Pumpkin Oatmeal in the crockpot...

I did make Pumpkin Oatmeal in my crockpot over the Easter Holiday and I have to say - it's okay...I'm not wild about it, but I would do it again, just not right away.

I used this recipe, although I cut the sugar in half - between the sugar and the maple syrup, it just seemed like a lot!

This made 9 cups, so I was able to freeze a bunch.  Can't get my kids to try it, though. ;-)

Here's the recipe if you don't want to click on the link:

CREAMY PUMPKIN OATMEAL
Servings: 9 (1 cup each)

2 cups steel cut oats
1 12 oz. can fat-free evaporated milk
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
5 1/2 C water
1 C sugar
2 t pumpkin pie spice
1/4 C maple syrup

1. Combine all ingredients in crock, stir well. Cook on low for 8 hours or 3 hours on high (stir every hour to keep from getting a crust).

2. For an apple version: substitute 2 cups sugar free applesauce for the pumpkin. Add 1 large chopped apple. Substitute 2 teaspoons cinnamon for the pumpkin pie spice.

I definitely want to try the apple version.  Yum...

Oh, Pinterest...

...How addictive you are!

I have been scrolling through Pinterest ... regularly ... for the last week. I am tossing around starting to sell some craft items utilizing my Silhouette, and I've been looking for inspiration. In the process, I've pinned literally hundreds of pins. One of the pins that caught my eye was this pin:

http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/06/coconut-lime-sugar-scrub-shaving.html

I am a HUGE fan of coconut lime, so this certainly fits that bill. So, I decided to try making the scrub.

Coconut-Lime Scrub

1/2 cup coconut oil (I used Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil)
1 1/4 cup white sugar
3 TBSP fresh lime juice

I did microwave the coconut oil to measure it easier. I placed all the ingredients in a jar, mixed and stuck the concoction in the refrigerator. After the coconut oil hardened a bit, I stirred the mixture again.

And this is what I've got:


I haven't used it yet. It smells ... very coconutty. I don't smell much lime in it. I plan to use it the next time I'm in the shower - I never have time to pamper myself with a bath. I'll let you know how it works!

The post in which I talk...

...about cooking oatmeal in a crockpot...

Why yes, two posts in a week - both on crockpots!

I made another attempt at crockpotting oatmeal overnight, and this time it was a success!  *flails*

I used an Alton Brown recipe, doubled it, modified it a wee bit, and adjusted the cooking time - sort of.

Overnight Oatmeal - adapted from Alton Brown

• 2 cups steel cut oatmeal (also called Irish Oatmeal) - I had problems locating this - I got mine from the local Trader Joe's.
• 8 cups of water
• 1 cup half and half
• couple pinches of salt
• cinnamon

Mix together.  Cook on low for a couple hours, turn down to warm overnight, turn on high for 2 hours or until done in the morning.

Add one packet of splenda, fresh berries, mini chocolate chips, bananas, coconut, etc...YUMMY!!

(AB differences: his recipe did not call for the salt or cinnamon, was cut in half and had dried fruit in it.  I "might" reduce the liquid a little bit next time since there is no dried fruit to rehydrate, although it really worked out great.)

I divided the oatmeal in one cup servings and froze what I didn't eat.  Will thaw and add the extras for quick breakfasts on the go!

Weight Watcher Points = approximately 4 points without topping.  Add 2 points for 1 TBSP of chocolate chips, 1 point for 1 TBSP of shredded coconut.

Tomorrow, I plan to add caramel, chocolate chips and coconut - Samoa Oatmeal!

Next up to try is Pumpkin Oatmeal!

Crockpotting...

*blows dust off blog*

Wow...it's been... a long time since I've posted anything here...hmmm...must do better!!

Since the last time we chatted, my job has been VERY busy - I am a researcher in fuel science, and I've had loads of projects going on.

In addition, I met my goal at Weight Watchers, and actually, I exceeded it. I am about 13 lbs lighter than my goal. Which is ok. My goal was sort of where "I'd be happy here if I can't lose more weight", not where I'd love to be. I am actually where I wanted to get, but didn't think I'd ever get there again. (I'm 49 peeps, I never thought after 4 kids and 6 pregnancies I'd be the same size I was when I got married.) I am now a lifetime member, and I get all my membership fees and online tools for free, provided I weigh in once a month and stay within 2 lbs of goal.

I am successfully doing that.

I turned 49 in January, registered for my first half marathon (I had a goal to do one before I turned 50), started training, and... ended up getting shingles after the death of my beloved aunt. I am back at the training, albeit not as stringent as I need to be, but I am still recovering from the shingles - the rash is still there, and I still itch or hurt occasionally.

Anyway...

Post for today - crockpotting...

I have always been a one crockpot woman. I never owned 2 or more crockpots - when one broke, I got a new one. If our family expanded, I'd get a larger one, and get rid of the other. My last one had the handle break, so I bought a fancier programmable one (not the top of the line - just one that switches to warm after 4/6/8/10 hours).  It's a 6 qt crockpot, which accommodates my large family quite nicely. I can easily double most soup recipes in it, and have soup coming out our ears.

Not literally. :)

But a few years ago, I had the opportunity to purchase a three crockpot unit. It was when they first came out, they were expensive, but I got it for 50% off. I really only use it for holidays to keep things warm on our buffet (I host a large family gathering almost every holiday). Each crock is only 2 qt. so, it does have limited uses. I have used it for a soup lunch at work a couple times as well, and that's about it. Until I decided to make bean soup in my crockpot from leftover frozen ham from Christmas, and the hubby doesn't like bean soup.

He wanted split pea.

Which, I don't like. At. All.

So, I made a big pot of bean in the larger crockpot, and brought out the three pot unit for the split pea. While it would have been great to just use that unit for both soups, the crocks weren't big enough for my love of all things bean soup.

Don't judge.

So, that got me thinking...would it be beneficial to have a smaller crockpot to use for situations like this? Two quart was too small - they would be good for side dishes, but not for larger meals like soups and such.

So, I decided maybe a cheap, basic smaller crock (like 4 qt) would be worth the investment. And, as luck would have it, our grocery store had one on sale for $25.00 - it was a 5 qt, but it came with a 2 cup Little Dipper - perfect for keeping chocolate warm to dip cake pops (which I had been looking for something like this, anyway...).

And it has been a great investment...I made a triple batch of black bean soup (so I could freeze it) and I made it between the 2 crock pots (the 6 qt and 5 qt). I've attempted overnight oatmeal in it (it was a fail, but not due to the crockpot - I had the wrong oatmeal), and today, I'm cooking up chicken breasts in it to freeze the cooked chicken (and to use a bit for dinner tonight). It's not quite as cumbersome on the counter as the large oval one, and good for simple things. If there is a recipe that I don't want to overcook, I'd definitely use the 6 qt so it'll switch to warm, but this one does do a nice job on some smaller meals/jobs.

Leave me a comment if you are interested in some soup recipes for the crockpot. I made an awesome white chicken chili, black bean and lemon chicken orzo (actually, the lemon chicken orzo is stovetop, not crockpot...haven't tried to adapt it yet...)

I have some craft ideas in mind, as well, that I hope to get to soon...