Crock Pot Oatmeal

I know I've mentioned that I've been on an oatmeal kick lately.  It's either scrambled eggs or oatmeal for breakfast.  I used to be a cold cereal girl, and while I do sometimes still indulge in a bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares if I'm in a hurry or feeling lazy, I've been trying to eat less prepared/processed foods.
Also, when I was trying to nurse Phoebe I found out that oatmeal is supposedly one of those "super" foods for breastfeeding mamas, so bring on the oatmeal!!!
I had been making oatmeal every 2 or 3 days- just from bulk organic oats I get at the Farmer's Market.  A touch of 100% organic maple syrup and I'm good to go.
But this crock pot oatmeal has changed my life.  Ok, maybe not changed my life, but it is pretty amazing.  I originally got the recipe from Lauren.  And because she's such a great photographer, her pictures look a lot more appetizing than mine...
The other thing that is amazing about it is that you can cook it in the crock pot overnight** and it is ready to go in the morning!  It does make a lot, but I keep mine in the fridge and eat off of it all week and it has still tasted good even at the end of the week!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups steel cut oats (not instant)
5 apples, cut into cubes
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tbs. cinnamon
2 tbs. butter
Pinch of salt
3 cups milk
1 1/4 cups water

Directions:
Put the apples in the crock pot (so they cover the bottom), pour in the oats. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter. Pour the milk and water over everything. Do not stir. Put the lid on your crock pot and set it to high heat for 5 hours*. When ready to eat, pour a little maple syrup over it (although it is really pretty sweet already...)
 Serve warm and enjoy!

**I cooked mine on low overnight because I wake up hungry for breakfast in the morning and don't have 5 hours.  I will say that every time I have made it, I have burned a little bit of the oatmeal around part (not the whole) edge of the crock pot.  I sprayed my pot really well so it was easy to clean, but I did throw some burned areas away.  But it was worth it for me.