The e-mail was forwarded to a local TV station which followed up.

Ha! That's totally what that assmunch deserved.

So, hivemind... anyone remember that ep. of Good Eats where Alton goes after oatmeal? Remember how long and how hot an oven he said for toasting steel cut oats to cut later cooking time? I tried the Food Network site, and got no joy.

Andi, I couldn't find the exact recipe, but I did find this one from Fine Cooking that required the oatmeal to be toasted in the oven:

Creamy Coconut Oatmeal with Dried Peaches and Candied Coconut Pecans

From Fine Cooking, March 2008. If you can't find dried peaches, substitute other dried fruit.

1 cup steel-cut oats

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Kosher salt

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecan halves

1/4 cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut

1/4 cup finely diced dried peaches

13.5-ounce or 14-ounce can coconut milk

Position rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Spread the oatmeal on a large baking sheet. Pick through for husks or pebbles and toast in the oven until light golden and fragrant, about 12 minutes. Transfer to large bowl to cool.

Line a baking sheet with parchment or a nonstick liner. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the corn syrup, 1/2 teaspoon water and a pinch of salt. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is mostly melted, about 2 minutes. (It won't dissolve completely). Off the heat, stir in the pecans and coconut. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake, stirring halfway through baking, until the coconut is dark brown, 16 to 18 minutes total. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool. Once cool, crumble the pecan mixture into a bowl and stir in the peaches.

While the coconut pecans bake, pour the coconut milk into a large liquid measuring cup and add enough water to make 4 cups. Transfer to a 4-quart saucepan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and a big pinch of salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Add the oatmeal and cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the oatmeal is tender and thick, 25 to 30 minutes. Whisk occasionally at first and then switch to a wooden spoon and stir more frequently toward the end.

Serve the oatmeal in wide, shallow bowls, topped with the pecan mixture.

Yield: 4 servings

Tom usually toasts the oats in butter on the stovetop... I thought that was the way AB did it too, but I could be misremembering.

cereal (literally)

Pick through for husks or pebbles

Heh, I don't think I've ever, ever come across a pebble in steel cut oatmeal. They may be confusing oats with lentils.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

but. But. I don't drink coffee, and she's a pastry chef.

t shywhinyangstexcuses

Oops, forgot to close that. Hopefully I learn how soon.

ION I seemed to have lost my ubber simple, super yummy, one pot no dishes easy cleanup brownie recipe. Plus all I've found are for 9x13 pans, and I have a 9x9 pan. Ack. Silly moving thing.

but. But. I don't drink coffee, and she's a pastry chef.

I have yet to be in a coffee establishment that does not serve other beverages. You can also say "hey, let's go criticize other chefs' desserts. Or alternately, steal their ideas!"

Nora, AB did toast the oats in butter on the stove top, but he also mentioned putting 'em in the oven as another way to cut down on stove top cooking time, and that is what we had been after. We're hoping to make the steel cut oats we got at the local co-op easier to fix up in the mornings before work.

Barb, thank you for finding that - the directions sound reasonable. So that is what we will do.

Edited because co-op and coop are really not quite the same places.

basically, the night before, Tom toasts the oats in butter and then adds boiling water to it. He covers the pot and we go to bed. This softens the oats up to cook 'em up nice and quick in the morning. I think he just adds some milk to it and brings it up to a boil (there may be some more water added as well).

Works great. Mmm, I may request he do that tonight for breakfast tomorrow!