries

2 T. coconut

1/4 c. pecan halves

brown sugar (optional)

milk or cream (optional)

Bring the water to the boil, and add oats. Stir until it begins to thicken. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 25 minutes. Add salt, vanilla, apricots, and cranberries and simmer for five more minutes.

While everything is simmering, toast the coconut and pecan halves in the oven (we usually put the broiler on, put these on a cookie sheet, and broil for about 2 minutes, or until the coconut browns around the edges.)

Put desired amount of oatmeal in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1/4 of toasted coconut and pecans. Sprinkle with brown sugar and top with milk if using.