Apples on the Road

Porridge & Pyjamas!!

I am getting ready to go back to Scotland for another few weeks of work .... and play.

I got really excited this morning as I watched Alix making her now-to-me famous Porridge. She is a wonderful macrobiotic cook, and has been concocting delicious recipes since 1984. It made my mouth water remembering the taste as I was packing!

When I am in Scotland, much of our work is done in our pyjamas, and morning has been graced by bowls of hot steaming porridge made of oat groats and assorted added ingredients. The morning's vote was always whether to make that day's breakfast porridge sweet or savoury. Many mornings there was a good bit of debates since both are so good! Sweet means adding sultanas, or currants, raisins, honey, and milk or cream and butter. Savoury is my favorite. Ingredients that can be added can be far more varied... Soya sauce, miso, tahini, peanut or pumpkin butter, sometimes some fish, nutritional yeast flakes, and some vinegar such as umeboshi, rice or balsamic ..... and all put in to taste. It is never the same and always a wonderful start to the often chilly days. I take great delight in it with a cup of hot tea.

I made my version of it when I came home to New Jersey, and while it was good, it didn't hit the spot as much as in Scotland, so I am delightedly anticipating my first mouthful! I will post some of the recipes I watch when I am there!