How do you make your porridge?

[SkinnyVanillaLatte]

I am ashamed to say that I use the instant with golden syrup.But I really think its time I learned to do it for DC's (and myself!) from real porridge oats.

How do you do it and make it palatable for the kids without lacing it with stacks of sugar? I really don't want to swap one sugar fest for another!

Porridge oats and milk in a pan (one part oats to two parts milk), turn on low heat. Leave.

When it bubbles it's ready. I like it plain. DD adds fruit occasionally.

You can put the milk and oats in the fridge overnight and they just need warming in the morning.

AS above and we add syrup.

DH loves porridge for his breakfast, but is v particular about it:

Oats(only the jumbo oats, often have to buy from health food store instead of supermarket)
Water

Into microwave- one minute, take it out and stir, one more minute.

Sounds healthy so far... but then he glugs a bit of golden syrupon it.

DS likes Ready Brek - with milk. In microwave - sprinkled with more sugar afterwards.

I watched Nigel Slater's cookery programme a few months ago and he was visiting a "Master Porridge Maker" who had won a prize for best porridge in the world. He made the porridge by simmering the oats with water and a little salt. It's how my mum makes it too - she says it the "proper, traditional, Scottish way". I myself prefer the packet microwave stuff, made with milk and a spoonful of sugar .

Value porridge oats, a good slug of milk, into microwave in an oversized dish for 2 mins on high then stir and another minute or so on high.

The secret is to really boil it. Makes it creamy.

DS has sunflower seeds on top and occasionally a teaspoon of honey for a treat. They only want it sweet if they're used to it so I don't let them get used to it

I do half milk half water for DD, it comes out just as nice as all milk and saves on my milk bill! Then I whack a glug of golden syrup in it. It's only sugar and she brushes her teeth every day! I'd rather she ate the whole bowl and had a good filling breakfast than left it because it was 'boring'.

Normal porridge isn't 'boring' at all. You give them sugar/syrup as standard, of course they prefer it that way.

I do one part porridge to 3 parts milk and boil it in a pot on the stove top, when it's just about finished I add a pinch of cinnamon and grate in an apple, not need for sugar! Or I add frozen blueberries at the start.
If I cook it with water I'll microwave it then sprinkle over brown sugar and then pour over milk. Interestingly I often go to the heath food shop to get fine oats!

1 part porridge oats to 2 parts milk, low heat and leave til ready, stirring occasionally. big heaped dessertspoonful of dark brown sugar all over the top to sink in and form a crust A dash of honey or jam.

I add berries in summer or dried apricots / raisins in winter.

Just got back from the park - thanks everyone for the responses!

Its definately got to be cheaper using real porridge but the biggest reason I want to change to a less sugary alternative is because my eldest has real teeth problems with soft enamel,so I'm trying to eliminate as much unnecessary sugar as possible.

I suppose I could try a sugar substitute but I'm worried as I know I've heard somewhere that some sugar free stuff isn't good for you - so there's little point jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!

I use water with mine and put the oats and water to soak the night before. Obviously it is much nicer with full fat milk, but I like to save my milk (skimmed) for coffee. Put it in a pan on a very low heat, when it starts to bubble stir it and then cook it out for a couple of mins.

I do add a little bit of syrup sometimes or more often than not a sliced banana or blueberries.

Handful of oats in a bowl, just cover with milk and/or water, bung in microwave for one minute, stir, add more milk if too dry, pop back in microwave for thirty seconds, add a spoon of golden syrup and give it a good stir, splash some cold milk over and serve. [bugrin]

ewwww I can't stand sugar or syrup in my porridge. Make mine with water, add some milk once it's cooked, and lots of salt.

One part porridge, two parts water. Cook in large pyrex jug for 4mins at full power. Pour into bowl and top with 1-2 teaspoons sugar and then top up the bowl with milk. This makes the porridge float like a raft - yummy.

I've never tried porridge with salt even though I know thats the traditional way.
I wonder how we decided it should be sweet?

I have mine exactly as skivingagain, but for DCs I make it with milk and chopped dried apricots (probably not the best idea if there are dental issues though).

I like the apple idea, might try that in future.

bookbird I agree that the cinnamon and grated apple sounds really tasty!

I always sprinkle for a few hundreds and thousands you do not need as much as sugar, a pinch goes a long way.

I keep a 1/4 cup scoop in my big Kilner jar of oats. In the morning, I put two scoops of oats in a pan, cover with water, leave it on the hob while I feed the dogs, check email, etc, then when I hear it bubbling, I stir it for about a minute till it's thick, then eat with a spoon of golden syrup, or a slug of single cream milk. Jam is nice too, or Nutella, or stewed rhubarb.

1 measure of oats 2 measures of milk
simmer for 5 mins serve, with variety of things, including demearera sugar or ribena (makse it look like brains!)

1 cup porridge oats
1 cup milk
1 cup water
handfull of raisins or other dried fruits
bring to the boil then take off the heat and leave for about 5 min stirring occasionally. I find the fruit makes it sweet enough and the dc and I like it this way.

It may be traditional, but porridge made with all water is vile and looks and tastes like wallpaper paste....
DD and I prefer it with milk, but 50:50 milk and water is bearable.
I'd add a pinch of salt while cooking but then add sugar or syrup to taste when ready.
Purists will say not to microwave, but it tastes fine IMO.

It really is easy to make. DD likes it with a bit of sugar or golden syrup, I like it with raisins and a knob of butter. Not exactly health food tho.

Beamur you get used to it . I would rather have it like that and use my milk allowance for coffee - I am always watching my weight...

My MIL served water porridge up to DD and I last time we visited - DD loves porridge and asked Granny to make her some. Her face when she tried it was priceless....