I’ve been thinking about doing a porridge post for ages. I’m a bit weird like that, thinking about porridge all the time. Anyway, I thought it was a bit too simple; everyone knows how to make porridge don’t they? Of course they do. But I think I have a great foolproof way of making it (of course I do). It’s all down to the ratio of milk to oats, plus doing it on the hob, in a pan, stirring as much as possible.
Not only that, but in light of this recent fuss and bother about the evils of sugar (and honey and maple syrup and lots of other ‘healthy’ sweeteners we’ve been eating lots of), this porridge doesn’t need sweetening at all. Honestly – not one bit. Even if you leave the blueberries out – in truth, we rarely eat it with blueberries in, but on this day we did – I honestly prefer it without. The mashed banana provides enough sweetness on its own. I can safely say this is Bea, my one year old’s, favourite brekkie. What does Arthur, 3 3/4, think? Well… I’m not going to lie to you, he’s in a bit of a ‘three-nager’ phase at present: “we’re having porridge AGAIN?!!?” is his usual reaction when he sees me with a steaming pan of oats on the go in the morning. He is a bit over porridge at the moment, but he used to love it. To get around this, I make plain porridge in the pan, then persuade him to eat some by making cocoa or ‘chocolate’ porridge (always a winner) – simply mix half a teaspoon of cocoa with a little cold milk and pour into the hot porridge. Again, no sweetening required. Try mixing cocoa into banana porridge which is also nice.
By the way, I don’t use jumbo oats, but a decent ‘every day’ porridge product. I find jumbo oats make a far less creamy porridge. At the opposite end, I don’t buy ready brek or similar finely milled porridges either, as I don’t really see the point.
The basic ratio is 1 part porridge, 2 parts milk. If you are slimming try half and half water and milk which I have had before and it isn’t bad.
Serves: 2 adults and 2 young kids (or 3 adults)
Prep time: NA
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1 small mugful or glass of oats
2 of the same vessel filled with whole milk (we don’t do semi-skimmed here)
1 banana, mashed into the bowls afterwards
Sprinkling of blueberries (optional)
Instructions:
- Simply bring the oats and milk to the boil, giving a few stirs. When it’s hit the boil, let it simmer, stirring as much as you can to release the creaminess. Should take about 3-5 minutes to come to the perfect thickness.
- Pour into bowls, mashing some banana right into each bowl – that way you can control the banana-y-ness of each portion.
Have to admit I was attracted to this post as my daughter is far too heavy handed with the honey on her morning porridge. Chocolate and banana porridge could be just what I need to wean her off. Thank you!
I feel the same Andrea – for ages I have been almost encouraging them to pile on the honey thinking of it as a healthy food. It is in moderation, but it does contain a lot of sugars, and even natural ones aren't great. It's also the fact that they get used to that cloyingly sweet taste on everything. Arthur squeezes the honey on and then eats the honey, he doesn't even stir it in!