How to Make Oatmeal in a Rice Cooker

Disclaimer - Review Posts
make oatmeal in a rice cooker

I absolutely love multi-purpose kitchen gadgets. If it doesn’t do more than one thing, I don’t want it in my kitchen taking up space! When I was asked to check out the latest Zojirushi rice cooker and see how it fared compared to my smaller rice cooker I knew i wanted to find more ways to test it out than just make rice. So I figured out how to make oatmeal in a rice cooker. And I have to say… I’m pretty impressed!

I already loved the Zojirushi brand and own one of their bread machines (all the way back from when my husband and I first got married) and the smaller rice cooker so including this larger capacity rice cooker into our home was perfect. The Zojirushi NL-AAC10 is a great multi-use rice cooker. And I’ve not only made rice and oatmeal in it, but I’ve also used it to steam things as well. Hello delicious dumplings and pot stickers!

make oatmeal in a rice cooker zojirush nl aac10i

Making oatmeal in a rice cooker is a piece of cake! As simple as dumping the ingredients in, adjusting the settings for porridge, and letting it cook. The rice cooker does all of the work. Wait… did I just give that all away in the beginning of the post? Well let me just show you the pretty pictures and talk about this awesome machine.

Aided by microcomputer technology, this category of rice cooker takes having rice on your menu from “occasional” to “serious”. Basically, the microchip does all the thinking for you, as far as adjusting cooking times and temperatures according to the type of rice you are cooking, and timing the pre-soaking of the raw grains and the final “wait” period during steaming.

That means you’re left with perfectly cooked food that every family member will love! No more burnt rice on the bottom. And it also means that you can make a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner using the same rice cooker.

make oatmeal in a rice cooker add ingredients

How to Make Oatmeal in a Rice Cooker

1. Add 2 cups of old fashioned oats into the rice cooker*. Then add in 3 cups of water (or milk if you prefer a creamier oatmeal). Add any mix ins or flavors and stir together to combine. I added 1 diced apple, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and a tablespoon of brown sugar.

*For this recipe I consulted my rice cooker’s manual to see if there was a minimum amount of oats I needed to use for this rice cooker. I also wanted to make sure I was using the correct amount of liquid. If you’re using steel cut oats, double check the manual to see what the minimum amount is as well as what the liquid level should be.

make oatmeal in a rice cooker porridge setting

2. Using the menu button, set rice cooker to porridge setting (bottom right). Once the setting is selected, hit the start button. A melody should play letting you know that the rice cooker has started the cooking process. Sit back and relax as your food cooks.

make oatmeal in a rice cooker cooked oatmeal

3. When the rice cooker is done cooking the oatmeal it will play a melody again. Don’t worry if you aren’t immediately available – the rice cooker will go to the warm setting after it’s done cooking. When you’re ready to eat, open the lid carefully and scoop out your oatmeal.

make oatmeal in a rice cooker close up

This 5-1/2-cup rice cooker and warmer makes 10 cups of cooked rice and includes a variety of cooking functions including white rice/sushi, mixed rice, porridge, sweet, brown, steam, and quick cooking.

If you’re looking for a great rice cooker to add to your kitchen definitely check out the great line of Zojirushi rice cookers.

What would you love to make in a rice cooker?

Love what you see? Try these recipes! 

Vanilla Raisin Oatmeal Squares with coffee

Vanilla Raisin Oatmeal Squares

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothie ingredients

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothies

Oatmeal Recipes Quick and Delicious Apple Crisp - ready for the oven

Oatmeal Apple Crisps

 

Outshine Funny Face Frozen Fruit Bars

I created my healthy #Outshine Funny Face Frozen Fruit Bars as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars by Crowdtap.

funny face frozen fruit bars #outshine

You know that time in the day that you just start craving something sweet or salty? Because I know it isn’t just me! There’s some time either right after nap time and before my husband gets home or after the kids are in bed that I just crave something bad.

And since I’m on Weight Watchers and trying to watch the mindless snacking, I’ve been trying to find alternatives for my old go-to’s as well as healthy snacks that the kids can enjoy with me as well. So when I found these deliciously tasty looking frozen fruit bars on my most recent grocery trip I knew I had to try them.

60-70 calories each and no fat?! Sign me up! Plus I knew the perfect way to make these bars the ultimate after school snack for the kids. Put funny faces on them! What kid could resist awesome funny face frozen fruit bars? Not mine. [Read more…]

Movie Night Ideas: Jungle Book Inspired Chicken Skewers Recipe

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This #JungleFresh shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

movie night ideas jungle book dinner

With the Blu-Ray/Combo Pack Diamond Edition release of Disney’s The Jungle Book coming out next Tuesday (2/11), I thought it’d be nice to celebrate with a Jungle Book inspired family dinner.

I wanted something healthy yet delicious that would please the whole family so I headed out to Walmart to get some inspiration for my dish. And of course as soon as I walked in I found myself in the produce department.

