Vegan Mofo 2014 Day 9: Quick Savory Seitan Steel Cut Oatmeal

Steel cut oatmeal gets a "meaty" treatment.

It was a nearly perfect day.
Went to see David Lynch's first ever retrospective here at school and it was amazing!!! He primarily uses printmaking, painting,  mixed media, and of course film. Plus the conversation with Robert Cozzolino and the students was a real eye opening treat.  As soon as the link is posted, I'll add it to a future blog post for your big Lynch fanatics. He said a lot of intriguing quotes alongside his traditional enigmatic responses. I especially loved what he said about ideas. Artists generate a score of ideas and explore methods trying to get that idea out in the "right" way. But what he said about the idea itself was direct and beautiful: "As idea is like falling in love, once you fall in love-- that's it. You're married to the idea." I was also pleasantly surprised that the idea of cinema came from a painting which he thought appeared to be moving! Interesting!
That's easily renders itself into cooking-- Taste The Nom Nom that is and bringing breakfast to Virtual Vegan Linky Party. Cooking vegan will always be so fascinating, so expansive. When I think about oatmeal and its million possibilities, prospects house endless excitement. I love both the sweet oatmeal and the savory oatmeal. Oats are like the grainy, versatile version of tofu, plain "clay" allowing creativeness to mold fantastically mouth watering art for the food palette sculptor.

Look at what's brand new. The recyclable packaging is organically composed, minimalist color palette, and art noveau designed. Speaks to versatile flavors founded in each 4 person serving of epic yumminess.

I always seem to purchase "new" items when they're on sale! For instance, I've been dying to try Upton's Naturals forever! Everyone is singing praises. They're 2 for $6 (plus a 50 cent coupon is on internet rotation) at Whole Foods Market. We don't have the popular bacon flavor unfortunately (well not at the two convenient locations downtown). I picked Italian Seitan-- Italian seasonings junkie right here! The hesitancy struggle was real. It's been in the fridge for two weeks. I don't always like the consistency of seitan itself. In several restaurants, I've had awful "chewy" fake chicken feeling like rubber between teeth. Downright awful to digest! Yet Upton's Naturals managed to make seitan not only palatable but flavorful and unique. Seasoned crumbly texture mimics sausage perfectly and depths are three dimensionally satisfying to nose and taste buds. That's why it was a great pairing to steel cut oats, the chewier heartier oatmeal. Almond milk provides creaminess and nooch is the "cheesy" counterpart. Deliciously savory part of a great breakfast or brunch add a pinch of maple syrup to bring extra sweetness.

Quick Savory Seitan Steel Cut Oatmeal Ingredients and Preparation

1/2 cup Trader Joe's Quick Steel Cut Oatmeal
1 1/2 cup almond milk
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1/4 cup Upton's Naturals Italian Seitan
red onion
2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
dash of curry

Bring almond milk to a boil.
Stir in steel cut oatmeal, lower heat, and cover. Takes only 7-8 minutes to cook.
In separate skillet (yes you'll have two stove eyes on deck!), heat coconut oil and toss in garlic.
Add seitan and mix cordially. It smells quite delicious already.
Once steel cut oatmeal is finished, turn off stove and pour in prepared seitan. Mix in red onion, nutritional yeast, garlic salt, and black pepper.

Sprinkle top with a pinch of curry powder and completely optional spinach leaves.

Nom!!!!!!