Further proof that I'm such a Nana... I'm blogging about the joys of Overnight Porridge!
I decided to swallow my pride, as I am sure there are some of you out there that may find this post helpful... or at least get a good snigger.
See if you can picture me in the mornings (I am a night person and don't actually start to function properly until around 1pm each day) trying to pack 3 lunch boxes (sometimes 4), encouraging the kids to get dressed, make their beds, set the table, stop play fighting etc. while hubby is out feeding chickens, toileting dog and pouring hot water over the frozen windscreen on the car.
Sometimes things go smoothly, and sometimes they don't.
Now I love porridge, and I know it is super healthy and cheap... but we only have porridge if the morning has gone smoothly and I have time to make it. And lately, we've been resorting to toast a lot!
That was until I discovered that you can make porridge in a crockpot (slow cooker)!
I am loving setting the porridge up to cook before bed and then waking to warm porridge ready to serve in the morning. There is just enough for our family of 6 when you double the recipe below (we have two tiny eaters though). Sprinkle on some brown sugar and a dash of milk and mmmmmmm.
Overnight Porridge, Plain or Fancy
For 2 servings
½ cup coarse rolled oats
2 cups cold water
1⁄8 tsp salt
2 Tbsp nutritious additions (see below)
Find a heatproof bowl that will fit inside your slow cooker bowl and a lid or plate to sand on top of it. Turn your slow cooker onto LOW.
Measure the cereal, water and salt into your selected bowl.
Add 2 tablespoons, total, or any of the following: wheat germ, wheat bran, oat bran, ground linseed, chopped dried apples or apricots, sultanas etc. (These absorb water - if you don't want to use any of them, add extra whole grain oats.)
If you like other additions to your porridge, add small amounts of chopped nuts, or sunflower, pumpkin or toasted sesame seeds etc.
Pour about 2 cups of cold water into the slow cooker, put the bowl of cereal into the water in the slow cooker, then cover the bowl of cereal with the plate or lid. Put the lid on the cooker and cook on LOW for about 8-10 hours or overnight.
Serve sprinkled with a little sugar, brown sugar, or cinnamon sugar, or drizzled with honey. Add milk, your favourite yogurt, or a little cream.
Enjoy!!
Recipe thanks to Simon & Alison Holst, "100 great ways to use slow cookers and crockpots"
For more delicious recipes visit here.
20 comments
Great idea!! I love porridge too!
ReplyDeleteSee, if the porridge exploded then you wouldn't ever be classed as a nana by society again. There is no problem so big that it cannot be solved with calcium nitrate mixtures, and that's just the way things are.
ReplyDeleteYet another good reason to buy a slow cooker. Oh how I wish we had packed ours up for Aussie instead of selling it for a pittance in our garage sale.
ReplyDeleteOh cool, I LOVE porridge too - but it is the hassle of making it in the morning that stops me... but now, there will be no stopping me.
ReplyDeleteBlogging man, it's changed my life. Haha.
This is awesome and I will be giving this a go.
ReplyDeleteYehaa for Nanas like you (and me who enjoy the simple things in life).
I love porridge and have it most mornings (when there is time usually not on frosty window mornings!!) I found using the rice cooker also works great. takes about half an hour but if I turn it on as soon as I wake and after even one is dressed and sorted it's ready.
ReplyDeletetoday was a toast day for us. In the car on the way to school actually ;) I'm off to make my porridge for me and miss 2 now. I'll definitely be trying your slow cooker idea too.
whichever way it's cooked, porridge is disgusting ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love it in the slow cooker too, I can't be bothered making it in the morning, it involves stirring and actually being able to concentrate, too early for me.
ReplyDeleteScrum! No slow cooker but its 9.27pm and I'm craving porridge now! Alternatively, you could make a HUGE pot of the stuff and just keep it in the fridge and reheat in the microwave!
ReplyDeleteSounds fantastic! Why not cook it in the slow cooker bowl though? Does it dry out too much? Must find a lid for the pyrex and give it a go. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGood idea, I may just have to try it out. I love the holst cookbooks, always helpful!
ReplyDeleteI have a Tefal 4 in 1, which is a slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker but also a porridge cooker and I use it every morning to make yummy porridge. I just measure out the oats and other bits before bed (raisins and cinnamon at the moment), and then dump the lot in the 4in1 when I'm making my coffee the next morning. 6 minutes later and I have perfect porridge waiting for me. I highly recommend one if you like an easy way to enjoy porridge every morning, especially in this cold and snowy weather.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! If only I had a slow cooker, I love porridge!
ReplyDeleteAnnnnnnnd none of you have a Microwave....?? Rolled oats in a bowl, double the water, stir, zap a couple of times - add brown sugar and abracadabra - what's wrong with everybody?
ReplyDeleteMmmm I love porridge!! I wish I had a crock pot!! I also love to make Baked Oatmeal...so warm and yummy and healthy for breakfast! Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteyummm porridge
ReplyDeleteand I LOVE my slow cooker :)
I make mine in the mircowave when I have it
I also like weetbix
and have finally gotten over a long time association I use to have with them and guinea pigs
(I dont like rodents - but we use to have them as pets when we were girls)
love all the additions you have too
Yet again the slow cooker saves the day! I love my slow cooker but often struggle for new things to make so I'm going onto Amazon now to get that recipe book! Thanks x
ReplyDeleteWell call me a Nana, because I love that idea! Nom, nom.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being such a Nana with the rest of us. This recipe will be perfect for my family. My husband loves oatmeal/porridge, however, I have not mastered the ability to prepare it to his liking. I am excited to give this a try, tonight! Thanks a million for sharing your recipe. Would you have any other overnight ideas you would share?
ReplyDeleteI have been looking to make some porridge in the crockpot! Can I make it with milk instead of water or do you think it would get funky from the heat of the crockpot?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments... I love hearing from you!!!