From-scratch oatmeal is thrifty, quick and comforting, requires no brain cells first thing in the morning, is completely customizable, fills us up and gives us sustained, slow-burning energy throughout the day. Oatmeal was the first food product to boast FDA-supported health claims, from lowered cholesterol to a drop in blood pressure, a link to weight loss to improved intestinal function. And it's damned tasty. In a nutshell, oatmeal is the culinary marriage between hard-bodied athlete and sweet old granny.
You don't need cutesy packaging to enjoy a convenient bowl of oatmeal–but it couldn't hurt. If you often find yourself rushing out the door on an empty stomach, take a few nighttime minutes to make your own “instant” oats. Throw a small handful of rolled oats in your food processor and pulse it two or three times. Pour it into a resealable bag, or onto a six-inch square sheet of wax paper. Add another (unpulverized) small handful of oats to the bag, along with a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of brown sugar, some raisins or chopped, dried apples and (if you fancy it) a few teaspoons of powdered milk or protein supplement. Seal the bag, or fold the wax paper in half and iron the sides shut. Shake it up and you're good to go. When you get to work, dump your oats into a coffee mug, cover with hot water and let it stand for about two minutes (or until all the water is absorbed.). You'll have breakfast ready in the time it takes to check your e-mail. On the other hand, you could just wake up 10 minutes earlier and have a sit-down breakfast at home: Most of the recipes you'll find here require just five minutes on the stove.
