Saturday, January 31, 2009

Organic Steel Cut Oats at Jamba Juice

As I walked from my car to the bank, I passed Jamba Juice. Since I don't drink juice, especially not gargantuan smoothies with more than a meal's worth of calories and sugar, not associated, with dark chocolate, I usually don't pay attention to the place. But there on the window was a big poster for Steel Cut Oats and how they've gone beyond instant oatmeal. And to sweeten the deal they are organic and topped with brown sugar (you're supposed to laugh now). They're cooked with soymilk, which seems an odd choice to me but maybe they think that it's what people want, and maybe they do.

The juice joint was packed at 5:30 p.m. I don't understand it, and I know that it wasn't for the steel cut oats because those are only available until 11 a.m. They did offer 3 different toppings for the oats: fresh banana with cinnamon brown sugar crumble, blueberry and blackberry compote with brown sugar crumble and apple cinnamon with an apple compote and brown sugar crumble. These are certainly a step up from instant and for $2.95 might be a decent deal. If I'm ever traveling or find myself starving near a Jamba Juice, I might give their organic steel cut oats a try. But honestly when I'm home, with 3 minutes at pressure in my pressure cooker, for far less than $2.95 I could invite you and a few of your neighbors for breakfast, and we can use organic agave and fruit in-season to top our bowls.

10 comments:

Darya Pino said...

Although I would prefer to see Jamba Juice go out of business, this is slightly refreshing.

Thanks!

Jennifer A. Wickes said...

I just made a breakfast porridge of steel cut oats and quinoa in my pressure cooker 2 days ago! It was tasty. Then, I added agave nectar, cinnamon, walnuts and dried apples.

Unknown said...

Just yesterday I made a pressure cooker pot full of steel cut oats. I added lots of cinnamon, chopped apple and dried cranberries. And now I have enough left over for several more breakfasts.

Tracy Reifkind said...

"Organic"...what do they mean? Just the oats? Or the sugars, fruits, and milk they add to it too? The toppings have more calories than the oats themselves probably.

I once took some home made steel cut oats on a trip with me,(PC cooked, of course!), to heat them I stopped at Starbucks and ordered some hot, hot, hot, steamed lowfat milk to pour over to warm the oats....necessity is the mother of invention, lol!

The Veggie Queen said...

You are all wonderful to post here. WE know that doing your own oats makes the most sense but this is an alternative.

I think that only the oats are organic and most people don't realize that the toppings that Jamba adds ruin the "goodness" of the oats.

I like my oats just like your Jennifer, except that I put in fresh apples.

Love all the pressure cooker usage. Keep it up.

Unknown said...

I found your blog when searching for directions on making steel-cut oats in a presure cooker. I would like to make a batch that has milk added later as I want to use it both for my self and as baby food for my son. I would want to add breast milk to the babies portion and regular milk to the adult portion, with out making 2 pots. Any suggetions?

The Veggie Queen said...

Amy,

I make my steel cut oats in the pressure cooker with 1 cups oats and 3 cups liquid. Bring to pressure for 3 minutes and let the pressure come down naturally.

Have you given your baby steel cut oats before? If not, I wouldn't recommend starting with them as they are a bit chunky for most infants (except maybe those 10 months or older).

You can email me directly at jill@theveggiequeen.com if you have other questions.

Good luck,
Jill

Unknown said...

I eat at Jamba Juice about once a year due to a work trip. JJ is right across the street from the hotel. I love their oats but the junk they put on them is nasty. I'm a blueberry freak but not a blueberry syrupy freak. Never have had any of their drinks since I have a blend-tec at home & I can make my own drinks much much better. Still - love their steel cut oats.

The Veggie Queen said...

Sharon,

I think that it's great that Jamba Juice offers steel cut oats although it amazes me that they don't have good stuff to put on it.

I agree that making your own drink at home is best. I just finished making my husband his daily green smoothie with organic ingredients.

Steel cut oats are a good breakfast option out in the world.

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