I think I'm gonna have a bowl of you

It's a marvelous thing, for a humble grain. It's an able vehicle for creamy butter and real maple syrup, but it's so much more! Think about it: oatmeal is warm, nourishing and genuinely wholesome. How many things remain unspoiled in these crazy times? Mom, Apple Pie, even the president may be called into question from time to time; not oatmeal.

Reflect with me for a moment.

It's a harbinger of autumn after a long, hot summer; it's a memory of childhood; it's the Right Thing to Do. Most important for me, it's my latest way to turn soy powder into something edible.

Forget that gluey instant stuff in the envelope--ugh, like sawdust. You want to start off with whole rolled oats. Boil up about a cup of water in a sturdy saucepan, add a little salt if you like--not too much if you're using salted butter--maybe 1/8 of a teaspoon. Add about half a cup of oats, a little more if you like. Stir for about a minute, then add your soy powder. (If you don't need the extra protein, by all means skip this; also use less water.) Cook, stirring constantly for about three minutes.

Season with about half a teaspoon of cinnamon, real maple syrup to taste, and a little butter. Please use real butter, do not subject yourself to margarine unless there's a really good reason. The oats should be toothy but tender.

If you're not adding soy powder, you might add raisins and chopped nuts to the boiling water right before the oats. For a slightly more exotic taste, try grating fresh nutmeg over the whole thing.

Of course, you don't need any of that stuff. Really, all you need is a steaming bowl of oatmeal goodness to get your day started right.

before - after