Procrastination Recipe: Best Oatmeal I've Ever Eaten

Sometimes you just need to get away from reality for a bit. I was in desperate need of a vacation - sun, sand, relaxation - so two girlfriends and I booked a few days in Puerto Rico. None of us had ever been. We stayed at El Caribe Hilton and it was great - multiple pools, swim-up bar, private beach, multiple restaurants on-site, and a massive NYE party. It was everything we wanted the vacation to be - fun, relaxing, a culinary delight.

 

One of the mornings there we opted to eat at the buffet in one of the hotel restaurants. They had an omelet bar, spicy potatoes, fresh fruit, pancakes, breakfast meats, pastries, granola - the works. And after loading a plate with eggs, potatoes, toast, fruit, I then discovered a tub of oatmeal. It looked like any other oatmeal and I put a scoop of brown sugar and raisins on it. But it was (I am not exaggerating here) THE BEST OATMEAL OF MY LIFE. It was the consistency of rice pudding - super creamy and delicious. So delicious. So I started googling "Puerto Rican Oatmeal" because I couldn't believe oatmeal could be this good. What was the gruel I'd been eating all my life and calling oatmeal? It turns out, milk versus water is the key. So this morning, my second day back in dreary, cold Boston, I set out to see if I could recreate the deliciousness.

Ingredients:
1 cup coconut milk (I didn't have regular milk in the house and it's raining out so I made do with what I had and it was actually great)
1/2 cup oats
pinch of salt
1-2 Tablespoons sugar (your preference)
a drop of vanilla
1-2 shakes of cinnamon
1 Tablespoon butter

In a saucepan, heat milk, sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, butter over medium heat. Once heated, add oats and stir occasionally for about 5 minutes over low-medium heat until oats cook and the oatmeal starts to thicken. Serve plain or with whatever you like adding (I love raisins).

It wasn't exactly the same as the amazingness I ate in Puerto Rico, but it was so much better than what I had been eating before. It's all about the milk and I wish I'd known sooner what I had been missing out on.

In other news, the cats are beyond thrilled that I'm back. They are attached to me at all times, each vying for the sacred spot on my lap. It's nice to feel missed, isn't it?

But back to reality and that second book in the Elliott Roux series.

Happy eating and reading and vacationing!

~Stephanie