Oatmeal

I had taken oatmeal for granted until loads of friends began asking how to cook it 'from scratch' - as opposed to the ready-prepped packages with sugar thrown in. Well, here's how.

• rolled oats, 1/2 cup per person
• salt, pinch of
• milk or water, 3/4 cup per person
• cinnamon, sugar, etc - according to preference
• fruit - berries, bananas, raisins, as desired

1. The minimal-mess way to prepare oatmeal, I find, is to bung it in the microwave
2. Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl
3. Microwave on High for 2 mins 40 seconds if only preparing for one person, and about 3 mins 30 seconds for more people. Watch that it doesn't spill over ;)
4. Remove bowl from microwave and stir a couple of tablespoons of cold milk into oatmeal - this gives it a smooth, creamy texture
5. Add other flavourings at this point as desired
6. Slice fresh banana or throw a handful of berries over the top
7. Drizzle with honey or sprinkle brown sugar over.
8. Et voila - a healthy low-glycemic breakfast with fibre that could help lower cholesterol levels!

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