Since I last wrote I have had the chance to read some excellent books, including devouring four books by Brené Brown. In one of them she states a great definition of the word 'culture'. Simply put, Brown references culture as “the way we do things around here.” I love it. It is lacking in boundaries and jargon, but full of opportunity for meaning. As I contemplated picking up my food blogging again for the #? time, I asked myself...what do I really want to write about? What I came up with was to share the way we do things around here. Let’s start with breakfast.
"Science has demonstrated the wisdom of these careful preparation methods as all grains and legumes contain phytic acid, an organic acid that blocks mineral absorption in the intestinal tract. Phytic acid is neutralized in as little as 7 hours of soaking in water with small amounts of an acidic medium such as lemon juice or cider vinegar. Soaking also neutralizes enzyme inhibitors present in the hulls of all seeds and adds beneficial enzymes which increase the amount of nutrients present – especially the B vitamins."
Sweet. For someone with a sensitive digestive track who is also genetically low in B vitamins I have been all in. So here is what I do...
For the oatmeal:
1 cup of gluten free rolled oats
2.5 cups of water
A juicy slice of lemon juice
Morning add ins:
A pinch of salt
Almond and/or peanut butter (my son loves a combo)
Good quality maple syrup or honey
Cinnamon (mom’s contribution to this tasty breakie)
Almond milk
Directions:
In a saucepan, combine oats, water, and a good squeeze of lemon juice (about two teaspoons of lemon juice). Cover and let sit overnight. In the morning add a pinch of salt and cook until your desired consistency. This ratio makes for a thicker porridge. You can easily add more water for a thinner porridge. It serves 2-3 people, depending on how hungry you are. My mom, my son, and I share this cooked “mush” in the morning with a spoonful of almond and/or peanut butter, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and a shake of cinnamon. Lastly, we douse it with almond or cow milk and dig in. It’s truly a wonderful, warm meal to start our morning. It’s how we do things around here.
I hope you try it, and let me know how you feel. For me, a bowl of cooked oats and cup of hot tea is a super satisfying meal that carries me over till my first break, which is sometime not until lunch time. My stomach is happy and mind can be focused on my clients. It’s a win win for everyone.
Happy eating (and thanks for reading),
Francine