I was young in the early 80s and pretty much left to my own devices. I spent summers from dawn to dusk playing near a rather *dangerous* river. I walked a mile to school and back and would often stay late to play on the playground which was firmly cemented in concrete! I had a neighbor who was in his 80's, a wood turner. I'd sit in the piles of sweet wood shavings, eating a bowl of ice cream he'd supply, and listen to his soft shaky voice tell me stories of when he was young and there was no electricity or indoor plumbing or cars. Was I a bit neglected? Maybe. But it was a good childhood. I too love oatmeal. My favorite is putting fresh cranberries into the water as it boils. They make a delightful pop as they warm up. It's a gentle start to a winter day.
Maybe we were all a bit neglected. I'm sure my kids were, too. But mine was a good childhood, too. Love the idea of adding fresh cranberries to the water as it boils. Definitely trying that, especially as I'm living in the cranberry capital of Oregon.
Oh, yes... I love oatmeal, as does my son. He often brings to my attention a new type of oats I should try. His sisters liked the instant stuff when they were teens. My favorite oatmeal story, however, is from my job as one who planned and ran investor conferences back in the 1990s. I would set up breakfast and lunch for sophisticated New York money managers, trying to keep them well fed, and in their chairs for the entire conference. Imagine my surprise the first time I branched out the breakfast offerings to a large pot of serve-yourself oatmeal, with various toppings, only to have the entire pot disappear, leaving behind the fruit and pastries! Several of the sophisticated businessmen thanked me for the oatmeal option.
I love oatmeal and I love breakfast. I used to make oatmeal for my children and myself for breakfast.I am lucky in that when my husband retired, he decided he'd like to make breakfast but he doesn't do oatmeal. He makes me a breakfast of an omelet, toast and tea. But I still make oatmeal and eat it for lunch. I like to add strawberries, walnuts, honey and or maple syrup. It's comfort food and filling all at once.
Amen to Oatmeal! It's funny how everyone who enjoys oatmeal has very specific preferences as to how it should be cooked. I make mine with GF rolled oats, water and almond milk, along with some maple syrup and a dash of salt. It is sooooo delicious and comforting. My husband turned his nose up when I was cooking it. However, he did have seconds once he tasted it! There is just something about oatmeal...
I was an occasional Cream of Wheat kid growing up, and was solidly in my 40s when I discovered the wonder of oatmeal - actually it was at one of the WFWA retreats in New Mexico and they served steel-cut oats at the breakfast buffet. I was totally hooked and, like you, now eat oatmeal every morning - home or on the road. In fact, sometimes I look forward to bed just because I know hot coffee and that warm bowl are waiting for me on the other side!
We have oatmeal for dinner all the time, especially in winter.. It makes me feel all kinds of things. Strong. Safe. Content. Past lifey. I put walnuts and apple chunks in it with cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup. Then I eat the leftovers with a fried egg on top the next morning. Oatmeal is porridge. Oatmeal is ancient and unchanging in its basic nourishing nature. I seek things like this out in a crazy world. Thank you for a lovely post, Barbara. You made me hungry!!
Absolutely. I am the granddaughter of Columbia Gorge pioneers. Shepperd’s Dell Falls in the gorge is named after my great grandfather. It was on his homestead.
I love oats. Unlike you I prefer Irish or Steel Cut oats over Old Fashioned, but I do like them too. I like mine with a pat of butter and a little real maple syrup drizzled on them. My adult daughter never was, and still isn’t, a breakfast eater and I always felt low-grade guilt about it even though I was honoring her preference. Happily, my little granddaughter enjoys breakfast, with Old Fashioned oats and a dollop of peanut butter mixed in being a favorite.
I love everything about this post, including the oatmeal! I’m a protein-infused iced mocha girl who wishes she would start her day with oatmeal. But I love it for lunch or an after dinner snack at night.
Yes, I enjoy oatmeal for breakfast, with nuts and Berries and some cream or protein shake. I like tthe idea of the overnight oats but I have to heat mine up! Carrot cake overnight oats is a treat.
Hubby is faithful to his morning oatmeal, garnished with blueberries and just a little milk. He prefers the Bob’s Red Mill brand, discovered when we were living in Oregon. I like oatmeal, dressed with banana, walnuts and a little brown sugar plus a generous splash of milk. However, I usually have a bowl of cheerios with a sliced banana or Raisin Bran. On vacation I find oatmeal is a safe breakfast choice and gives me a solid start. Love me some breakfast!
I was young in the early 80s and pretty much left to my own devices. I spent summers from dawn to dusk playing near a rather *dangerous* river. I walked a mile to school and back and would often stay late to play on the playground which was firmly cemented in concrete! I had a neighbor who was in his 80's, a wood turner. I'd sit in the piles of sweet wood shavings, eating a bowl of ice cream he'd supply, and listen to his soft shaky voice tell me stories of when he was young and there was no electricity or indoor plumbing or cars. Was I a bit neglected? Maybe. But it was a good childhood. I too love oatmeal. My favorite is putting fresh cranberries into the water as it boils. They make a delightful pop as they warm up. It's a gentle start to a winter day.
