This article may be interesting to the porridge enthusiasts here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_ islands/7665854.stm

(I didn't even realise there was a World Porridge Making Championship)

"The winner ... made his special porridge with a mixture of marzipan and home-made ice cream with an 18-year-old Glenfiddich"

Thanks Simon - I wish I hadn't read that bit. Now that really does appeal, unlike HelenK's idea with powdered chocolate.

I'm off to soak my oats and look out the whisky!

And I liked this thought....

"Traditionally it should only be stirred in a clockwise direction using the right hand to avoid invoking the devil, while legend dictates that porridge be referred to as "they", and should be eaten standing up"

Perhaps all you porridge brewers have invoked the crises in our time of financial mayhem by bewitching us?!

And Fiona, your man, Addy, was the speciality winner, all others used just oats, water and salt.... Still not convinced about that combo, personally!

I always eat 'they' or 'them'? sitting down but I do always stir in a clockwise direction!

Oh dear Julia,
I'm Left Handed and stir in an anticlockwise direction. (shall have a rethink on this)
Left handed in Italian is sinistre which of course means sinister but honest i'm a really nice person.
Hmmm with Halloween approaching this has given me an idea!

C

It doesn't involve invoking daemons does it?

Mmmmm...porridge....usually go for some organic type breed (Morrisons or Tesco are both good), add half a mug of oats to a full mug of soya milk / boiling water mix, add and stir...also add some sultanas then soak the concoction over night. It's so lovely, it's like having rice pudding for brekkie!

Peas porridge hot,
Peas porridge cold,
Peas porridge in the pot
Nine days old.

Some like it hot,
Some like it cold,
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old.

(memories)

I tend to have porridge most mornings, as like most of us, it seems to be the only food that prevents the 11am snack attack! It has to be 1/2 fat milk though, can't stand skimmed milk. Also, better milk than water in my books, as calcium is good for your bones. As a fitness instructor, I think you're better off having a bit of milk & burning it off with some kind of exercise, rather than force yourself to eat something you don't really enjoy. My 8 year old daughter now copies me every morning, she just adds brown sugar or honey & raisins. As she says "it fills you up, warms you up, and it's much better for you than the kids cereal I would have otherwise!".

... good habit to get her into at that tender age!

I have porridge every morning, make it with water and add a table spoon full of apple sauce

Aha Vicky - you must have Scottish blood in you! None of this milky nonsense!

A POEM
BY SPIKE MILLIGAN

Porridge

Why is there no monument
To porridge in our land?
If it's good enough to eat,
It's good enough to stand!

On a Plinth in London
A statue we should see
Of Porridge made in Scotland
Signed, "Oatmeal, O.B.E."
(By a young dog of three)

From the "Porridge" book (found in garden centres book section)---just one verse for you.

Out with all the scraith and scoopery
Lift the eely ooly droopery
Chase the glubbery slubbery glooperly
Round and round and round.

Enough said !

plain and simple, water and salt.....traditional scottish way lol, to me sweet porrige is very american, i mean ive even seen instant chocolate porrige in asda , now that is not right !

I tend to make porridge with whatever i can find in my cupboard!

Personal faves for toppings include:

1 teaspoon of nutella and a sliced banana

dried raisins/cranberries, cooked in with the porridge so that they soak up some of the moisture and make everything nice and sweet

mixed seeds and honey

And I always used semi-skimmed milk...unless i have run out/dont have enough, in which case i add in some water to make up the volume

My Friend in Italy gave me a lovely Jam made with Figs and Whisky.

Uuuummm Lovely on my Porridge.

what a waste of whisky!!!

O'kay having read through this thread I've decided I need help. Didn't enjoy porridge as a child - no idea how it was made - and to be honest it does remind me of rice pudding which I can't stomach. Knowing that this is probably the healthiest breakfast to have I did buy some instant stuff that you put into the microwave and it was horrid. I would like to try the real stuff and wonder what could be on recommendation for a novice. It needs to be fairly low calorie and simple and quick to make. Also is it suitable to eat an hour before going to the gym?
Any advice would be very much appreciated.

... so does that mean that chunky bits don't appeal, and you'd rather have smooth porridge? I use 1/2 jumbo oats, 1/4 millet and 1/4 quinoa cooked in water and the jumbo oats give it a bit of texture so it's not smooth.

Why don't you try M&S Frances? I'm sure I saw some interesting porridge mixtures in there with fruit (cranberries maybe?) already added.

Having rhubarb and a spoon of natural yoghurt with mine this week!

Having fresh Figs on my tomorrow.

Dried unsulphured apricots and toasted flaked almonds are my thing at the moment, with skimmed milk and normal Quaker oats.

Well, Frances, I'm no expert, but I do love good porridge, and I'm always in a hurry, so good oats cooked in the microwave is fine for me.

Here goes: half a mug of oats and one mug of milk (or a milk and water mix if insist on very low fat food) in a large and deep cereal bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar or substitute if required, stir, and microwave until thick - probably about 3 mins on high if you're using a 750w microwave. It is usually best to stop it and stir about halfway through the cooking process, just to keep the texture even. Have a tablespoon of uncooked jumbo oats handy to throw in at the end for good texture. Undercooking is nicer and healthier than overcooking.

Let us all know how it goes. Good luck, Saira

I use the Quaker Oats individual packets---handy 'cos you can use the packet as a milk measure. And I use skimmed milk(for this only)and really don't notice the difference. I read that sk. milk gives you more calcium. True?

Many thanks all. I'll give it another go and report back in due course.

yesterday tried porridge with stewed buttered apples (a nigella, was leftovers, and needing eating....) today prunes - the healthy option - both lovely.

had quaker oats porridge made the usual way.today before a planned run
Had a sliced banana on it.

Debbie the porridge sounds lively!

Yes! It's perfect for an hour before gym.

(Well, as long as you don't find you like it so much that you eat 5 portions in one go!)

Anne

If you shop in Somerfield, Quaker Oats are on offer at the moment - 2 for £2.50. Prices are going up - the offer last time was 2 for £2. With all the seeds and dried fruits I add I'm really glad we've got a Julian Graves in Swansea - lots of good offers at the moment like dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice rather than sugar. Also huge bag of goji berries for £5. I do miss the omega seed mix from Tesco but am very partial to sunflower seeds in the porridge.