Food Talk  Discussion Forum

can someone tell me what is oatmeal? where can i find it in US? i have read a lot abt it for beauty purposes but don't know what is it. if someone can help... Kevin replied. Oatmeal is a grain from the oat plant.

it used for making breads and cookies (as in oatmeal raisin cookies...yummmmm) and also as a hot cereal for cold winter mornings in the usa and canada.

by itself, oatmeal is rather bland or boring tasting. but this is remedied by adding things to it that are not. such as for the hot cereal, it is usually served with milk and sugar. other things that can be added are: cinnamon, raisins, fresh peaches, strawberries, maple syrup, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, well, you get the picture...anything you can think of that you like...put it in. i'll bet some people even put in chocolate.

now, where can you find it in the usa. it is available in regular supermarkets in the breakfast cereal aisle. it is usually found on the ends of the aisles, not in the middle. the main u.s. brand is quaker. there may be others, but if there are, i can't think of the names. (there are some that are imported from ireland and scotland, but they are more expensive and, really, not that much different) it comes in a round cardboard container. there are also a few different types. there are instant oatmeal packets. to these you just add boiling water, stir, and serve. they can come preflavored, too, w/some of the above flavorings. whichever you get, the instructions are on the box. the round cardboard containers even have the cookie recipes.

ok, i just found the quaker oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. if you make these and serve them, well, people will just think you are the best.

1 cup sifted all purpose flour
3/4 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup shortening, soft (200ml)
1 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar. (not sure of the ml, but abt 250 mls = 1 american cup of 8 ounces)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quaker oats, uncooked (500 ml or so)
1 cup (8 ounces, 250 ml) raisins

sift flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg in a bowl. add shortening, sugar, eggs, & vanilla...beat until smooth, abt 2 minutes. stir in oats and raisins. drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. (i usually put parchment paper on the cookie sheets rather than butter, grease, etc. easier cleanup). bake in preheated moderate over (350F, i am not sure what that is in C, but 400 F is 200 C) for 12 - 15 minutes. makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

when you take them out of the oven, allow to cool a bit before removing from the cookie sheet. then put them on a wire rack to cool. also, serve some while still warm. if you have kids, try timing the cookies coming out of the oven to the time your kids come home from school. they will SO thank you for it. they go great with a glass of milk after school.

enjoy,
kevin