Comfort and cosiness is the theme of this month's Making Winter project which will be hosted by Silverpebble starting on Monday.
When I saw Charlotte's lovely photo of a steaming bowl of porridge I was reminded how comforting a bowl of porridge was on a cold January morning. It's also an extremely quick breakfast especially if you are only making it for one or two people. I've never seen the point of instant oats, or pre-measured individual servings. Buy a bag of plain porridge oats and save yourself packaging and money.
To make a bowl of porridge for one person put 3 tablespoons of oats in a small non-stick pan with 6 fl oz of milk or water (or a combination of the two). Turn the heat to medium-high and it will start to bubble within a minute or two. Let it bubble for 2-3 minutes more, stirring often. Turn the heat down if it seems to be bubbling too fiercely. Add more liquid if it gets too thick.
Scrape it into a bowl and drizzle with golden syrup, honey, a sprinkle of brown sugar or salt if you are a traditionalist. You could also try one of these ideas.
When I saw Charlotte's lovely photo of a steaming bowl of porridge I was reminded how comforting a bowl of porridge was on a cold January morning. It's also an extremely quick breakfast especially if you are only making it for one or two people. I've never seen the point of instant oats, or pre-measured individual servings. Buy a bag of plain porridge oats and save yourself packaging and money.
To make a bowl of porridge for one person put 3 tablespoons of oats in a small non-stick pan with 6 fl oz of milk or water (or a combination of the two). Turn the heat to medium-high and it will start to bubble within a minute or two. Let it bubble for 2-3 minutes more, stirring often. Turn the heat down if it seems to be bubbling too fiercely. Add more liquid if it gets too thick.
Scrape it into a bowl and drizzle with golden syrup, honey, a sprinkle of brown sugar or salt if you are a traditionalist. You could also try one of these ideas.
Mincemeat
This was a really delicious combination. Just dollop a spoonful of mincemeat on top of your porridge.
Nutella and hazelnuts
A dessertspoonful of Nutella stirred into the porridge and topped with chopped hazelnuts.
Banana and coconut
Add a tablespoon of desiccated coconut to the oats and cook them together. Then stir in half a mashed banana and top with the other half. Finish with a sprinkle of coconut and some brown sugar.
Gingerbread
Add a teaspoon of black treacle and a teaspoon of golden syrup to the porridge as cook along with a pinch of ground ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of mixed spice. Finish with a swirl of black treacle.
Blueberry, pecan and maple
Put a handful of blueberries in to the porridge as it cooks so that they burst and release their juices.
Then sprinkle on some chopped pecans and pour on a little maple syrup.
Other ideas
Apple (or quince) purée and cinnamon
Dried cranberries, flaked almonds and honey
Chocolate chip and banana
Nut butter and brown sugar
Pear and ginger
Just jam
In need of some comfort this winter?
Make yourself a bowl of porridge.
A daily joy here, well most days anyway, I've even been known to eat porridge for lunch. I like mine with a tablespoon of raisins, added during cooking, and/or cold apple purée on the top, but just as it comes is good too :D
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics Sue, I'm wishing I hadn't skipped my porridge this morning now - I ate a Welshcake mid-morning instead, most remiss of me!
Brown sugar, cream and a slug of whisky.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you ... what is the point of "instant oatmeal" when it doesn't really take very many minutes to prepare a traditional version, that can be dressed up in lots of ways.
ReplyDeleteI do like the mincemeat idea. It's much more elegant than my usual cinnamon and honey, and raisins if I have some available.
Winter breakfasts can be delightful.
Mary, a slug of whisky first thing sounds very sensible.
ReplyDeleteAlso crab apple jelly which sometimes languishes in the cupboard.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have porridge most days too. The children have been cooking it for themselves since they were about 7, and love dreaming up ever more exotic toppings.
ReplyDeleteUsually though it is just as much golden syrup as they think they can get away with.
They will also eat it just as happily in midsummer as in midwinter - strange things.
If only it didn't dislike me so much!
ReplyDeleteI love it with....and this is a very occasional treat mind....
ReplyDeletebrown sugar, cream & drambuie (hope i spelt that correctly) pure indulgence!!!!!
Karen xxxxx
Absolutely! I cook mine in water, with a pinch of salt, and add brown sugar, or golden syrup, and a dash of (soya) milk, but I have never considered mincemeat - what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to get into porridge for breakfast and you have now given me loads of ideas to try, thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful choice of different things to serve with porridge! My breakfast next week will be so much more interesting!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Mmmmmm, i love my porridge for breakfast in winter - it's the only thing that allows me to last till lunchtime!
ReplyDeleteMy fave variation at the mo is a little sprinkle of cinnamon sugar - quick, easy and tasty!
ooh great flacour ideas!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had time for this in a morning but I'm not a morning person at all - never have been, never will be - and an extra few minutes in bed is far more tempting than eating anything!
In a moment of unbridled greed I have just read this yummy post and made myself a bowl of the good stuff with mincemeat - delish! Xx
ReplyDeleteI have never been a fan of porridge (slimy) but I am very tempted to try the gingerbread flavour... I'll let you know how I get on...
ReplyDeleteI use "old fashioned" oats,( 1 heaping cup of oats with three cups of cold tap water; I always make it with 100% water; much less likely to burn than made with milk and much easier clean up. Then cream and maple syrup, sometimes a sprinkle of granola or wheatgerm and although the mincemeat looks very tempting I will pass on the whiskey except on Sundays.
ReplyDeleteAfter shoveling a foot of snow this morning hot porridge was more than welcome.
