Recipe for Porridege / Hot Cereal:
"Porridge (also known in American English as hot cereal), is a simple dish made by boiling grain (normally rolled oats) in water or milk." Porridge can be eaten all throughout the day but most people consider it a breakfast item. Many people also enjoy it as a sweet snack if fruit and sugar is added-
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) rolled oats or other grain
Tips and Variations
"Soak whole grains over night and change water. Soaking softens the grains and reduces cooking time, although whole oats still require 45 - 60 minutes simmering. Rinsing also reduces starch and pesticide residue. Steel cut oats should simmer for 20-30 minutes, or to the desired texture. Let the water boil out for a chewier, rice like flavor with whole oats or leave some water in as is common with rolled oats and instant oats."
"Porridge can be made using only water, or only milk depending on taste. Other ingredients may include butter, dates, bananas, apples and cinnamon. Add apples and cinnamon during the cooking process to infuse the flavor. If you want to avoid milk products, it is also possible to use soy milk instead of cow's milk. Corn oil also works well with honey and figs, out of the vegetable oils. Honey itself combines well with apples and cinnamon while raisins, dates and bananas are popular with dairy ingredients. Winter squash can be added to finer grains like wheat and millet."
"Porridge was traditionally cooked over a wooden fire and in a cast iron pot which prevents burning and doesn't interfere with the flavor. In modern times, any pot will do as long as it is thick enough to distribute the heat. Instant oats are the easiest and fastest to cook as they only need boiling water." information provided by: wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook
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Fun Food Facts about ingredients:
Nutrition
"Whole oats are an excellent source of thiamine, iron, and dietary fiber. Fiber is helpful in reducing cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Whole oats are also the only source of antioxidant compounds known as avenanthramides; these are believed to have properties which help to protect the circulatory system from arteriosclerosis. Oat products also contain beta-glucan, which may help Type 2 diabetics control their blood sugar level, and might also help stimulate the immune system to fight off bacterial infections."
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Resources:
National Oatmeal Month
National Oatmeal Month is an observed commemorative holiday. Commemorative holidays are used by various governments, groups and organizations to raise awareness of an issue, commemorate a group or event, or celebrate something like oatmeal.
Did you know?
Gruel is similar to porridge but is much more like a drink; it has a very thin consistency and is made with water. It was served in Victorian workhouses as standard meals.
Rolled Oats: "Rolled oats are traditionally oat groats that have been rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers and then steamed and lightly toasted. The oat, like the other cereals, has a hard, inedible outer husk that must be removed before the grain can be eaten. After the outer husk (or chaff) has been removed from the still bran-covered oat grains, the remainder is called oat groats. Oat groats are a whole grain that can be used as a breakfast cereal."
Porridge, or porage, is a dish made by boiling oatmeal (rolled, crushed, or steel cut oats) or sometimes another cereal in water, milk, or both.
