At the Patcham Weightwatchers meeting on tuesday night, the matter of porridge came up. It seemed that people were eating it under sufferance, knowing that it is good for you but not knowing how to make it good. Here’s how I make porridge every morning for my lovely wife. That’s right, every single morning. What a great house husband I am!
First up, you'll need a small pot. Don't use one that is too large because shallow porridge burns and no-one likes burnt porridge or burnt anything.
Don't trouble yourself measuring out the porridge. Use your common sense. This is about the right amount for two people.
The type of soya milk used is crucial. This is, in my 'book', the only acceptable brand and type. The others are rank. Other brands don't mill the soya properly with the result that it doesn't stay in suspension in the liquid. Please note, I do not have a book of rules. I keep them in my head where they are easier to find.
Here’s some information about this so-called milk. First of all, it’s not milk. Not as we know it. It’s a blend of soya beans and water with calcium and vitamins. The actual ingredients are: water, hulled soya beans (6%), raw cane sugar, tri-calcium phosphate, sea salt, stabiliser (Gellan gum), flavouring, vitamins (riboflavin, B12, D2).
Pour the milk into the pan with the oats.
Give it a good stir. Do not stir as fast as this unless you are a natural stirrer.
Cover oats and soya milk and leave to soak overnight. The oats will swell up and the whole mixture will be easier to cook. This process happens slowly when you cook it. By doing it the night before, you speed up the cooking time, get the best out of the oats and feel like a porridge professional.
In the morning the oats have swelled up.
This morning I added blueberries. Lots of them.
For best results cook the porridge on a low heat for about ten minutes, stirring constantly. If you can't stir because you're getting ready for work, then you can leave it on the lowest possible heat for a few minutes before turning the heat up. This is what the finished porridge will look like. It was delicious.