Toasted Oatmeal

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 cup steel cut oats or Irish or Scottish
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 coarse salt
• 1 cup honey
• 4 star anise
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 cup brandy or apple juice, optional
• 1 vanilla bean split and scraped
• 8 pitted prunes
• 12 apricot halves dried
• 1 cup golden raisins

1. For the Oatmeal: Melt butter in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add oats, and toast, shaking pan and turning oats until browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add 4 cups water and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer until most of the water has evaporated and the oatmeal is tender, about 30 minutes for the Irish oatmeal, or 5 to 10 minutes for old-fashioned rolled oats. Serve hot with desired toppings. (Makes 4 cups)
2. For the Infused Honey: Warm honey, star anise, and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat; let rest for at least 30 minutes, or overnight. Serve over hot cereal. (Makes 1 cup)
3. For the Stewed Fruit: Place brandy, vanilla bean seeds and pod, prunes, apricots, and raisins in a medium saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer fruit until liquid is reduced by about three-quarters. Serve warm over hot cereal. (Makes 1 cup)

unsalted butter, oats, oldfashioned, salt, honey, anise, cinnamon sticks, brandy, vanilla bean, prunes, apricot, golden raisins

Taken from www.yummly.com/recipe/Toasted-Oatmeal-1676148 (may not work)