It's Burns Night and I’m trying not to think about Haggis. 

I’m sorry... but I just don’t get it.  Welsh faggots I love, but that Scottish confabulation is beyond me.  This means I have, apart from shortbread, only porridge oats left to think about!! In September last I remember reading an article on the ‘17th Annual World Porridge Making Championships’.  The coveted ‘Golden Spurtle’ award is the highlight of a weekend of oat based festivities.

Porridge has become very popular again at bartlett mitchell, and quite rightly so - it's incredibly healthy for you.  I thought I'd give you a few fact and figures and some tasty tips!

Good-for-you facts

A healthy breakfast like porridge can help to:

• Fight heart disease
• Help weight
• Control and boost concentration
• Lowers cholesterol
• Prevents constipation
• Controls sugar cravings
• Beats depression
• Reduced blood pressure
• Fights cancer
• Reduces the risk of diabetes 

Oats so good ... ok, here’s the nerdy info stuff

Porridge is a nutrient-dense food, providing a useful source of protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, B-vitamins and Vitamin E.

Oats are high in beta-glucan, a soluble fibre which has been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels plus the complex carbohydrates help balance blood sugar levels, prevent hunger pangs and keep the bowl movements regular.

What’s in a bowl?

Porridge oats are a wholegrain cereal, so they contain the entire edible part of the grain including the germ, endosperm and bran.  A generous bowl (I only ever do generous bowls of porridge) made with semi-skimmed milk will keep hunger pangs at bay for hours and provides 25% of RDA calcium – and all for only 171 kcals/portion. Plus it’s a highly nutrient-dense food. Eureka, it's the only thing to eat in the morning.

Perfect porridge:  in 3 easy steps

Add one and a half cups (250ml) milk or half milk with half water, or just water into a non stick saucepan then stir in half a cup of porridge.

1. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. (try Waitrose 4 oat porridge its really good)
2. Serve, adding your preferred choice of topping.
3. Leave to stand for 2 minutes to allow the starches to relax.  It makes a big difference to the flavours (for a real treat try making it with coconut milk instead of ordinary milk – you ll love it!)

Terrific toppings

• Brown sugar, honey, golden syrup with/without a dash of cream
• Oranges and chocolate
• Banana and maple syrup or toffee sauce
• Nutella with toasted hazelnuts
• Cranberries and orange
• Apple or pear with nutmeg or cinnamon
• Blueberries and vanilla sugar
• Raspberries and white chocolate
• Passion fruit and mango
• Apricot jam and toasted almonds  

There I managed it!  Got through Burns Night without a taste of Haggis!