The Aeropress is one of the best things to ever happen to coffee. This $25 device is capable of producing an espresso-like brew that rivals even the best espresso machine, and it does so in a fraction of the time and effort. When I woke up this morning in need of some coffee, I knew that it would be the perfect thing to use for my first “Tools and Gadgets” post.

With a little help from your freezer, leftover steel-cut oatmeal makes a nutritious, fast and surprisingly delicious weekday morning breakfast.

Soon after I graduated from pastry school, I got a job at the wonderful 11th Avenue Inn on Capitol Hill in Seattle. This oatmeal was my star contribution to the breakfast lineup, and it’s still my favorite thing to make for breakfast, whether entertaining guests or cooking for myself.

Crystallized ginger gives this steel-cut oatmeal the glitz to be the star of any breakfast table, while the spices and creamy texture keep it grounded in the world of comfort food.