How easy is that ? !
Jake Sternquist
When I ’m in penury of a “ intellectual nourishment clinch , ” I turn to one of two surefire unction : A recipe that reminds me of childhood ( say , Mom ’s snickerdoodlesor Dad ’s waffles ) or anIna Gartencreation . The first path is graspable . Certain smell and flavors can make us find like a kid again ; ravish us back to a fourth dimension when life sentence was a circle simple . The second option is a wont I pick up in my XX , when I link up theBarefoot Contessafan club . My wonderment for Ina has only grown throughout the years , as she ’s read up for us during times that are scary ( I ’ll never forget theQuarantinirecipe she share early on on during the pandemic ! ) andcelebratory .
Credit:Jake Sternquist
I do n’t mean I ’m alone when I confess that I frequently turn to dishes likeIna ’s Real Spaghetti and MeatballsorTuscan Lemon Chickenwhen I ’m in the mood for comfort food . Recently , while stirring the sauce for that spaghetti recipe , my mind divagate . I question if Ina turns to her own recipes when she ’s attempt some solace ?
Turns out , she does — but in a much unproblematic style than I ever would have imagined . WhenParade Magazineinterviewed the celebrity chef , cookbook author , and entertain genius , they asked for her go - to comfort nutrient . Her response was shockingly simple : “ A bowl of oatmeal with maple sirup and butter . ”
Another fan was as curious as I was to dig in for more details for Ina ’s key signature mode - boosting cup of tea , and reached out to ourcomfort foodspirit guide via her website’sAsk Inafeature . Jackie W. from Pittsburgh says , “ you cite in the article your favorite comfort food … oatmealwith butter and maple sirup . I would love to know how you make it ! " Same , Jackie . golden for us , Ina kick the bucket on to give us the scoop .
How to Make Ina’s Oatmeal Recipe
After horn in around for other interviews with Ina in which she mentions this habit , I discovered that her a.m. oat have been a daily staple fibre since at least 2014 . Here ’s how to quicken the recipe , accord to Ina ’s reply to Jackie :
What Makes This Oatmeal Recipe Special?
There were two details that surprised me the most about this recipe . First , the microwave method . I recall watching Ina excite together a batch of creamy stovetop oat for herSunday Morning OatmealonBarefoot Contessaback in the day , but it makes horse sense that a interfering enterpriser like Ina would impinge on the “ easy button ” on weekday . One of her mantras is “ how soft is that ? ! ” after all . When start with ready - cooking oat like Ina advises — she prefersMcCann ’s Quick & Easy Steel Cut Irish Oats — I really could n’t find a obtrusive dispute in texture compared to the stovetop oats I ’ve tried in the past tense . A red-hot breakfast in 5 minutes matte is a middling marvelous selling point .
The other feature that I did n’t expect about this easy breakfast recipe was just that … how wide-eyed it was . Since we intend of staple like salt , butter , and water as “ freebee , ” you really need just three unproblematic ingredients to fall out in the footsteps of Ina : oat , milk , and maple sirup . The butter loan a lovely wind of fertility , while the maple syrup and salt combo offer nice balance . The finished product was middling resonant of the maple - brown sugar instant oat packet I call back Mom frequently heating up ( in the microwave , just like Ina ! ) before school when I was a youngster .
Tips For Making Ina Garten’s Go-To Breakfast Oats
Ina ’s oats are tasty and informal as - is , but they ’re basic enough that you’re able to think of this as a canvas for other elements , too . Here are some ways to zhush up your roll :
The Verdict on Ina’s Signature Oatmeal Recipe
Ina ’s comfort food oatmeal recipe has been on steady revolution for more than a decade , and I can empathise why . Simple and classic , much like Ina ’s timeless denim button - up , these oats are no - sweat to make even if you skipped the catnap push . Plus , they ’re budget - friendly and a beautiful blank slating to dress up with accessory , reckon on the season , your kitchen parentage , and your mood .
I ’ve been on a Greek yogurt parfait kick for years myself , and thanks to Ina , I look forwards to put in a novel selection to my breakfast “ capsule press . ”
