Eating Out of the Pantry :: Breakfast Porridge
Gratuitously cute picture of Hobbes...
My mum started this thing in the beginning of January called "eating out of the pantry." (My dad accidently refers to it as "eating out of the cabinet" or even better "eating out of the closet" which we think is pretty hysterical). She decided that she was going to use up all of the stuff that was in her cabinets and try to keep her food budget down to $1 a day. She's managed to eat on $1.89 a day, which I think is fairly impressive
It's no secret on this blog that Mr. G+N and I have hit upon a pretty thorny financial patch these last few weeks. I've been trying very hard to follow my mum's lead. I tallied up my grocery receipts today and we've been eating for $2.61 a day. Not as thrifty as mum, yet, but I'm trying.
This morning, I thought if I ate another pan-fried egg that I was going to scream. I needed something different, something more luxurious. I desperately wanted an eclair from one of my favorite bakeries, Sweet Dreams. Alas, at $3.75 a pop, that was not in the cards, but I did find everything in my kitchen that I needed to make breakfast porridge.
This recipe was given to me by Lucy Tuttle, of Tuttle's Red Barn, and originally appeared in Cooking Light in the October 2007 issue. I've amended it here to be slightly less light by substituting whole milk for fat-free milk. Because, seriously now, what the hell is fat-free milk? Blech!
Multigrain Breakfast Porridge
4 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup uncooked wheat berries (hard winter wheat), rinsed
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup regular oats
3 tablespoons uncooked quick cooking grits
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1) Combine first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.
2) Stir in oats; simmer, uncovered, 12 minutes, stirring often. Stir in grits; simmer 5 minutes, stirring often.
3) Stir in milk and syrup; simmer 1 minute or until porridge thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Serve with walnuts.
My notes: This is not a quick breakfast recipe (see the simmering times above). However, it reheats beautifully. Make a batch on a day that you're free and enjoy it throughout the week. I'm planning on doing just that!
***
I'm glad that many of you approve of the vlog post. It was fun to do something different, and it's nice for when I'm too tired to deal with writing. To answer Sonya's question, you're correct. I just took the video with the camera in my Mac. Nothing fancy. I'll definitely do it again sometime!
I'm going to teach a dance class tonight at my old place of work. Insert ominous DUN DUN DAHHHHH! here. Some of you who have been reading for some time now (Flossy, Gemma, Diane, Nat, S'mee etc.) might be gasping at this development considering all of the heart ache and ridiculousness surrounding me leaving that job last June. Calling them up was not an easy phone call to make, but, I am absolutely desperate for money. I said, "I will teach ANYTHING you've got," so they are trying to help me out. It feels so weird, to be sure. However, I'm thanking my stars that I didn't burn that bridge when I left.
After that, I'm going to head over to the parentals' house for a little dinner, and maybe some knitting time with mummy. Oh! That reminds me!
HOLIDAY HANDMADE CRUSADERS :: Your deadline to posts ornaments on Flickr, Craftster or leave a comment here linking back to your finished item is MIDNIGHTTONIGHT! I mean TOMORROW, the 31st! If you have no idea what I'm talking about please refer to this post.
***
I'm going to bring back the "thankful" sign outs. Things have been pretty crappy lately, so I have to remind myself that even amidst the poop that there are good things in my life.
Today, I am thankful for Mr. G+N. As long as we've got each other we'll make it through. We always do. What are you thankful for today?
My mum started this thing in the beginning of January called "eating out of the pantry." (My dad accidently refers to it as "eating out of the cabinet" or even better "eating out of the closet" which we think is pretty hysterical). She decided that she was going to use up all of the stuff that was in her cabinets and try to keep her food budget down to $1 a day. She's managed to eat on $1.89 a day, which I think is fairly impressive
It's no secret on this blog that Mr. G+N and I have hit upon a pretty thorny financial patch these last few weeks. I've been trying very hard to follow my mum's lead. I tallied up my grocery receipts today and we've been eating for $2.61 a day. Not as thrifty as mum, yet, but I'm trying.
