Oatmeal for breakfast. I can hear the groans. I’m not picky with food. And I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for the blessings of getting to choose what to eat when so many others have very little on their table, but I’m just not a fan of oatmeal porridge. I usually choose anything else over oatmeal for breakfast- anything but oatmeal. It’s just too bland for my taste buds, and I think I’m not alone in this opinion, right? Tell me you agree? Sure I can spice up my oatmeal by adding stuff in it, but in general I would rather eat something else than bother with that. That doesn’t mean I never touch oatmeal. In fact for awhile it was a staple breakfast in our house! Are you surprised?
So what am I getting at? Well, I finally learned to love oatmeal! I combined some ingredients which made it taste A LOT better. Some of these I used to already include in my porridge, but some are new.
Steps to a Better Tasting Bowl of Oatmeal!
-boil the oats in milk vs. water (or reheat them in milk if you have some left over).
This is the most important ingredient! Milk will transform your oatmeal from blah to wow! It makes it taste like rice pudding: richer, creamier, smoother. The typical water-y oatmeal taste disappears. If you already do this, then your oatmeal tasted better than mine used to.
– add Vanilla extract
Oooh, so, so delicious! Add as much vanilla as you like. This is the second essential ingredient. I don’t think I’ll ever eat my oatmeal without vanilla again- unless I don’t have any on hand.
– a pinch or two of brown sugar
Yes, it has to be sweet. Sugar makes everything taste better. Everyone in agreement say aye! 🙂
-ground walnuts
We like grinding our walnuts very finely and sprinkling it over the oatmeal. It adds the extra crunch, protein, and omega 3 to your breakfast plate!
– generous sprinkling of cinnamon
The only way to eat oatmeal! It’s a necessary spice for my porridge. Yum!
Bonus:
If you’re focused on eating a lower calorie oatmeal, you can just add the ingredients above and your oatmeal will still taste great! But for extra special days, you can add these ingredients to bring your oatmeal porridge to a royal status!
–A dollop of butter
You deserve to indulge every now and then, and breakfast is the perfect time to do it! Butter adds a silky, amazing taste to your oatmeal. Any extra calories will burn off by evening, I promise! 😉
Fruits
chopped strawberries
bannanas
apples
grapes
blueberries, raspberries
caramelized pears
anything!
-caramel drizzle
-apricot jam
-brûléed top like the picture below
Now that looks much better, doesn’t it?
How do you eat your oatmeal? What are your special ingredients?
—- And final random note —-
I would love to see how many people around the world look up this post. Leave a short comment telling what you were searching for when you arrived at this post, or what country you’re visiting from, and I will reply back! Like this post, share in Facebook and Instagram, pin to your Pinterest! Thanks bunches! 😀
Vanilla essence and porridge is what I searched for, great post! Ireland
Wow! I’m glad you came across my post! Thanks for letting me know, I love hearing from readers, and one day I wish to visit Ireland!
Going to try this… i generally dont drink milk, makes me gag. But when its in porridge its fine -but- i dont like porridge! Tastes so bland, i will have to try all of these! I searched “how to make porride tasty” lol
Hi Anna, Thanks for the feedback! Yes, you should definitely try it and see how you like it. Then if you have time, let me know if you changed your mind about oatmeal after you try the “upgraded” version 😉
I can’t do the texture of oatmeal but my family likes it. I never thought about using milk instead of water. We make our own maple syrup here every March/April so we usually use that for a sweetener.
(visiting from the Friday Favorites link-up)
Hi loggerswife!
Thanks for the comment! Yes, when I first tried oatmeal boiled in milk, I was amazed what a huge difference it made (at least in my opinion)! How wonderful to get to make your own maple syrup, natural directly from the source! I can only imagine the pure good taste it has. The commercial kind is so full of corn syrup that I stopped using it on pancakes years ago, and never use it actually. I now eat my pancakes with jam, or honey (and even peanut butter 😀 ).
Have it every morning. Ideal breakfast.
I just add milk to raw oats – until the oats soak up the milk, add a pinch of local (Malta) honey.
Been doing so for years.
I am a big fan of oatmeal! Thank you for sharing at our All My Bloggy Friends Party !
Linda
With A Blast
Maple syrup is another alternative :-), and healthier than brown sugar.
That’s right. Never thought of that! Or even honey!
I’ve never thought of boiling it in milk, but I think I’ll try that next time. Everyone in my family loves oatmeal except me, but it’s such a fast, healthy breakfast that I end up making it a lot.
And vanilla helps, I agree. We also use a lot of raisins and cinnamon.
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mmmmmm…!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE oatmeal! have it ALMOST every morning.
My versions:
1: Cinnamon (2 tsp– yes I like a LOT!!) Banana, Coconut oil (1 tsp) about a TBSP or 2 of chopped walnuts
2: Half and apple chopped into little cubes, 2 tsp Cinnamon, either 1 tsp of coconut oil or 1 TBSP of Land O Lakes Cinnamon Butter 🙂 (been doing the coconut oil much more though! LOL) about a TBSP or 2 of chopped walnuts
sometimes I’ll do this one
3. Banana and tbsp of natural Peanut butter 🙂
The coconut oil is fanabulous for you. inside. outside. Cinnamon is wonderful and I love way too much. 😀 😀 😀 Oats are great 4 u. and banana’s and Natural PB??? Oh. My. Add Dark Choc and you’ve got my ‘go 2’ comfort food! 🙂
great post!!!
Hello, I am so glad you posted this post. my family has oatmeal alot. I will have to try some of your suggestions. we usually just eat it with sugar, rasins and cinnamon.
We eat it with raisins too! If you try out the suggestions come by again and let me know how you liked it 🙂