Ingredient:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup neutral-flavored milk of choice (like cow’s milk or plain, unsweetened almond milk) or an additional cup of water
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil
• 1 cup steel-cut oats (choose certified gluten-free oats if necessary)
• ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Mix-in ideas: grated cheese or nutritional yeast, drizzle of additional olive oil or pat of butter, sautéed veggies or greens, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes and/or ground spices
• Topping ideas: toasted chopped nuts or seeds, fried/poached/scrambled eggs and/or lightly dressed fresh greens