Mom lied to me! She claimed that it took way too much time to cook the old fashioned Quaker oats, so she always made the one minute variety. All it takes is five little minutes of simmering on the stovetop! I am SO disappointed in my mother.

My doctor says that the old fashioned oats are the best for your health, especially if you want to lower your cholesterol. Next in line are the oats that take only one minute to cook. The microwave packets have so much sugar added that you probably do not get much benefit from them.

If you actually like that flaky, powdery stuff that they sell as microwave oatmeal, then you are in for a big surprise. In my experience of offering the real thing to others, I have found that everybody either loves it or hates it. I fall into the first group. I have a bowl of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats almost every morning, and sometimes for an evening snack.

Oatmeal does not have to be mush

Now, I do happen to like a variety of mushy cereals, from grits (and fried leftover grits), to Malto Meal, Cream of Wheat, and even the one minute Quaker oats. On the other hand, I really love the texture of these old fashioned oats. I feel like I am really eating something, and not just drinking it with a spoon. They give me something soft to chew on.

If you do not like the lumpy texture, then you can always get the one minute oats, which have been crushed more than the old fashioned kind, so they come out smoother. I happen to like the lumps because they tell me that I am really eating something.

You can reduce the lumpiness by using about half again as much water as it calls for on the package, and then cooking them a few minutes longer.

Tips

Oatmeal is best when cooked in water with a dash of salt and nothing else. You can add other ingredients after you turn off the heat. The one exception to this rule is fruit, especially dried fruit such as raisins. You want the little chunks of fruit to absorb some water, to make them softer and tastier. I usually add a handful of raisins to the water before I put in the oats.

Dried apricots add a nice touch, but first cut them into pieces not more than a half inch square. This will help them to absorb the water better. You can also use
prunes, which seem to be labeled “dried plums” now because of the bad reputation that prunes have earned for their laxative properties.

If you add soft fruit, like sliced bananas, wait until after you turn off the heat.

Spicing it up:

Spice is the variety of oatmeal. It is very good with a teaspoon of cinnamon in each serving. You can also try SMALL amounts of nutmeg, ginger, cloves or allspice. Experimenting with spices can make your bowl of oatmeal a different flavor every time.

Sweetening the pot:

Unlike the microwave packets, this oatmeal has no sugar added, so you might want to add your own. A teaspoon of white sugar will do, but I like to use brown sugar. My cousin likes to use maple syrup, and my neighbor uses molasses.

Added fruit can make a bowl of oatmeal taste sweet without any added sugar.

Milking it:

After spooning the oatmeal into a bowl, you may add milk, but sometimes I eat it without any milk. Other times, when I am feeling decadent, I add half and half or cream. Added milk means added fat, so that is something you need to consider.

If you have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance, you can eat the oatmeal plain or pour on a milk substitute or liquid nondairy creamer.

Ingredients?

100% Natural Whole Grain Quaker Quality Rolled Oats

Package:

When I was a child, I loved to use the empty cardboard drum that these oats come in as a toy drum. It can even be decorated with glue and a few strips of paper. I liked my toy drums better back in the dark ages, when the lid was made out of cardboard, but the plastic lid that you get now does keep the product fresher.

Recommendation:

Mr. Busby (my father) eats a bowl of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats every day, and he will be 80 years old in a few weeks.

For a healthful breakfast or snack, you just can’t beat a bowl of oatmeal. My doctor recommends it to lower my cholesterol and keep my heart healthy.

I heartily (pun intended) recommend this oatmeal.

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Thank you so much for reading my Epinion!

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Quaker Oats has more information at their web site:

www.quakeroatmeal.com

If you have questions or comments for them you can call toll free:

1 (800) FOR-OATS

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