Fall 2023
Oats
New life for an old hearty and healthy food » More ...
Oats
Fall 2023
Oats then and now: Q&A with an expert
Louisa R. (Winkler) Brouwer (’17 PhD Crop Sci.) was one of three researchers at Washington State University who collaborated on “The History of Oats in Western Washington and the Evolution of Regionality in Agriculture.”
The 2016 study—written by Brouwer along with crop scientists Stephen S. Jones, director of the WSU Breadlab, and Kevin M. Murphy (’04 MS, ’07 PhD Crop Sci.)—appeared in the Journal of Rural Studies.
It was a precursor to her dissertation: “Building the Genetic, Agronomic and Economic Foundations for Expansion of Oat Cultivation in Western Washington.”
Recently, she discussed her work and oats with Washington State Magazine.
… » More …
Fall 2023
Cosmic Overnight Oats
Breakfast and oatmeal go hand in hand. Sometimes, though, cooking time is limited and you need something quick and ready to eat.
I’ve found a tasty, make-ahead alternative in overnight oats, similar to Bircher muesli or other preparations that let oats soak up liquids and flavors over time. I like to try out different combinations with various fruits and nuts.
The star among my overnight oats experiments features Cosmic Crisp® apples, one of the delicious foods developed by Washington State University. Combining the tart-sweet flavor of Cosmic Crisps with spices, nuts, and other additions makes a wonderful base.
Add granola on top, and it … » More …
Fall 2023
Oat recipes
From gruel to oatmeal cookies, here’s a roundup of historical and contemporary recipes spotlighting oats. What’s your favorite way to prepare this healthful grain?
Read more about oats in the Fall 2023 issue’s In Season.
Historical oats
First, light a fire. Here are some ways to prepare oats from the mid-eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. The first half-dozen recipes come from the 1747 Hannah Glasse cookbook: The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy, which far exceeds anything of the kind ever yet published.
To Make Plum Gruel
Take two quarts of water, two large spoonfuls of oatmeal, sir it … » More …