For the October 5, 2020 KGUA radio Morning Writer’s Hour, we are asked to free write about a go-to comfort food or a favorite dish.
Oatmeal
Let’s start from the beginning. Hannah and I buy organic rolled oats in fifty pound bags from the Rising Tide health food store in Kittery, Maine. Stored in a plastic Rubbermaid garbage container, the oatmeal is our staple for breakfast every morning at home and whenever we come to California.
Doesn’t oatmeal just seem like it’s so healthy for you? Yes!! Oatmeal is the one “dish” that I can make. You see, in our 48 years of marriage, Hannah has always been our cook, chef, meal-preparer. In fact, I don’t even grill. I’m not proud of that. I’ll have to earn my macho man card some other way. On the other hand, I am the chief dishwasher. That’s got to count for something.
My routine of oatmeal prep never varies. I take the pan down from the kitchen beam above my head. Since I make a heaping bowl, I start with nearly two cups of water for 2/3 of a cup of rolled oats.
And then the excitement begins. A spoon full of blueberries followed by a handful of raisins.
Next it’s the nuts: almonds and walnuts.
Can’t forget the seeds: chia, sunflower, and flax.
The thrill builds with protein powder and all topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
As John Denver sings, it’s almost heaven, West Virginia.
Words – 220
over60hiker 
Oatmeal is indeed worthy of much praise! Indeed, I believe I’ve written an ode to it before 🙂 It’s also my breakfast of choice. In these hurry-scurry days, I’ve been making overnight oats (adding craisins, chia, and pumpkin pie spices–occasionally coconut) and eating them cold in my classroom the next morning. Thoughts on overnight oats? Is your daily preference for quick, old-fashioned or steel cut?
We are a regular rolled oats family. Never got used to the steel cut. Our daughter Molly makes overnight oatmeal. They heat it up and voila. We are traditionalists! That bag in the picture is in fact I bag we are delivering to her this afternoon. How do you buy your oats?
Yum. Your oatmeal sounds just scrumptious. I know how nutritious it is, and it is comfort food as well. Thanks for sharing.
Hope Hannah’s foot is healing well.
Hannah’s foot is healing well. The stitches were removed Thursday (the most painful part of the whole process) and she will use surgical gauze bandages for the next four weeks before the next post-op appointment. Oatmeal each morning will soothe her.
Such a great meal …..
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Hannah’s foot is healing well. The stitches were removed Thursday (the most painful part of the whole process) and she will use surgical gauze bandages for the next four weeks before the next post-op appointment. Oatmeal each morning will soothe her.
That is NOT my mother’s oatmeal! Every cold Wisconsin morning, my mom insisted I eat a warm breakfast – and on lucky mornings it was pancakes, waffles, or eggs and bacon. My dreaded days (so different from yours) were the cream of wheat or oatmeal days. Mine though, had none of those tasty embellishments, barely a bit of sugar.
Lucky you, chef Dan! Oatmeal to the next level might be worth exploring!!!!!
Eat lots of it – you’re going to need fortifying for the big election. 🤪 just kidding – Kamala put you over the top!!!!!!
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Kamala is a rockstar. President in 2024! You heard it hear first. We enjoy our oatmeal in summer, fall, winter, and spring. Though when we go out it’s eggs over easy and homefries for me or blueberry pancakes. With Covid, we just don’t go into cafes, diners, or restaurants. Not a sacrifice to stay safe from the never maskers.
Your love of oatmeal reminds me of a little girl I overheard in the market cereal aisle asking for “Porridge, Mommy, porridge!” I said to the mom, “I’ve never heard a child ask for porridge before.” Mom replied, “She means oatmeal. Her favorite story is The Three Bears.” Enjoy your porridge, Papa Bear 😉
I haven’t used the word “porridge” in my lifetime, though I knew of it from my deep reading of the Three Bears.