You know how sometimes you realize a simple ingredient in your pantry is not actually totally boring and, in fact, is more versatile and boasts a number of redeeming qualities that you suddenly develop a little crush on it? Yeah, that happened to me.

In recent years, I’ve come to see oats in a whole new light. Like, I went from childhood breakfasts of Quaker instant oatmeal packets to making awesome stuff out of oats like oat milk, oat flour, overnight oats and homemade granola—which is why I was so excited to see Kathy Hester’s new book, OATrageous Oatmeals, land in my mailbox. Think of this book as a manifesto to oats, going beyond recipes you would think traditionally require them and inspiring new ways to use this simple yet versatile grain.

From mushroom sun-dried tomato steel-cut oat risotto and pepperoni crumbles to dreamy dark chocolate oat cream and coconut oat vanilla nut creamer, this book shows how you can make a meal out of oats any time of the day. For those who are not so adventurous, Kathy also includes new takes on old favourites, like oatmeal, overnight oats, granola, pancakes and biscuits. Plus, she goes beyond the kitchen and includes recipes for making your own body scrubs, bath soak and catnip kitty treats—all using oats! The book chapters include:

• Do it yourself homemade staples
• Warming oats for fall and winter
• Cooling breakfast oats for spring and summer
• Granolas and bars for breakfast and beyond
• Satisfying soups and stews
• Savory oats for lunch and dinner
• Delightful desserts
• Drinks, oat milk and even an oat liquor
• Beyond the dining room: Other uses for oats

I love that Kathy also takes into consideration a number of common allergens and special diets, and includes variations and additional information in each recipe, including soy-free, gluten-free, no added oil, sweeteners alternatives, and nutritional information.

There are so many recipes in this book I want to try, but so far I’ve made:

The easy oat milk yogurt—yes, that’s right, you can make yogurt out of oats! This was a very simple recipe that didn’t require anything more than rolled oats, water and a little plain non-diary yogurt. You have to cook it and then allow it to ferment overnight, but the result is a smooth, deliciously oaty yogurt that is far superiour (and much cheaper) than any store-bought brand. Mine turned out a bit thinner than the store-bought stuff I love so much, but that may have been an error on my part. I’ll be giving it another try soon!

These butternut squash maple walnut scones came together quite easily and made an awesome breakfast paired with homemade strawberry chia jam. Since I didn’t have butternut squash on hand, I followed the variation using pumpkin puree instead. I shared these with my colleagues and they got rave reviews.

The curry cashew savory granola is one of those recipes that piques your interest immediately, so it happened to be the first recipe I tried from this book. I dug out my favourite brand of garam masala spice blend and boy, did it make the house smell amazing—that incredible, warming scent of homemade granola combined with fresh Indian spices. I added some larger cashew pieces for more crunch and I couldn’t stop snacking on it while trying to take photos! Needless to say, I’ll be doubling the batch next time I make it. Find the recipe for this awesome, crunchy snack below!

Curry cashew savory granola

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (14 g) ground flax seed mixed with 4 tablespoons (59 ml) warm water
• 1 cup (92 g) rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil
• 1⁄3 cup (55 g) golden raisins
• 1⁄3 cup (26 g) finely shredded coconut
• 1⁄3 cup (43 g) minced cashews nuts
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground mustard
• salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F (177C) and either oil a cookie sheet or line it with parchment paper.
2. Add all ingredients but the salt to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix well, then add salt to taste.
3. Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet and press thin. You should have one large, flat piece about 1/4 to 1⁄8-inch thin. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are browned and the middle is no longer wet. Let cool on cookie sheet and break it up into large or small chunks with your hands. Use to top salads or plain yogurt, or just eat by the handful for a snack!

From OATrageous Oatmeals by Kathy Hester, printed with permission of Page Street Publishing

Cookbook giveaway

Kathy and Page Street Publishing have offered to let me give away a copy of OATrageous Oatmeals to one of you! The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents and will run until Monday, November 10, 2014. Please use the widget below to enter.

