Goldilocks........Porridge Recipes!!

On a cold winters morning there is NOTHING quite like a bowl of steaming porridge.  Oats are a great source of fibre, they also provide protein and other key minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc and more*!!  I love them because they are so calming for your nervous system and keep you full up for hours!!!

Basic - how to cook Porridge
For the best results, soak your oats over night.  To do this, place about 4 tablespoons in a bowl (per person) and cover with room temperature water, place a saucer or tea towel over the top to cover the bowl and leave over night (quick and easy to do before you jump into bed).  This speeds up the cooking time in the morning and also breaks down phytic acid which is a mineral inhibitor in grains.  Phytic acid can actually bind vitamins and minerals in the digestive tract and inhibit absorbtion.  By reducing phytic acid you can improve your mineral absorbtion by at least twice!!  Pretty cool huh! 

To cook the oats.  Place in a saucepan with a splash / glug more water and cook on low / medium heat stirring now and again until piping hot.  This doesn't even need milk!!  You can of course add milk in at the end to thicken / cream the mixture if you wish.Here are some ideas to get you inspired and jumping out of bed to start cooking your oats!!  These should give those of you who have hit your porridge quote as a kid intruige enough to give them a go again!!

One of my first porridge numbers was whilst I was on a Naturopathic diet....
Oats (quantity as above), add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of dried ginger, add chopped dates (2 per person) and raw organic honey in whilst cooking.  Upon serving add chopped nuts (small handful of brazil, cashews and almonds) and a dollop of organic fruit or natural flavoured yoghurt on top.  I used to use Jalna which is flavoured with fruit juice concentrate and no sugar, however now I would use an organic equivalent.



Current favourite porridge recipe

Cook your oats with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of dried ginger as above, two chopped dried apricots.  Cook through. 

Upon serving add small handful of chopped nuts (almonds, brazil, cashew) and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame), teaspoon full of tahini (ground sesame seeds you can buy at all good health food stores, really high in vitamin E), teaspoon of raw organic honey, glug of flaxseed oil, small handful of frozen blueberries (I always keep a box of frozen blueberries for smoothies and porridge in the freezer - from the farmers market or your local super market) and add a dollop of stewed fruit on top.

Stewed fruit recipe
Here's one I made earlier today.  Chop two apples (one red, one green) into bite size pieces, two stalks of rhubarb.  Add fruit to the saucepan and then add one tablespoon of raw organic honey, a splash of water, 1/2 a teaspoon of cinammon and 1/2 teaspoon of ginger.  Put a lid on then, turn the heat on low and warm through / allow it to steam for about 15-20 minutes until soft.  This will be enough for about 3 serves, store in the fridge for a few days.

Mum's favourite porridge recipe
To the cooking oats add chopped dried apricot, almonds, raw ginger, manuka honey, cinammon.  Glug of flaxseed oil to serve.

The finale
Such a great GREAT breakfast to look forward to.  I also have it as a pudding or for dinner if I'm feeling lazy.  Delicious, nutritious and filling.  Sits snug in your tummy to keep the fire burning :)

If you have any porridge favourites, please share xx