Tuesday 16 September 2008

A Good Start - Porridge

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I know a lot of people hate porridge, thinking it bland and having a horrible consistency, but I also know plenty of people who love it as a great way to start a day. I used to be one of the former, but have been converted to become one of the latter.

Of course there are many of different ways of making porridge, starting with your choice of oats, whether you use milk or water, salt or sugar. I usually use normal porridge oats and a mix of milk and water and leave out both, salt and sugar, but I add plenty of other things (most of the time as toppings after cooking) to keep it varied and interesting.

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This morning I peeled myself out of bed at 6.30am to go for a run before work, when I got back and had had a shower, I really wanted a nice breakfast and since it wasn't particularly warm outside I made porridge to set me up for the day. It's not really a recipe as such, but as well as the usual mix of oats, milk and water I added a large pinch of Penzey's Apple Pie Spice and once it was cooked I topped it with mixed toasted nuts, fresh raspberries and some maple syrup. Well, let me tell you it certainly was not bland!

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26 comments:

Sam said...

I love porridge, it's perfect this time of year. I like to put raisins in mine or maybe cooked apples and cinnamon.

fleur said...

Your porridge looked lovely, like you I used to hate porridge, but now it is one of my favourite things to wake up to. If you have any over ripe bananas they are really tasty mashed up and cooked with the porridge. mmmmmm think ill have that in the morning.

Jan said...

That porridge looks lovely Sylvie!

Rosie said...

I love porridge Sylvie and this looks perdect for the start of the day breakfast!

Rosie x

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Im like you, never liked it much as a kid but now I can't get enought of it, and nor can my baby daughter. Great for autumn and winter

Finla said...

Oh yeah i don't like porrridge at all. But now that i sw you how you have made them and served it, i might be a convert.
Looks good

Marie Rayner said...

Sylvie, there is nothing like a nice hearty bowl of porridge to get your day off to a good start! I love mine with toasted nuts and fruits on it as well. Plus a drizzle of golden syrup, naughty . . . I know, but oh so good!

Raquel said...

We love porridge here! I love it made with the pinhead oats, which takes a little longer to cook, but tastes better in my opinion. I like to sprinkle cinnamon on and a drizzle of honey, maybe just a teaspoon or two of light cream. I like fruit on it, too! Much love, Raquel XO

Anonymous said...

I have a problem that I find that I can never eat much porridge for some reason. Let's say I'd like to love porridge. :) I must try some different additions to it. I like it with bananas, for example.

btw, I love your seasonal banner! :D

Katie said...

I love the photos! I like porridge a lot, especially on cold mornings.

Susan Morris said...

As a kid mum would make me and my younger sister Marie, Scotch porridge oats made with milk for brekkie.
I have not had it in years thanks Sylvie for bring back a childhood memory for me.

Silvia - Magnolia Wedding Planner said...

wow!! your porridge is fantastic! it looks so yummy!
Have a good day :-)
Silvia

Jan said...

Sylvie - I have given you TWO awards!
Pop over and have a look, Jan x

Abitofafoodie said...

Porridge is just the thing for cooler mornings and keeps you going all through the day. I'm always up in such a rush so tend not to have time, but really should make more of an effort. I love the idea of adding maple syrup - don't know why I've never done so.

Sophie said...

I love penzeys! I went to a store in Houston a few months back and have loved it ever since. Good for you for going on a run! I wish I was that proactive in the mornings...and yum, I also love porridge :).

Sylvie said...

Sam, I like the apple and cinnamon in porridge, but I'm not that keen on raisins. I only really like them in scones.

Flower, I'll have to give the mashed banana a go.

Jan, thanks so much for the awards. I'm flattered.

Rosie, glad to know you're a fellow porridge lover. ;)

Beth, I eat it more during autumn and winter as well. On warm days I prefer a slice of toast or some muesli/granola.

Happy Cook, it can be very nice, honestly.

Marie, you're right, golden syrup is good, too.

Raquel, I don't really like it with pinhead oats. My favourite are giant, rolled oats.

Maninas, I took the banner picture at the potato and pumpkin fete I mentioned in the previous post. Thanks.

Katie, thanks.

Sue, I'm glad it reminds you of happy times!

Silvia, thank you.

Antonia, I have a quandry some mornings here as well. A bit longer in bed or porridge!

Sophie, Penzey's is great, isn't it!? I wish we had a store here in the UK.

Nic said...

Definitely not bland Sylvie! And the nuts add a fabulous crunch.

Tulip said...

Doesn't look bland to me either! I love porridge...made with water and drizzled with honey...yummy!

Anonymous said...

Ooooooooooh, what a lovely blog! I hope you don't mind if I link to it from my own...

That porridge (just good old fashioned oatmeal where I come from) looks delightful - a sure sign fall is here.

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

I'm with the 'love life, love porridge' team. A recent visit to Ireland confirmed as much, when a huge steaming bowl of porridge topped with whisky-soaked raisins, brown sugar, and cream proved completely impossible to resist for breakfast... I like your variation on the theme, though - especially good for those who can't face alcohol first thing!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

My mom gave us porridge every morning to "stick to our ribs" during the cold Canadian winter. Dad still has it every morning but with Carnation milk.

Sylvie said...

Nic, I love the texture the nuts add.

Tulip, I had it with honey for the first time the other day at my friend's house and will definitely be having it again. Makes a change from syrup.

Chelsea, thank you for the compliment and the link.

aforkfulofspaghetti, the idea of whiskey soaked raisins does sound fantastic. Maybe not on a weekday though. ;)

Val, it certainly warms you up first thing and gets you ready for the day. You mum certainly knew what she was doing!

Angie said...

Hi Sylvie - my first visit here but not my last.

I love porridge so much but I never thought of putting anything on it that's not 'standard'! We're going up to Scotland next weekend, where they claim porridge as their own, and they can always tell where English people have been sitting because they put salt AND sugar in their porridge. Wimps! I wonder how the Dundee Hilton would react to a request for a few nuts and a bit of syrup on their pride and joy? I do like plenty of salt in it though - yes, I know, it's bad for me but - hey - the porridge is doing me good!

BTW what's pinhead oats? Is it what we would call Oatmeal, do you think? If so the, yes, I prefer it to the porridge oats but it does take a bit of cooking.

I'll be back soon
love, Angie, xx

Sylvie said...

Angie, pinhead oats are what we call steel cut oats. They take about 3/4 hour to cook and the only time I tried them I didn't like them much, but I think it might have been because I was in a bit of a rush and didn't let them cook long enough. Maybe they deserve another chance.

Kimberly said...

Look lovely! All it needs is a nice cup of tea...

izzy riber said...

I read that article on porridge- have you had Power Porridge- fantastic mix of grains and seeds not just oats- got a great story too- lots of sports people eat it