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Maybe my taste buds have changed but since then, beets have been a part of my regular rotation during the fall and winter along with most other root vegetables. I juice them, shred them for salads and sometimes roast them to bring out their flavour. Last week, I happened to buy a gigantic bunch of organic red beets, but since I was getting a little tired of adding them to my salads I decided to go another route and throw them in a batch of falafel. Call it an early Valentine’s Day meal if you wish, since red is everywhere this week.

I wish I had snapped a photo of the inside of these babies to show the beautiful specks of deep red throughout, but I didn’t, so you’ll have to trust me on this one. Underneath the crispy exterior, they are beautiful. I promise.

They are also super simple to throw together in your food processor. With these, you have the option to fry them like traditional falafel, or bake them if you wish. Then place them atop a luscious plate of greens and smother them in my favourite homemade tahini dressing.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, Lisa and I put together special treat tins to share this week. We filled them with three kinds of truffles, as well as raw brownies, moonie pies, chocolate chip almond cookies, white chocolate lavender cups and fig and hazelnut bars. I hope those who purchased the tins enjoy our handcrafted chocolate confections as much as we enjoyed creating them.

We will be doing more of these special treat packages for upcoming holidays. If you like what you see, stay tuned for our next special sampler.

Beetroot falafel with tahini dressing

Yield: about 20 patties

Ingredients:

Falafel:

• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• 1 3/4 cups cooked chickpeas (or one 19oz. can)
• 3/4 cup shredded beets (about 1 large)
• 1/2 cup oat flour (ground rolled oats)
• 1/2 cup flax meal
• 1/3 cup finely diced onion
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup tahini

Tahini dressing:

• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Directions:

For the falafel:

1. Mince garlic in a food processor. Add the cilantro and parsley and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. Add chickpeas to the food processor and pulse to chop finely, but don't puree. Add chickpeas and remaining ingredients to the bowl. Mix everything together thoroughly (using your hands is best). The mixture should hold together when pressed between your hands.
3. Form into small balls (1 tbsp each) and press together firmly with your palms to form small patties.
4. You can either fry these lightly in oil or bake them. To fry, heat oil of your choice in a frying pan and cook falafel patties over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, flip over and cook another 4 minutes, or until browned on both sides.
5. To bake, preheat oven to 350F. Place falafel patties on a baking sheet and brush tops lightly with oil of your choice. Bake for 20 minutes, turning over halfway through. Best served immediately with tahini dressing.

For tahini dressing:

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Now, don’t be fooled by appearances. This stew may have a somewhat long list of ingredients but it is a whole lotta delicious. Sometimes combining a handful of seasonal elements together in a simple way allows each ingredient to shine without a lot of fuss—that is what I love about one-pot meals. This recipe is easy, uncomplicated and just the kind of food I eat every day.

The textures and flavours of this dish are quite varied and yet work together really well. The eggplant, with its slightly bitter taste and meaty texture, balances the surrounding flavours of the other, more pronounced ingredients like the sweet butternut squash and the vibrant tomatoes. Then you get a decisive smack from the fresh ginger that breaks through the familiar only to end in a sweet suggestion of Moroccan spices.

I should note that I roasted my eggplant and butternut squash beforehand, which brings out the flavours of these hearty vegetables. However, I don’t think it’s completely necessary if you’re pressed for time. You may just need to adjust the cooking time and simmer the stew until the vegetables and lentils are cooked through. I also used canned tomatoes here since “fresh” tomatoes at this time of year are transported in and, in my opinion, taste awful. But feel free to use whatever works for you.

Moroccan vegetable and lentil stew

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant, cubed
• 1 butternut squash, cubed
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2-inch piece ginger, grated
• 2 large carrots, sliced
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground tumeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 28-oz can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup dried lentils
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F and oil the bottom of two sheet pans.
2. Spread the eggplant onto one pan and the squash onto another. Bake until soft, about 30 minutes.
3. In a large pot, add a splash of water and cook the onion, garlic, ginger and carrots over medium heat until soft. Add water as needed so the ingredients don't stick to the bottom of the pot.
4. Add the spices and cook for another minute or two, stirring frequently.
5. Add the vegetable stock, tomatoes, lentils as well as the roasted eggplant and squash and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, or until lentils are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.