Cream of Wheat Berries with Cranberries and Cardamom

I had every intention to put this together last night to have for breakfast this morning but I was so tired and crashed on the sofa until the partly sunny sky came through my window.
So, this morning, I decided to have breakfast for dinner.  It was so good the wheat berries was so yummy with the cranberries and maple syrup. You can add a splash of milk if you want, add brown sugar!

I used the smaller slow cooker (4 qt).  It serves 4 or even more if you like having a big breakfast with pancakes, toast, etc.

1/2 cup wheat berries
1/4 cup cracked wheat *I had to use bulgar because I could not find the cracked wheat*
1/2 cup rolled old-fashioned oats
4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cardamom *you can use cinnamon or allspice if you like*
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

in a 3 1/2 - 4 qt slow cooker, combine the wheat berries, cracked wheat, oats and water.
stir in the salt and cardamom.
cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours *after 5 1/2 hours it was ready so you might want to have a timer installed or keep an eye on it*
stir in the cranberries just before serving.

From the Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Enjoy!

A Break From Cooking? Yes Indeed!

I was ready, this morning, to get my shopping list together for next week's dinners when I decided to check the freezer first.
I am happy to say that my freezer was full of leftovers from the past couple of weeks that I think I can pull off NOT cooking this week.
Yay for me!
Or maybe I'll try some breakfasts/lunches in the slow cooker.

Maple baked beans

I love buying dry beans. Picking over the beans reminds me of my mom and grandmother in the kitchen preparing meals after breakfast. Canned beans are always good to have when you forget to soak the beans overnight or for a quick meal when you've been so busy with kids, work, house, illness, etc. I soaked the beans yesterday afternoon and slow cooked the beans with garlic and onions overnight.

From Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

You need a slow cooker at least 4 quarts.
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium size yellow onion chopped
3 cups of slow cooked or 2 15.5 oz cans of navy beans or great northern beans drained and rinsed
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (please do not substitute. I know it's expensive but you'll thank me later)
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup tomato paste mixed w/1 1/4 cup hot water

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the onion and cover until softened, about 5 minutes.
transfer the onion to the slow cooker. Add the beans and everything else and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Enjoy with rice and a large side of vegetables.

breakfast of champions AKA don't bother me I'm still sleeping

Have I told you how much I love my crock pot?
Why did I ignore it for so long knowing all the yumminess that comes out of it when I arrive home to the smell of dinner.
Who's in my kitchen?
Yeah that would be Mr. Crockpot.
Why Mr?
Because it was that damn easy and simple.
Like men.
Yeah I said it.
So waking up to the smell of slow-cooked beans I decided to flip the pages of one of my favorite cookbooks Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker.
Breakfast.
The most important meal of the day. It is the meal that will make your day. Sleeping in a bit longer is a plus. If you have kids that can serve themselves cereal can surely just take the lid off the crockpot and serve themselves oatmeal.
Yes oatmeal.
You can double the recipe if you are a true oatmeal lover.


This recipe book said it serves 6, go ahead and double it.

Old-Fashioned Apple-Raisin Oatmeal

1 1/2 cups rolled (old-fashioned) oats
4 cups cold water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 medium-size granny smith apple
3 tbsp raisins
1/2 cup granola

combine all the ingredients except the granola in a lightly oiled 4 quart slow cooker.
cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
to serve, spoon the oatmeal into bowls, sprinkle with the granola and serve hot.

Growing up I hated oatmeal. The texture and look made me want to run.
Then I grew up.
I discovered that it didn't have to be so wet.
Then steel cut oatmeal came into my life.
If you've never had it get off the computer and go to any supermarket. It takes longer to cook but the end the result is beyond awesome.