A Couple of Oatmeal Recipes

     Good morning, viewers.

     Now that cooler weather is setting in, my thoughts naturally turn to the colours, and scents, and tastes of autumn. 

     When I remember things I used to associate with autumn as a child, I instantly think of the oatmeal my mum used to make for me.  I made it for myself for the first time the other day.  I enjoyed it quite as much as I used to, and shall now share this simple recipe with you, that you may enjoy it as well.

     Spiced Apple and Nut Oatmeal

 

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons molasses (more or less, according to taste)
• Pinch of salt
• Spices to taste (i.e. cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, pumpkin pie spice, etc...)
• 1 or 2 peeled, chopped apples
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I prefer walnuts)
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

       Add water, salt, molasses, and spices to a medium saucepan, and bring to boil.  Add oats, nuts, and dried fruit (if desired), and cook according to package directions (cooking times vary according to variety of oatmeal).  Serve with butter or cream.  Sugar may be added, if desired.  Personally, the molasses is sweet enough for me.

 

 

 

     Now here is a porridge recipe that I tried for the first time this morning.  I found it in a Jane Austen cookbook online.

 

English Breakfast Oatmeal

 

• 4 cups water
• 4 English Breakfast tea bags (other teas such as Earl Grey or Chai may be used if desired)
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 to 4 TBS sugar or honey (more or less, according to taste
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup cream

      In a medium saucepan, bring water to almost a boil.  Add tea bags, remove from heat, and let steep for a few minutes.  Remove the tea bags, add the salt and sugar, and bring the mixture to a boil.  Cook the oats as directed.  Stir in cream before serving.

 

 

     The taste of tea gave a subtle, interesting hint of flavour.  According to my preference, I'd use a bit more tea, and a bit less sugar.  I used a tea cup-shaped soup mug for my own amusement.

 

     Well, I hope you enjoy these recipes, viewers.  Inasmuch as it's cooking/baking season, I'm sure I'll soon be posting several others.





Austenland

     Good morrow, viewers.

     I shall now discuss the film Austenland based on the novel by Shannon Hale.

     Initially, when I heard about this book/film, I was prepared for some sort of rubbish along the lines of Lost in Austen (I vehemently dislike that miniseries).

     I am exceedingly fond of the works of Jane Austen, though not in a fan-girl, squeals-during-the-Darcy-in-a-wet-shirt-scene sort of way.  I appreciate the romance of her stories, but, more than that, I love the satiric wit, clever conversation, and beautiful words of a time before the English language became a sad wreckage of incomprehensible slang and poor grammar.

     My friend Marlow and I decided to go see it at the cinema, if for no other reason than to laugh at it.  Thus, last Friday, Marlow, Daisy and I went to the local theatre, and, whilst we did laugh at it, it was from genuine amusement.  We were quite agreeably surprised to find that we actually enjoyed it.

       Keri Russell was amusing as the overly-Austen-obsessed woman who comes to find that living ones own life is perhaps better than living vicariously through a novel, and J.J. Field played his role as leading male very well, though I had rather a hard time disassociating him from his role as Henry Tilney in BBC's Northanger Abbey. 

     It was a trifle silly, and there were a few scenes that seemed a bit inappropriate, and would have been better left out, but aside from that, it was a cute movie.  Perfectly adequate for passing an afternoon with friends, and amusing for one who is prodigiously fond of Pride and Prejudice.