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By Kevin Williams
ODE TO OATMEAL: Oats are such a versatile grain that Amish cooks have used them for years in cakes, breads, rolls, and homemade cereals. Amish bulk food stores sell them in large quantities and Amish cooks make them most out of oats. Of course, eating just basic oatmeal for breakfast is also popular among the Amish just like it is among the non-Amish. I was never a huge fan of oatmeal for breakfast until I started mixing in stuff like honey, perhaps some chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc. By the time I am done mixing stuff in you can barely find the oats! So that is my version of oatmeal. I think my Mom had oatmeal when I was growing up, but a much tamer version than the kind I fix.
But the actual oats themselves, at least for most Amish, come from the local bulk food store. If you go to any Amish bulk food store you'll see them being sold in massive quantities. More and more the Amish are venturing into traditional chain grocery stores, but usually for things they can't find at the local bulk food store. You won't see too many Amish homemakers reaching for a tiny container of Quaker oats, most Amish still need to buy things like oatmeal, flour, and sugar in bulk. Of course they could go to Costco, but few Amish would want to pay the membership fee!
Of course, oats are also used as animal feed. Horses love oats and the Amish do feed their horses large quantities.
Here are seven recipes that will make you want to reach for that canister of Quaker.
OATMEAL CINNAMON CRISPIES
AMISH OATMEAL CRISP COOKIES - Ah, the picture below says it all, pure oatmeal bliss!
Amish oatmeal crisp cookies
AMISH OATMEAL BREAD - An Amish friend of mine says that while this bread isn't gluten free it has earned rave reviews from those on gluten-free diets. Not sure exactly what that means, but thought it was worth noting!
CAPTION: Small round oatmeal cookies ready for the oven
OATMEAL COOKIES, OLD BRETHREN RECIPE
Next page, Montana Oatmeal Cookies, Amish Oatmeal Pie, Peanut Butter Rolled Oats Cake, and Apple Butter Cinnamon Oatmeal Bars
Nana
As a school child, my mom with seven hungry mouths to feed, often made oatmeal for breakfast. I hated it. The gray looking appearance, the pasty texture and my dislike for milk made it an awful start to my day. My mother was the type that you sat till you cleaned your plate so I would dawdle over it till I was nearly late for school and then finally ate it as fast as I could. In my later years I discovered steel cut oats and found that they had an entirely different taste and texture and I fix them frequently in the winter months. One word of warning...they need to be stored in the freezer or fridge as they contain the whole grain germ and they will get rancid if you are not aware of that fact. I add cinnamon, sometimes raisins or craisins, or a teaspoon or more of peanut butter to my bowl. I often make one larger portion and divide into 3/4 to 1 cup portions and that way I just do a quick reheat in the microwave and vary my add-ins to make a quick easy breakfast . I still buy rolled oats but strictly for baking or no bake treats...never as my cereal.
Kevin
Nana, thanks for the comment, I've heard a lot of people rave about steel cut oats, and I trust your judgment, so I'll be putting those on my list!
Lois Ann Snider
Kevin, I see Archway Cookies at Kroger's all the time la