Fresh fruit was the perfect place to start planning our meal. So I decided we’d make some fruit skewers ala Baloo in The Jungle Book. Remember the scene when he turns his finger nail into a fruit skewer? Yeah, that one. [Read more…]

Tequila Lime Pork Tacos with Creamy Tomatillo Avocado Sauce

tequila lime pork tacos

For a few weeks now I’ve been craving street tacos. Simple, easy, and delicious. So for the big game I decided to make some tequila lime pork tacos after making margaritas earlier in the week.

I mean, what’s more fitting to pair with a margarita than a tequila lime pork taco? And I made this delicious tomatillo avocado sauce that paired perfectly with the meat. Simple I tell ya! 

tequila lime pork tacos ingredients

The tequila lime marinade I used contained 6 ingredients: tequila, lime juice, red crushed peppers, diced green chilies, cumin, and garlic. And you only need about 2 hours to marinade the meat.

tequila lime pork tacos marinate pork

While I waited for the meat to marinade I made the tomatillo avocado sauce in our food processor. So simple! I put it in the fridge to let the ingredients meld together a bit.

tequila lime pork tacos cook pork

Then it was time to put everything together and cook the meat!

Now this meat… it’d be amazingly good just on its own if you’re looking for a great pork dish. The flavor was so tasty and the marinade really worked it’s way into the meat to tenderize it.

tequila lime pork tacos close up

Tequila Lime Pork Tacos with Creamy Tomatillo Avocado Sauce

  • 1.5 ounces Partida Reposado tequila
  • juice of one lime
  • 1 4 ounce can diced green chilies
  • 2 tablespoons cumin
  • 1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 pound pork tenderloin
  1. Add first 6 ingredients to a gallon size zippered plastic bag. Mix together well.
  2. Place pork loin in bag and marinate for 2-24 hours.
  3. Grill meat until fully cooked, about 8 minutes on each side.

 

tequila lime pork tacos aerial

What’s your favorite topping for tacos?

Creamy Tomatillo Avocado Sauce

I created this delicious #SauceSquad creamy tomatillo avocado sauce as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars by Crowdtap #BottledAwesome

creamy tomatillo avocado sauce with chips #SauceSquad #BottledAwesome
I love Mexican food. Like LURVE it! So when I was asked to create a delicious dish inspired by the new Taco Bell sauces my mind started to go into a thousand different directions before I found the inspiration to create this creamy tomatillo avocado sauce.

What I love about this sauce is that it pairs perfectly with my tequila lime pork tacos. The tomatillos and green chilies in Taco Bell’s salsa verde match the flavor combo found in my tequila lime marinade. And how can this pork not taste amazing coated with this creamy sauce and nestled into a tortilla of love.

And if you have any left overs or want to serve it to a crowd, feel free to serve this sauce as a dip. Because its great as both a sauce drizzled over your meal or as a dip on it’s own. I’m even considering using it as a salad dressing this week with a nice squeeze of lime on top.  [Read more…]

Hawaii-Inspired Pasta Puttanesca with Seared Ahi Recipe

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. #ChooseSmart

pasta puttanesca with seared ahi

February is the month of love. And this month I plan on making sure my husband knows exactly how much I appreciate him. While we don’t have a lot of time to go out together one-on-one anymore, I can create a great evening just for the two of us with a special recipe inspired by our favorite places to travel: Hawaii and Italy.

We’ve both loved Hawaii since we were dating and took a trip there with my family. Then we went again for our Honeymoon. And again with our two kids two years ago. The culture, the ambiance, the relaxation. It all screams the perfect vacation to us.

We’re also very interested in exploring and going on adventures and Hawaii is a great place for just that. But so is another country I’ve come to love after traveling there together when I was pregnant with our son. That special place is Italy. So in the spirit of the month of love I’ve combined our two favorite places to travel into this one dish. [Read more…]

Simple 5-Ingredient Skinny Margarita Recipe

Disclaimer - Review Posts
partida skinny margarita

The Super Bowl is this weekend and many love to celebrate with their favorite drinks. Obviously these includes an adult beverage (so if you’re under 21 you need to stop reading now) and usually that beverage is a nice cold beer. But this year I’m shaking things up with a Mexican theme and celebrating in style with this Skinny Margarita.

In an effort to bring lighter fare to the menu for our Super Bowl shindig and to cater to my Weight Watchers lifestyle, we’ve whipped up some delicious skinny margaritas that are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Especially when paired with the street tacos I have planned.

With a simple ingredient list, easy directions, and a great taste, this is the perfect recipe to replace your cold one this Sunday.

partida skinny margarita tequila

From the gorgeous, sleek bottles, to the smooth taste, Partida Tequila is a delicious addition to any football party.

Now I’m no tequila connoisseur but living in San Diego I’ve had a shot or two south of the border and I have to say that Partida tequila is something that would be kept in my cupboards.

And now that I have this delicious, calorie friendly alternative to my favorite margarita, I may be seeing more of Partida in the near future. Responsibly, of course.

partida skinny margarita ingredients

The  Skinny Margarita recipe starts with 5 simple ingredients: tequila, Agave, lime, water, and salt.

partida skinny margarita lime on rim

If you like your margarita with salt, grab a slice of lime and rub it around the rim of your glass.

partida skinny margarita salt on rim

Then turn the cup over, rim down, into a plate of sea salt to coat the rim of the glass.

partida skinny margarita poured

Now it’s time to make your skinny margarita!

