Stormy Weather

[marthe]

Oops Calum uses the fruit juice!

[mangerton]

marthe - the spurtle! On starting woodwork at school aged 11, it was the first thing we had to make. It certainly improves the flavour of the porridge.

OT note - Non-stop rain here yesterday. Looks better at the moment, but the forecast isn't good. I'm on leave all week, but I'd be as well at work.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

quark on ryevita marthe [zilch fat but calcium] or in the oat mix ....

autumn arrives in the middle kingdom a spell of golden leaves and mist this morning but now crystal clear blue skies and a lazy wind from northern parts .. in a word chilly

[MrGongGong]

Not their best but goes well with the cheese

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtav8yXb2m8

or even
this stuff reminds me of a certain overplayed on the radio river piece !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smetana_(dairy_product)

nice cold day though
time for the woodburner and endless edits followed by an attempt to understand a rather complex Christian Wolff score

[Serial_Apologist]

Blimey! - 12 noon, blowing strong, and it ain't even 10 degs C yet here in S London. That's 6 C less than yesterday, quite a shock to the system in a few minutes, when I venture out, I anticipate. Out with the corduroy trazzers!

[marthe]

We're in for a few cool, rainy days here. Today is my one day off so I'm trying to get all my houseplants ready to bring in for the winter.

mangerton, my spurtles (two of them) were a joke present from my husband (a variation on notching the rolling pin was what he had in mind). They've been quite useful over the years, not only for stirring porridge, but as rolling pins for small amounts of dough. I hope that's not considered an improper use. I even used one to make oatcakes last winter. As for the usefulness of school woodworking projects, my son made a wooden cutting board for his first woodworking project some 15 years ago. I use it every day.

Calum, thanks for the link to quark. This is the same as the fromage blanc or platte kass that I remember from my visits to the family in Belgium. I've never seen it over here and wonder if it's something that one could make at home? I used to make my own yogurt so might give it a try. I'll have to ask my co-worker, who is German, what she knows about quark. I like the idea of fatless cheese on ryevita. Would ryevita with peanut or cashew butter, and quark be considered a sacrilege? Nut butters+dairy make a complete protein. The added calcium is a good thing, too.

[jayne lee wilson]

All this amazing, original porridge! I've only ever had instant Quaker Oats, oat-so-simple golden syrup flavour. Feel suitably ashamed.
Do sometimes add our own stewed apple to it though!

Or hot milk and Jordans Crunchy at bedtime, with a hefty dose of Valerian.

If I'm going out in the cold, mulled wine is my thing, usually with brandy and acacia honey. Not TOO much if it's a business meeting...

[Chris Newman]

Ah, Yes. Real porridge. Actually I buy Tesco's or anyone's el cheapo oats and add a healthy dash of their Oat Bran to give it a wee bit of texture. Bubble and stir with low fat milk (I'm not allowed salt either). A dash of honey/stewed fruit/golden syrup before serving with a splash of cold low fat milk. It costs a twentieth of Oat-So-Simple. Yummy!!!!

It is also nice with sliced tomato, chopped celery and freshly cooked hot beetroot. Now, there's kinky for you!!!

[salymap]

Talking of cereals, did anyone receive a free 360g box of Kel...'s new All Bran Golden Crunch. A leaflet came thr
ough the door, asking homeowner to leave it on step if required and there it was next day.

Don't know whether I shall buyit but a tasty snack with clusters of grains. Best eaten dry I think.

[Karafan]

Marthe - like you I have a Belgian heritage, but never had the delight of eating porridge with my grandparents!

I am with you on the microwave issue though (those wretched porridge pans are hell's own creation - even the nonstick variety leaves you with a clogged-up plughole to go a-fishing in).

My boyfriend makes it on a weekend when I am relieved of the duty and it always tastes better than the spartan version I make myself during the week when he's not around. I thought this was just a psychological trick (you know, always tastes better if you've not made it yourself, etc..) but the other day the mystery was solved. He adds an positively obscene dollop of Tate and Lyle's best (Golden Syrup), as opposed to my wee drop of honey Mon-Fri. No wonder, eh?

I am spurtleless sadly, though is one needed when microwaving, I wonder? My twin lives in Edinburgh so getting one shouldn't be too much of a problem if it is advisable...

First frosts predicted for Thursday, so reach for those oats mi hearties...

Karafan

[Serial_Apologist]

This is the very first I've heard of spurtles.

Cereal-Apologist

[antongould]

Talking of cereals, did anyone receive a free 360g box of Kel...'s new All Bran Golden Crunch. A leaflet came thr
ough the door, asking homeowner to leave it on step if required and there it was next day.

Don't know whether I shall buyit but a tasty snack with clusters of grains. Best eaten dry I think.

To us in the North, it sounds like Sidcup has it all including, it would seem, Manna from Heaven!

[mangerton]

Marthe - two spurtles! You're lucky! To the spurtle-less amongst us, a wooden spoon is a suitable alternative.

[jayne lee wilson]

Er, is this sweet-and-sour porridge then?
As a californian cheerleader might say, "eeeeuuw!"

Mind you, I still take 3 sugars and grated chocolate with my cappuccino... have you got garlic-flavoured ice-cream in your freezer, Chris?

Ah, Yes. Real porridge. Actually I buy Tesco's or anyone's el cheapo oats and add a healthy dash of their Oat Bran to give it a wee bit of texture. Bubble and stir with low fat milk (I'm not allowed salt either). A dash of honey/stewed fruit/golden syrup before serving with a splash of cold low fat milk. It costs a twentieth of Oat-So-Simple. Yummy!!!!

It is also nice with sliced tomato, chopped celery and freshly cooked hot beetroot. Now, there's kinky for you!!!

[marthe]

Jayne, I also like hot milk before bed and sometimes spike it with something a bit stronger "for medicinal purposes". Tisane/herb tea is good before bed too. Valerian is a good choice though my favorite is lime/linden flower tea. Right now I've got lemon verbena, lemon balm, mint from my garden.

Karafan, nice to know that there's another Belgian around. Though we ate porridge with my Belgian grandparents in the USA, we always had bread and butter, rolls, jam, chocolate spread (like nutella), and coffee for breakfast when actually visiting in Belgium.

Saly, lucky you getting free cereal on the doorstep!

Lots of Golden Syrup fans here. Is it better than honey? It's not something I really know. Time to make that bedtime hot drink and read a bit before going to sleep. Rain tomorrow! Night all.