OK, sorry about no picture, but really, who doesn’t know what a bowl of oatmeal looks like? And this oatmeal looks like every other bowl of oatmeal. The difference, and you knew there had to be a difference or I wouldn’t have bothered posting this recipe in the first place, is in the flavor and texture.

The cinnamon gives the porridge a rich flavor, and the golden raisins add both texture and sweetness. And of course, a dab of butter and a spoonful of sugar always make anything taste better. Even taking medicine, I’ve heard!

So if you want to up your fiber intake, provide your body with important minerals (thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iron), and make it to lunch without fainting or munching on a sugary product for energy, you “oat” to add oatmeal to your breakfast rotation.

• 1 c. water
• 1 c. milk, plus more for serving
• pinch salt
• lg. pinch ground cinnamon
• ½ c. steal cut oat meal (I use McCann’s Steel Cut Oat Meal)
• ¼ c. golden raisins
• dab of butter
• brown sugar

Bring water, milk, salt, and cinnamon to a boil. Sprinkle on the oats and stir well. When the porridge is smooth and starting to thicken, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring periodically. After the oats have cooked for 15 minutes, add the golden raisins. Stir frequently towards the end of the cooking time.

Serve with a dab of butter, brown sugar, and additional milk. Or add fresh fruit for a lovely change of flavor.

Please Note: Nutritionally, steel-cut oats, old-fashioned rolled oats, and quick oats are the same. All oats start as oat groats, with only the outer husk removed. The main difference between steel-cut oats and quick oats lies in the processing. Steel-cut oats are simply oat groats cut into two or three pieces, for a relatively unprocessed product. Rolled or old-fashioned oats are produced by steaming and rolling the oat groats for faster cooking. Quick oats are just old-fashioned oats that have been chopped into smaller pieces for even faster cooking. The main advantages of using steel cut oats in your porridge are the chewier texture and nuttier flavor.