For the longest time, I was convinced that I didn't like oatmeal (which is silly, because oatmeal is delicious and hearty and simple and just lovely in so many ways). What I now realize is that I don't like the traditional "Quaker Oats" type of oatmeal. It tastes fine, but the texture is what got me. It was like eating thick paste, and no matter how tasty it is, I don't really want to eat paste.
But then, I saw Alton Brown make this recipe for steel cut oats, and it opened my eyes. (Also, if you have never heard of Alton Brown and Good Eats, you should fix that. He's like the Bill Nye of food). This oatmeal looks more like risotto than the usual pasty stuff you get, which makes sense, because it's kind of prepared like risotto.
Now, steel cut oats may not be as easy to find as traditional oats, but they should be nearby in the supermarket (sometimes there's an area that has less popular grains, like quinoa and bulgur and whatnot, and sometimes steel cut oats are there. Or I usually get them in the bulk grains area of the health food market in Kensington where I get my herbs and grains and stuff).
Steel Cut Oats
1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup steel cut oats
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk
a pinch of salt (it really helps to bring out the flavor of the oats)
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, and just starting to bubble, add the oats, and saute/toast for a few minutes. (I always do this step, because I think it adds a hint of nuttiness to the final product. However, if you want to skip this step, you totally can.)
Once the oats smell toasty, add the water and the salt, and simmer, stirring occasionally (the stirring is what makes the texture of these oats.) Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Then add the milk, and simmer again, stirring occasionally. Simmer until it has reached your desired consistency. Remove from the heat and serve.
Since it's oatmeal, you can do just about whatever you like with it. Do you like raisins in your oatmeal? Throw some in! Like maple oatmeal? Pour in some maple syrup! The possibilities are endless (well, maybe not endless, but certainly very numerous). My usual combination of toppings is ~1tbsp of brown sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.
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So today, I'm gonna talk about something new: a graphic novel. I know, there are a whole bunch of great movies that just came out that I could be talking about (like Cloud Atlas and Skyfall and Seven Psychopaths), but I haven't seen any of them yet, so instead I'm going to talk about how much I like one of my course books for my graphic novels class. It's called Truth Serum, and it takes the idea of deconstructing the superhero to the extreme. It is set in a suburb in Connecticut where almost every person is a costume (ie, a superhero or villain). But none of these characters are particularly heroic or villainous. One of the major heroes, Captain Force, is incredibly petty, and is willing to let a group of (admittedly obnoxious) youths get hit by a truck because they mocked his choice of music. Truth Serum shows that the superheroes that we might idolize from comics are really, in the end, just people, with problems just like all people have. They have to wait in line at the bank and try to deal with awkward social calls. Part of what makes Truth Serum so good is it's sense of humor. It's quite understated, which I find very appealing. In a way, it reminds me of the show The Venture Bros (which is awesome, if a ridiculous), but much less over the top.
So if you are interested in the idea of completely deconstructing the trope of the super hero, you should check out Truth Serum. But don't come complaining to me when not much happens plotwise (because this isn't that kind of story).
