Crock pot Porridge

Source: Adapted from Tosca Reno's The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook: Great-Tasting Recipes That Keep You Lean

I don't know about you, but I often find myself in a breakfast rut of Cheerios, Cheerios and more Cheerios.

A big part of that is because I often don't get going in the morning early enough to have time for anything but cold cereal.

I've decided to be a little more disciplined and introduce a little more variety into our breakfast routine (I know, New Year resolutions, right? You probably give it a week? Me too). 

This recipe was perfect because you set it all up the night before and just eat it in the morning! It is actually faster than cold cereal! Well, one downfall: cleaning the crock pot later that day sucks and pretty much evens out whatever time you saved in the morning. BUT at least you had a healthy, more exciting breakfast!

This recipe has a nice homey, stick-to-your-bones kind of taste. A perfect chilly morning treat. Just the kind of thing I envision eating in a mountain chalet before a day of skiing (if I did that sort of thing).

What you'll need:

• 2 C steel-cut oats
• 1/2 C oat bran
• 1/2 C brown rice
• 1/4 C wheat germ
• 2 Tbsp flax seed
• 3 C skim milk
• 3.5 C water (or any combination of fluids to equal 6.5 C)
• 1 C raisins (or anything, really - apple, cranberries, dates, nuts etc.) - optional
• 1.5 Tbsp vanilla
• pinch of nutmeg
• fruit toppings - optional (I like to top mine with berries and banana)
• brown sugar - optional

Place all ingredients in crock pot. Stir well. Cover. Set to cook overnight on low. In the morning, top with fruit and a sprinkle of brown sugar, and enjoy!