Sunday, January 9, 2011

Weekend Brunch: Browned Butter Oatmeal with Bananas and Pecans

As a kid I always chose malt-o-meal over oatmeal. The turning point happened at a breakfast spot in Portland, I ordered the biscuits and gravy and my husband ordered the oatmeal. At the end of the meal, I was going back and forth between dishes eating one bite of my meal and two bites from my husbands meal. The oatmeal at this restaurant had a consistent creamy texture, they had a tray of nuts, dried fruits and milk served on the side and they creme bruleed the top of the oatmeal! From that day on I aspired to have more inventive oatmeal rather than the boring oatmeal with milk and brown sugar.

This recipe sounds like a type of bread and tastes pretty similar to the oatmeal version of banana bread. It's super easy to snap together and it has the "stick to the ribs" effect that all other oatmeal's have. Unfortunately this oatmeal doesn't make you want to go outside and work in the freezing cold weather, it makes you want to cuddle up next to the dog and read a good book. Thank goodness Sundays are not about production.

Browned Butter Oatmeal with Bananas and Pecans
Ingredients
1 c water
1 c oatmeal (I used a generic quick cook oatmeal)
1/8 tsp salt
1 c milk
2 bananas smashed
1/4 c pecans smashed
1/4 c brown sugar
2 tbs butter

Boil water in a pot, throw in the salt while the water is boiling.
Pour oatmeal into the boiling water and reduce to medium heat.
Once water has been absorbed into the oatmeal add the milk, turn heat to low.
In a bowl, smash two bananas with a fork.
The browner the banana, the easier it is to mash
Add smashed bananas to the oatmeal.
Put pecans in a plastic baggie and smash them with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin.
Add smashed pecans to the oatmeal.
In a separate small saucepan melt the butter. Once the butter turns gold and small brown flakes appear at the bottom of the saucepan, turn the heat off and add the butter to the oatmeal.
Patience is a virtue
Wait for it.
The butter should smell slightly nutty right now.
Take the butter off that heat right away!
Scoop the oatmeal into a bowl and serve with a couple of pecans or sliced bananas on the top to garnish. I think the oatmeal is perfect the way it is but you can always make it more decadent by adding more milk, sugar and butter to your liking.

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