This morning, I thought if I ate another pan-fried egg that I was going to scream. I needed something different, something more luxurious. I desperately wanted an eclair from one of my favorite bakeries, Sweet Dreams. Alas, at $3.75 a pop, that was not in the cards, but I did find everything in my kitchen that I needed to make breakfast porridge.
This recipe was given to me by Lucy Tuttle, of Tuttle's Red Barn, and originally appeared in Cooking Light in the October 2007 issue. I've amended it here to be slightly less light by substituting whole milk for fat-free milk. Because, seriously now, what the hell is fat-free milk? Blech!
Multigrain Breakfast Porridge
4 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup uncooked wheat berries (hard winter wheat), rinsed
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup regular oats
3 tablespoons uncooked quick cooking grits
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1) Combine first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.
2) Stir in oats; simmer, uncovered, 12 minutes, stirring often. Stir in grits; simmer 5 minutes, stirring often.
3) Stir in milk and syrup; simmer 1 minute or until porridge thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Serve with walnuts.
My notes: This is not a quick breakfast recipe (see the simmering times above). However, it reheats beautifully. Make a batch on a day that you're free and enjoy it throughout the week. I'm planning on doing just that!
***
I'm glad that many of you approve of the vlog post. It was fun to do something different, and it's nice for when I'm too tired to deal with writing. To answer Sonya's question, you're correct. I just took the video with the camera in my Mac. Nothing fancy. I'll definitely do it again sometime!
I'm going to teach a dance class tonight at my old place of work. Insert ominous DUN DUN DAHHHHH! here. Some of you who have been reading for some time now (Flossy, Gemma, Diane, Nat, S'mee etc.) might be gasping at this development considering all of the heart ache and ridiculousness surrounding me leaving that job last June. Calling them up was not an easy phone call to make, but, I am absolutely desperate for money. I said, "I will teach ANYTHING you've got," so they are trying to help me out. It feels so weird, to be sure. However, I'm thanking my stars that I didn't burn that bridge when I left.
After that, I'm going to head over to the parentals' house for a little dinner, and maybe some knitting time with mummy. Oh! That reminds me!
HOLIDAY HANDMADE CRUSADERS :: Your deadline to posts ornaments on Flickr, Craftster or leave a comment here linking back to your finished item is MIDNIGHT
***
I'm going to bring back the "thankful" sign outs. Things have been pretty crappy lately, so I have to remind myself that even amidst the poop that there are good things in my life.
Today, I am thankful for Mr. G+N. As long as we've got each other we'll make it through. We always do. What are you thankful for today?
Labels: food, holiday handmade crusade, recipes
posted by Geek+Nerd at 12:59 PM
8 Comments:
Sweetie you have to do what you have to do. Morals, views etc are all very nice but sadly they don't pay the bills or put food on the table. Right decision.
((thanks)) for your kind words, I turned comments off on that post so people didn't feel obligated to comment ;)
if you have a lot of eggs - you should really make some choux paste and bake your own eclairs. You can make them for much cheaper than $3+ each :)
http://bakingdesserts.suite101.com/article.cfm/cream_puff_and_eclair_recipe
AND I just watched your vlog! Now I know what you sound like!!!! How peculiar, but really great all at the same time!
Sarah darling, as you know I convinced Chris to get into the ornament crusade,I posted her felted mitten and stars I'm sure you can get them better than I can send them.Pizza tonight Yahoo
I love porridge! Hooray for being thrifty and yummy at the same time!
Hi Sarah,
Just wanted to let you know I emailed you a new code. I'm assuming you still the same email address, but just in case I'm covering my bases. : )
If you didn't get my e-mail, can you please e-mail me so I can send it to you - thanks! farmgirlfare AT gmail DOT com
You know, I know you thought I'd be all alarmed at going back to your old work. But I think time heals, un-burnt bridges are very wise, and I'd probably do the same. :)
One of my big motto's is you never know what might lead off from that. I.E. I might meet someone new who has the perfect opportunity for me, or I may learn something I didn't before.
It's all good. And I'm glad you know how to deal with hard times creatively, and pro-actively! Good for you! :)
Mmmm, that recipe looks delicious!
And I'm very thankful for our health.
Post a Comment
<< Home