Overnight Crock Pot Oatmeal

1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water if using a slow cooker liner decrease the water to 3 1/2 cups
1/2 cup half and half or milk
1 cup dried fruit of choice apples, raisins, cranberries, apricots etor 1 - fresh apple (chopped, optional
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 Tablespoons cinnamon sugar

First off find a bowl that will hold four cups of liquid, and fit inside your crock pot with the lid on.

Measure out one cup of steel cut oats. Pour that into the inner bowl. Add the four cups of water, milk or half and half, brown sugar, vanilla, butter and cinnamon sugar.
If you would like to add dried fruit or a cut up apple the add it as well. Fill the crock with water to about halfway.
Set the inner bowl in the crock and see how high the water rises. Add more water in the crock if necessary. Try to match it so that the water reaches about the same height on the outside of the oats bowl or just below the bowl.
Place the lid on your crock pot. Set on low and go to bed. When you get up the next morning your oatmeal should be cooked perfectly in that steamy water bath.

October 2011