Partida Skinny Margarita

This margarita is a perfect way to relax and enjoy the festivities without going over on your Weight Watcher points. Only 3pp+ for one margarita!

  • 1 ½ oz Partida Blanco Tequila
  • 1 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ oz Agave Nectar
  • lime slice (for garnish)
  • sea salt
  • ¾ oz Water
  1. Take lime slice for garnish and run it along the edge of the Margarita glass. Then flip the glass over and dip rim into salt leaving a light layer of salt around the rim of the glass.
  2. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake to combine. Strain over fresh ice into a Margarita glass or Old-Fashioned glass.
  3. Taste for balance and adjust if necessary.

 

partida skinny margarita aerial

How do you enjoy your tequila?

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Granola Bar Recipe

Tracking Pixel

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Pistachio Health Institute. pistachio granola bar recipe

I absolutely love finding great, healthy snacks that both of the kids and I love. Over the past few months, the kids have expressed an interest in pistachios. Mainly because they see their grandpa eat them but also because they love how fun they are to eat!

Since I’m always up for a challenge when it comes to food, I love that it takes SO long to enjoy an entire serving of pistachios. That means that I get to slowly enjoy my snack instead of rushing through eating it. And the kids love trying to open each one themselves making it a game to them.

When I choose snacks I try to choose ones that’ll keep me feeling full and satisfied. Pistachios are a good source of fiber, providing 12 percent of the daily value per 30-gram serving. And besides the health benefits, eating fiber may help you feel full longer and makes it easier to follow a healthy eating plan. Go pistachios!

pistachio granola bar recipe pistachios

Healthy snacks are great for a healthy lifestyle. They can help make us feel good and taste great as well. And? You get more nuts per serving with pistachios than any other nut out there. If you reduce your serving to 30 pistachios, you have a great 100 calorie snack ready for you to enjoy.

Below are a few great tips from Celebrity Trainer Valerie Waters as she helps us focus on smart snacking:

pistachios shine like the stars large

Since my kids already love pistachios I thought I’d take their love one step further and make some delicious dark chocolate pistachio granola bars for them as an after school treat. Something they could make with me after they got home and enjoy after naptime (because you better believe I still enforce naptime here!).

I took a few ingredients we had in the cupboard, chopped up a handful of pistachios, and made some delicious granola bars that are sure to be a hit when they wake up!

pistachio granola bar recipe ingredients

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Granola Bar Recipe

  • 1 cup Chex rice cereal
  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup sweetened granola
  • 1/4 cup pistachios (shelled and chopped)
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries (unsweetened)
  • 1/8 cup coconut (unsweetened)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/3 cup almond butter (unsalted)
  • 1 tablespoon honey or raw agave (more or less to taste)
  1. In a large bowl, mix together the rice cereal, oats, granola, pistachios, chocolate, dried cranberries, coconut, and salt.
  2. In a small bowl mix together almond milk, chia seeds and almond butter. Stir until almond butter is dissolved into almond milk.
  3. Add almond mixture to dry ingredients and mix everything together until a dough forms.
  4. Press the dough into a wax paper lined 8 x 8 inch dish or a bar pan. Place the dish into the freezer and let set for about 20 minutes, or until hardened. Cut dough into bars. Wrap the bars individually and store in the freezer or fridge.

 

pistachio granola bar recipe bar pan

pistachio granola bar recipe cut out

What are your go-to healthy habits for 2014?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Pistachio Health Institute.

Social Fabric is Like a Lasagna Recipe #LuvSoFab14

lasagna recipe social fabric layers

Sometimes it takes a while to find out where you belong. What you want to do when you grow up, who your friends are, how you better yourself on so many different levels. And I think I’ve finally succeeded on figuring these out with the help of Social Fabric and Collective Bias.

Friends, community, support. These are the words that come to mind when I think of Social Fabric and what the SoFab community has done for me.

Now I have the chance to finally meet the SoFab family I’ve come to love in person at SoFabCon’14 in Arkansas this May.  [Read more…]

Celebrate the Big Game with Mrs T Pierogies Recipes

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Millennial Central Consulting for Mrs. T’s Pierogies. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Mrs T Pierogies Recipes

This past weekend I hosted a playoff party for our family and friends and at the top of the line up of appetizers were these delicious Mrs. T pierogies. After making them for a girls night in a few weeks ago I decided they’d be the perfect addition to our game day meal.

I kept it simple and grabbed a box of my favorite low-fat potato and cheddar pierogies and some frozen fire roasted onions and peppers from Trader Joe’s (a freezer staple in our home) and cooked them up in some olive oil.

These were such a hit! Our friends loved them and they paired perfectly with the other dishes we served. They also tasted great with a beer in hand!
[Read more…]



© A Crafty Spoonful - All Rights Reserved
It is OK to use one of my photos provided a link back and/or proper credit is given. It is NOT ok to copy and paste a whole post including instructions. Please do not remove watermarks or alter images in any way. Please contact me with any questions at danielle@acraftyspoonful.com

.