Maybe we were all a bit neglected. I'm sure my kids were, too. But mine was a good childhood, too. Love the idea of adding fresh cranberries to the water as it boils. Definitely trying that, especially as I'm living in the cranberry capital of Oregon.
Oh, yes... I love oatmeal, as does my son. He often brings to my attention a new type of oats I should try. His sisters liked the instant stuff when they were teens. My favorite oatmeal story, however, is from my job as one who planned and ran investor conferences back in the 1990s. I would set up breakfast and lunch for sophisticated New York money managers, trying to keep them well fed, and in their chairs for the entire conference. Imagine my surprise the first time I branched out the breakfast offerings to a large pot of serve-yourself oatmeal, with various toppings, only to have the entire pot disappear, leaving behind the fruit and pastries! Several of the sophisticated businessmen thanked me for the oatmeal option.
I love that you served something healthy and people thanked you.
I love oatmeal and I love breakfast. I used to make oatmeal for my children and myself for breakfast.I am lucky in that when my husband retired, he decided he'd like to make breakfast but he doesn't do oatmeal. He makes me a breakfast of an omelet, toast and tea. But I still make oatmeal and eat it for lunch. I like to add strawberries, walnuts, honey and or maple syrup. It's comfort food and filling all at once.
A good meal no matter the time of day! I like walnuts, too.
I love Oatmeal too. I put a smoothie mix in, almonds and maple syrup. Yum
Good idea on the smoothie mix, Regina!
I love oatmeal. Topped with all of the above suggestions, but ya’ll left out yogurt, in all its iterations.
I haven't tried yogurt. Great suggestion!
I’m not an oatmeal lover but I did enjoy this essay tremendously! I, too, love to cook a hot breakfast.
Fair enough. Not everyone is an oatmeal lover, for sure.
Amen to Oatmeal! It's funny how everyone who enjoys oatmeal has very specific preferences as to how it should be cooked. I make mine with GF rolled oats, water and almond milk, along with some maple syrup and a dash of salt. It is sooooo delicious and comforting. My husband turned his nose up when I was cooking it. However, he did have seconds once he tasted it! There is just something about oatmeal...
It is funny how we're so specific about it. Like a Starbucks order, ha!
I was an occasional Cream of Wheat kid growing up, and was solidly in my 40s when I discovered the wonder of oatmeal - actually it was at one of the WFWA retreats in New Mexico and they served steel-cut oats at the breakfast buffet. I was totally hooked and, like you, now eat oatmeal every morning - home or on the road. In fact, sometimes I look forward to bed just because I know hot coffee and that warm bowl are waiting for me on the other side!
My mom served CofW, but I never liked it much. Steel cut oats are great, and would be my top choice, but my husband isn't a fan of the chewiness.
I love that you look forward to bed so you can wake up to your wonderful breakfast. Coziest thing I've heard today.
We have oatmeal for dinner all the time, especially in winter.. It makes me feel all kinds of things. Strong. Safe. Content. Past lifey. I put walnuts and apple chunks in it with cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup. Then I eat the leftovers with a fried egg on top the next morning. Oatmeal is porridge. Oatmeal is ancient and unchanging in its basic nourishing nature. I seek things like this out in a crazy world. Thank you for a lovely post, Barbara. You made me hungry!!
Ooh, I've never tried an egg on top. And I love that oatmeal makes you feel past lifey.
The essays are so spot on. I grew up in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. So much of what you write is reminiscent of my own life. I , too, live in Oregon.
It's a great place, isn't it?
Absolutely. I am the granddaughter of Columbia Gorge pioneers. Shepperd’s Dell Falls in the gorge is named after my great grandfather. It was on his homestead.
Gosh, that’s an impressive legacy!
I love oats. Unlike you I prefer Irish or Steel Cut oats over Old Fashioned, but I do like them too. I like mine with a pat of butter and a little real maple syrup drizzled on them. My adult daughter never was, and still isn’t, a breakfast eater and I always felt low-grade guilt about it even though I was honoring her preference. Happily, my little granddaughter enjoys breakfast, with Old Fashioned oats and a dollop of peanut butter mixed in being a favorite.
I do love steel cut, too, but my husband isn't a fan. And some people, shockingly are just not breakfast eaters. It's impossible for me to imagine.
I love everything about this post, including the oatmeal! I’m a protein-infused iced mocha girl who wishes she would start her day with oatmeal. But I love it for lunch or an after dinner snack at night.
Yes, I enjoy oatmeal for breakfast, with nuts and Berries and some cream or protein shake. I like tthe idea of the overnight oats but I have to heat mine up! Carrot cake overnight oats is a treat.
Hubby is faithful to his morning oatmeal, garnished with blueberries and just a little milk. He prefers the Bob’s Red Mill brand, discovered when we were living in Oregon. I like oatmeal, dressed with banana, walnuts and a little brown sugar plus a generous splash of milk. However, I usually have a bowl of cheerios with a sliced banana or Raisin Bran. On vacation I find oatmeal is a safe breakfast choice and gives me a solid start. Love me some breakfast!