Stuff, Mostly Food

[kerravonsen]

Well, I went to the bank, but not early enough. Was surprised to bump into my brother, we had a nice chat. Then, since I was there, I went shopping.
And the main purchases were Breakfast And Stuff What Goes On It; to be pricise, porridge and toppings for same. Yeah, my younger experience of porridge has been "ugh, lumpy, boring!", but I'd recently been trying out Uncle Toby's Temptations, an assorted pack. These are flavoured quick-oats, and they're quite nice. The assorted pack had four flavours:
- apple + sultana
- date + golden syrup
- apricot + grain
- mixed berry

My favourite is actually the date one.

But my frugal soul figured that it was probably cheaper and/or nicer to make my own mixes, so I went and bought a kilo of quick-oats and various dried fruits and toppings.
- dates (I'll have to chop them)
- diced dried apricot
- dried apples (I'll have to chop these too)
- a pack of little boxes (snack boxes) of assorted dried fruit
- real Maple Syrup (my old bottle is running low)
- 100% fruit raspberry sauce (downside is that it doesn't keep long once it's opened, but it should be yummy, hopefully)

Plus some dried fruit bars and beef jerky for me to have as snacks. I was surrounded by temptation and I resisted! I did not buy cakes, I did not buy corn chips (though they were on special), I didn't even buy cheese.

But, getting back to the porridge, got any ideas of nice toppings I haven't thought of?
Besides the Maple Syrup I intend to vary that with honey, golden syrup or brown sugar. I already know that dates + golden syrup are nice, and apple + maple syrup + cinnamon. I also have malt extract in the cupboard, but I'm not sure what that would go best with.

I walked too much, and my feet are sore.

Comments

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Wow. Compared to you, I'm pretty boring as to what I put on my oatmeal and Ralston (same thing, only made with wheat instead of oats). I usually put a bit of butter (cream would work, too), maple syrup, maybe some raisins (dates are also de-lish, of course. Even more so, imo), and a touch of salt. Cinnamon raisin is a pretty traditional flavor here, as is apple cinnamon. Strawberry flavored, peach flavored, and brown sugar & cinnamon usually round out a variety pack.

I occasionally cook the cereal in milk instead of water, but I have to keep stirring it constantly so the milk doesn't burn.

I'll have to try some of your suggestions.

[kerravonsen]

I occasionally cook the cereal in milk instead of water, but I have to keep stirring it constantly so the milk doesn't burn.

I've been using low-fat milk and not water, and since it's quick-oats and I cook it in the microwave, I haven't had to worry about burning it.

Since I'm trying to lose weight, I'll be avoiding the butter and cream. (Mind you, I've recently discovered the joys of cous-cous with butter and salt, so you win some, you lose some...)

I hadn't thought of brown sugar and cinnamon, though it seems obvious in retrospect.