Quaker Oats For All Your Meals & Their New Creative Oatmeal Officer!

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by PepsiCo and Quaker in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

This fall, Quaker is teaming up with Samantha (Sam) Stephens, founder of the world’s first oatmeal bar, OatMeals in New York City.  Yes you read that right, an oatmeal bar!  The goal of the partnership is to re-introduce oatmeal and show off the endless possibilities of meal creations.  Many people like me think of Quaker Oats as just a breakfast oatmeal, but Sam is going to show off how to use those delicious whole grain oats at any time of the day.

Sam came up with the idea of using oatmeal beyond breakfest when she was in college and trying to eat better while on a budget.  She started using oatmeal in every meal and discovered new meal creations in the process.  To share her creations she opened up OatMeals in Greenwich Village in New York City in June 2012.

Since opening her store, she has sold more than 100,000 hot oatmeal bowls – including her signature Pumpkin Pie and Indian Spiced & Savory Truffle RisOATto.  She also features other oatmeal based products such as oatmeal cookies and biscotti.  Her new role as Creative Oatmeal Officer with Quaker is to help change the way people see oatmeal through creative innovative recipes.

Honestly I never thought of using oatmeal beyond a bowl for breakfast.  Sure sometimes I add fruit or sugar, but nothing other than that.  I am super excited to see what Sam comes out with so I can be my own sneaky chef at home.  My kids are not big oatmeal eaters but since it is so good for them I am constantly pushing it on them.

Here is a preview of one of Sam’s creations:

Hearty Sweet Corn & Pancetta Oatmeal

• 1 cup Quaker steel cut oats
• 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 2 cups fresh corn (approximately 3 ears) or frozen, thawed
• 1/2 cup pancetta, diced (bacon, prosciutto, or ham can be substituted)
• 2 small shallots, diced (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, diced (optional)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Grated pecorino or asiago cheese

In a large saute pan, heat olive oil on medium heat. Add pancetta, corn, and cherry tomatoes and cook for five minutes. Remove this mixture from the pan and place in a bowl to the side. Into the same pan add the butter, shallots, and garlic and cook for two minutes at medium heat. Add Quaker steel cut oats and stir continuously for two to three minutes, until lightly toasted, golden, and fragrant. Add the chicken stock and stir to combine. Cover pan and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until oats are al dente. Add the pancetta, corn, and tomato mixture to the cooked oats and stir to combine. Season with black pepper to taste and top with grated pecorino cheese. Makes four servings.

Stay Connected with Quaker Oats and Samantha Stevens of OatMeals NYC:

OatMeals WEBSITE | OatMeals FACEBOOK | Quaker WEBSITE | Quaker FACEBOOK | Quaker TWITTER