Our Own Oats!

The Story of Our Own Farm-grown Oats!

In the fall of 2022, we had our first harvest of a new crop- oats. Our family’s 10-year vision finally coming to fruition. Harvested right out of the field and cleaned up, we brought our hulless oats to the roller. Excitement grew with each rotation of the roller expelling beautiful flat oats. Although it was hours passed breakfast and nearly lunch time, we brought some of these precious oats right to the kitchen. Simmering the oats on low heat in a pot of milk, we waited. And then we waited again… and we waited some more. It was taking much longer than the oats we get from the store.  We began to think that we did something wrong. But, as we waited a little longer, something amazing happened! Right before our eyes, the runny milk mixture began to thicken and bubble. The oats began to soften and puff up. The fine, starchy oat powder mixed into the simmering milk. The mixture became smooth and creamy. It even had a yellowish tint to it which we believed alluded to the freshness and nutritional value! As our excitement grew, our tummies growled. We finally took it off the stove, and with spoons in hand, we scooped it up and each took a bite. 

Our taste buds were not ready for what came next. The flavor was out of this world! It was unlike any store-bought oatmeal that I’ve tasted before. It reminded me of creamed corn and cream of wheat. It had a sweet and nutty flavor. These oats were perfection! It was just right. As I ate more, I was expecting Goldie Locks of the Three Bears story to bust through the door any minute and demand we hand over our delicious bowls of porridge! 

We truly wish that you would give our new rolled oats a try! They are fresh and delicious!  We guarantee you will not be disappointed.     

Tips and Recipes

I’ve never enjoyed oatmeal so much! It tastes like no other oatmeal that I have had before. The flavor is fresh and strong. I had no idea oatmeal could taste so good. I have always thought of oatmeal as a tasteless blank canvas to showcase other things like berries, maple syrup and cinnamon. For some people, these oats can stand on their own.

Basic cooking instructions for our oats is as follows…

 1/3 c. oats

1 c. milk

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Put the oats, milk and salt in a small sauce pan. Cook on the stove on medium heat. Let the milk simmer and bubble, but do not let it come to a boil. Lower the heat as needed. As the oats are cooking, scrape the bottom of the pot with a spoon or spatula. Continue cooking until the contents become thick, about 10 minutes. Before serving, try the oats to make sure they are fully cooked.

*Tip: Add less milk for a thicker consistency and add more milk for a thinner consistency.

*Tip: You can also cook the oatmeal on low heat for a longer period of time (20-30 minutes). This is a great way to cook oatmeal without having to watch it closely or stir it often. You can get other things done while you wait!

*Tip: If you find that you get some debris from the field such has stems or shells in your oats, you can easily skim them off the top while your oatmeal is cooking. I use a spoon or a mini colander with a handle.  

Amanda and Theo’s Special Imitation Rice Pudding, Featuring Oats From Buffalo Valley Pastures!

One night, my husband Theo and I were wanting dessert. I suggested rice pudding, but rice pudding can be involved and take a long time to cook and it was getting kind of late. Theo had this interesting idea.  He suggested making oatmeal for dessert and dressing it up to resemble the flavor of rice pudding. 

We threw all of the usual ingredients into a pot on the stove, but this time, he began to add butter to the mixture. Then, he added maple syrup. We let the pot simmer and simmer low and slow on the stove. It began to thicken. When it was finally done, we had a delicious dessert that tasted just like rice pudding. It even had a similar texture! You can eat it hot off the stove or cold the next morning!

Ingredients:   

2 c. oats

6 c. milk

½ c. maple syrup

1/3 c. butter

Salt to taste

4-5 servings

Directions:

Put the oats, milk and salt in a medium sauce pan. Cook on the stove on medium heat. Let the milk simmer and bubble, but do not let it come to a boil. Lower the heat as needed. As the oats are cooking, scrape the bottom of the pot with a spoon or spatula. At any point while the oats are cooking, add the maple syrup and butter. Continue cooking and stirring until the contents become thick, about 10-15 minutes. Before serving, try the oats to make sure they are fully cooked.

*Tip: Add less milk for a thicker consistency and add more milk for a thinner consistency.

*Tip: You can also cook the oatmeal on low heat for a longer period of time (30-45 minutes). This is a great way to cook oatmeal without having to watch it closely or stir it often. You can get other things done while you wait!

*Tip: If you find that you get some debris from the field such has stems or shells in your oats, you can easily skim them off the top while your oatmeal is cooking. I use a spoon or a mini colander with a handle.