(no subject)

[ewt]

Many thanks to nyecamden and doseybat who came and helped me tidy (and in the case of doseybat kept tidying even after I was way too tired to do much more). This means I can get good amounts of sewing done tomorrow. Yay!

mstevens has bought a vacuum cleaner. It is a bagless cylinder one with a washable HEPA filter; not a Dyson but still, I approve. I do not like vacuum cleaners that require bags, see.

Porridge++. I just had some as a snack, and I really must do this more often. I had a rather massive Kraft Dinner craving (no, I cannot explain this to you if you do not already understand it), but having no Kraft Dinner I had salty porridge instead. YUM, and much better for me than KD would have been.

Yes, I know not everyone likes porridge, especially salty. I like it. So there.

I first heard about salty porridge from a Flanders & Swann song. I'd only ever had it with sweet stuff on it, before then.

My kitchen cupboards are full to bursting. I'm going to attempt to not buy any actual groceries for a few weeks to see if I can make some space in them; could be interesting.

Comments

[mouseboks.livejournal.com]

Everyone I know from the western lands seems to have KD as a comfort food, did you get it from childhood, or as later thing?

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

I got it from childhood, certainly.

[nyecamden.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome, thanks for having me.

My grandmother used to eat salty porridge, it's not something I've ever been brave enough to try though.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

I like salted porridge and I also like sweet porridge, just the same way I like sweet and savoury biscuits. I believe it was Doctor Who that first educated me on the salting of porridge.

I presume that Kraft puts some incredibly addictive ingredient in the day-glo cheese sauce. It is slightly scary stuff.

Congratulations on the tidying.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I presume this is proper salt porridge, made with just water, oats and salt (the previous day, poured into a drawer and cut cold with an iron knife :-)

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Porridge made with water is SACRILEGE.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Um. I think that the longest, and widest, traditions are a simple gruel made with water. Depending on time and place, the other consitituent might be ground oats, whole rice, dried peas etc. My understanding is that Scottish oatmeal porridge might be served with a small bowl of cold millk on the side.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

This is likely quite correct.

However, in ewtian tradition, porridge is made with milk, and if it is not made with milk it is called gruel.

;)

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

There you go :-)

My current habit is to make it 25% milk, but I'm leaning toward all water and then something fun to sweeten it - vegan style.

[403.livejournal.com]

In America, we just call it oatmeal. ;)

[pfy.livejournal.com]

I've made porridge with just water before, but I much prefer to cook it with at least a bit of milk so it tastes smoother. Also, you can tell I'm not actually Scottish because I've never fried my porridge :-)

That's not porridge!

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

No, no, NO!

If it's made with water then it's gruel! ;)

Re: That's not porridge!

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Show me your Scots authority for that! :-)

Re: That's not porridge!

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

Being about 0 part scot, I have none, but it is a family tradition.

OTOH the use is fairly widespread. Much of my (polish) family had to eat either porridge or gruel when they were young and the distinction translates very well "porridge with water is not porridge". Personally, I dislike both, but gruel much more strongly.

So there *g* ;)

Re: That's not porridge!

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I'm also 100% Saes, but I was brought up to believe that real porridge is just oats, water and salt - it's soft southerners that have milk, sugar or cream.

http://www.goldenspurtle.com/

seems to back me up, with the suggestion that if you make your porridge with milk it should be called 'milk porridge' :-)

[fjm.livejournal.com]

I love the stuff but as it contains gluten (low levels, but enough) I haven't eaten porridge in a decade. Grits make a decent substitute but are hard to get here.

[(Anonymous)]

Have you tried quinoa flakes?

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Argh that was me.

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

Porridge is a wonderful thing! You can use it to:

• Stick up wall paper;
• Fill up accordions and render them silent;
• Throw it at Sassenachs (if Scottish) and vice versa if not;
• Spend a blissful afternoon with a bucket of cold porridge making hilariously gastrointestinal noises with the aid of a trombone.

Apparently some people eat the stuff, but I would advise against it.

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

Thank you. A voice of reason! :)

Feeding it to ewts is probably a good use, especially as she seems to like it, however only after completion of a COHS assessment.

If one is neither Scottish nor Sassenach, throwing it at the French sounds like a good alternative use.

[yellowrocket.livejournal.com]

When is throwing things at the French ever a bad idea?! :-D