We have porridge a couple of times a week! I will be trying the mincemeat version tomorrow I think!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is lemon or lime curd - there's a lovely contrast between the bland porridge and the sweetly sharp topping. It's probably sacrilege, but I find it works well cooking it directly in the bowl in the microwave (and there's no extra washing up).
ReplyDeleteDear Sue,
ReplyDeletePorridge is a wholesome food and your photographs have made it into a truly delightful treat. I, like Annie like it plain but, my goodness, you have given me a few good ideas! Thank you.
Stephanie
I love porridge and your nutella one is inspired...not for me but for my 3 year old son who has gone off porridge but loves nutella. Your mentioning treacle reminded me of a cake I ate recently - have you tried the caked crusader`s spice cake? Unbelievably good. Do try it if you haven`t.
ReplyDeleteMMmm, winter or summer my grandies want porridge for breakfast when they sleep here. Always with honey, fruit and yoghurt. Cannot get them to deviate. Maybe a look at your pics Sue!
ReplyDeleteWe love porridge here too.
ReplyDeleteWe were camping recently and made up our own instant porridge to take with us. It consisted of oats, powdered milk and lots of cinnamon. Not quite up to the usual home standard but fabulous in a tent, just add water! We also love it with a stewed fruit and cinnamon puree but I'm thinking mine will be glad to try the Nutella version.
I make my porridge in the microwave too - less washing up as was said above. My favourite version is made with milk and water and cooked with a spoonful of sultanas in it so that they plump up during cooking. Must try some mincemeat on it.
ReplyDeleteI am Scottish and have eaten porridge nearly every morning for the past 48 years. The traditional way, and some may say boring, is to make it in a pan with water and some salt (you dont taste the salt and it does enhance the flavour) bring it to the boil and then simmer stirring occasionally 'til you're ready for it - just keep adding some more water. Serve in a bowl and pour over milk, to cover your porridge just like you would normal cereal I confess to a very light sprinkle of sugar occasionally! I may break from tradition and try your 'gingerbread' recipe though, will let you know what I think! x
ReplyDeleteOoooh...I do love a bowl of porridge. My favourite toppings are banana and honey or a spoon of homemade jam.
ReplyDeleteOmnomnom! Is it ok to have porridge for supper?! I'm having a craving now!
Mince meat porridge? Inspired! Porridge is not my favourite thing but I think with a spoonful of mincemeat or even some of Thriftyhousehold's quincemeat it would be transformed.
ReplyDeleteActually, this was quincemeat. It was my favourite of all them.
ReplyDeleteDiscovered your blog last week and so enjoying it - have had to ration my reading of the back posts to a month at a time!
ReplyDeleteLove the porridge ideas - I make it most mornings in the winter and cheat by turning ordinary porridge oats into the instant version (without the additives and additional cost manufacturers include) by whizzing them in the food processor in bulk, storing in a large jar and spooning out as required and cooking in the microwave with milk for two sessions of 40 seconds each stirring in between. Maple syrup to finish for me...mmmmm! Instant real comfort food!
Yummmmm.... Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, they all looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI can only face porridge once in a while as it's a bit gloopy but your variations sound wonderful Sue.
ReplyDeleteFinally managed to find your January posts under the archive blog on the left. However, each time I open your blog it has reverted to showing the last December post. Do you know how I get it to stay with the current posts?
Angela I don't know what's going on there. You could subscribe by email (button right underneath my 'it's all about' list)that way you should receive an email each time there's a new post. Or you could try following using Google reader which is what I use to read all my favourite blogs. It's easy to use and it will show you each new post as it is published.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought Angela -have you bookmarked my blog using the URL of the last post I made in December? If you have done that then it will always open on that page. You need to click on 'home' and then bookmark it, that way when you open it you should land on the most recent post.
ReplyDeleteWe love porridge here, cheap and cheerful and a wholesome meal. We eat it with milk and sugar but I
ReplyDeleteLove your gingerbread suggestion...mmmmmm... Yum!! X Pati
Many years ago I found a recipe for porridge that was a hit with my two girls. One cup porridge oats, one cup apple juice, one cup water. Fair bit of cinnamon. I used put a few sultanas in or serve with warm cooked apple. Tastes like apple crumble!! I LOVE your blog Sue. I'm in Australia, and enjoy coming back home to England via your blog for a visit - thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love porridge. It's usually just demerara or maple syrup I have time to throw on mine; if I'm feeling incredibly extravagant I may purchase the odd blueberry.
ReplyDeleteGingerbread porridge - absolute genius! Thanks for the idea, I love porridge and I know what I'll be having for breakfast tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying some of your suggestions, Sue. Pear and ginger was delicious - but banana and choc chip, yuck, not for me, ruined a good bowl of porridge.
ReplyDeleteMary, I wasn't too keen on the Nutella version either. My favourite was the mincemeat.
ReplyDeleteWe have just rolled oats over here, coarse and fine, that you can just have with milk like cereals. But I do like them with hot water and then add some soy milk to cool them down a bit. When I come back from the morning dog walk in the dark, cold, wet, wind I do crave for them with some spices like cinnamon and ginger. And a bit of cocoa and why not add a tiny bit of chilli… The day can come! Must try your banana-coconut variation! Oh and apple sauce is great, too.
ReplyDeleteAll these additions sound very yummy - but for me it would have to be a pudding rather than breakfast! I grew up on 'proper' porridge with oatmeal soaked in water overnight and a pinch of salt. I've never adapted to sweet things for breakfast - except for croissants! Juliex
ReplyDelete