Celebrating 3 with a Power Breakfast: Wholegrain Porridge with Goji Berries and Cashew Nuts

7:45 AM - Weimar: I've just dropped Soeren off at school and am on my way to work. I turn up the radio as my favorite band, Coldplay rock to the sounds of "Viva La Vida". My usual trip to work always cheers me up. It's the same everyday but everyday I discover something new. At this hour the streets of Weimar are already alive and wide awake.

This is a bicycle town and regardless of the weather there are always a multitude of bicycles criss-crossing their way through their separate bicycle paths. I love watching the different characters pedaling away to their destinations.

A small group of school boys with their stylish BMX bikes race down the paths, laughing and joking, there is that business man, with his fine suit and tie fluttering in the crisp air, here comes that guy who probably chain smokes all day with his trusted cigarette tucked between the corner of his mouth and behind me I see that pimped up chick who probably has been teleported from the 80's! Finally my favorite of the day a mother with her four kids cross the street in front of me. She pedals her bike, with one of the younger ones sitting in the seat behind her, pulling a trailer with a further two toddlers, next to her, her eldest proudly perched on his own bike. It reminds me of a family of ducks crossing the street.

Weimar is in full swing already. I wonder how they all start their day. Are they the types to jump into the shower and rush out or do they prefer a nice long breakfast?

I am the type who enjoys the start of the day with a good power breakfast and some time with my family before we head off to our days. Before Soeren came along I was not like that though. Tom and I would enjoy a breakfast but it was a quick yogurt or a dry piece of toast with coffee. By mid-morning though our stomachs would be grumbling with us and while at work we grabbed the next nearest filling food - cookies, sweet buns etc.

With Soeren came also a whole new look into our nutrition and eating habits. If we were going to preach good eating habits we had to live by them too. Today we sit down together and enjoy a healthy and filling breakfast. A breakfast that will not have us craving food within an hour, instead keep us filled till lunch time and give us enough energy to tackle our hectic school or work schedule.

I do not have to go into the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day - we all know that. There is a great proverb here in Germany, which touches the right note on how one should set their meals throughout the day:

"Eat like a king in the morning, a prince in the afternoon and like a beggar in the evenings."

With this is mind we orient ourselves to a good big breakfast in the mornings, a light healthy lunch and a small dinner. It works!     

My favorite breakfast is a mixture of organic wholegrain - rye, barley, spelt and oat flakes, cooked in milk until soft then sweetened with maple syrup and spiced with a touch of cinnamon. If using dried fruit I normally add them in the milk while cooking the flakes, which causes them to plump up and become juicy. Finally add a handful of nuts and some additional milk. All you now need is a spoon!

What's For Lunch, Honey? is celebrating it's 3rd anniversary. I started this humble blog in February 2006, with this first post. Since then there was no stopping me! In three years I learned how to fight my way through HTML and CSS jungle, learned what DoF and Bouquet meant in photography, dared to become a baker, experimented with unorthodox tastes and played around with flavor combinations. It's been a great fun-filled path.

Almost 500 posts, 1.4 million visitors and a few exciting mentions and awards later I am here today to say thank you to you! Without you motivating me through each post I am sure this space would not be so full of life as it is today. These three years have given me not only so much knowledge and insight into the Foodie world but also has bestowed upon me great friendships too. Thank you for making What's For Lunch, Honey? a place full of pizzazz, fun and life!

Many celebrate with cake but I would like you to join me for a power breakfast of a different type. After featuring Goji Berries as the latest in my Food Guide, I thought I would show you one of my favorite ways to enjoy these power foods. I normally prepare the basic porridge the night before so the flakes soak up the milk and flavors overnight. In the morning I add a splash of warm milk, cashews and if desired fresh fruit.

Recipe: Wholegrain Porridge with Goji Berries and Cashews

Ingredients
Printable version of recipe here.

Makes enough for 3-4 servings

1 cup organic mixed wholegrain flakes, I used a mixture of rye, barley, oats and spelt
2 cups + 2 cups low-fat milk
1 tablespoon organic maple syrup
Good shake of cinnamon
1/2 cup dried Goji Berries
1/4 cup cashews, chopped

Method

1. In a small saucepan add the mixed wholegrain flakes, 2 cups milk, cinnamon and maple syrup. On medium heat bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
   
   
2. Reduce heat, then add the goji berries. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Leave to soak overnight.
   
   
3. Next morning heat up 2 cups of milk. Divide the wholegrain porridge into three bowls and pour warm milk over the porridge. Sprinkle with cashews.

Serving tips:

• You can add some toasted sugar-free granola for a nice crunch.
• Bittersweet chocolate chips make a great chocolaty treat.
• Dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, figs or dates all offer a fantastic variety for a different flavor.
• Use pecans, pistachios or macadamia nuts for more nutty variety.
• Throw in a handful of toasted seeds like flax, sunflower or pumpkin.
  

 

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Verdict

You can add any type of dried or fresh fruits and nuts that takes up your fancy. We love our goji berries and cashews in this porridge as the flavors just fit together so perfectly. Only sweetened with a dash of maple syrup this makes it a perfect alternative to other pre-packaged and sweetened cereals. The multi-grain porridge keeps us satisfied and our energy at a balanced level throughout the morning. I normally round up my breakfast with half a grapefruit and a cup of coffee. Ready to face the day with such a fantastic start!

Join me this whole week as I celebrate 3 years What's For Lunch, Honey? with cake and ice-cream and more cake! You are all invited - so make sure you'll be there!

Hugs!

You might like these breakfast treats from WFLH:

Nutty Amaranth Granola with Fresh Berries	Sweet Spiced Risotto with Cherry Compote	Apricot Olive Oil Tea Cakes

Breakfast ideas from around the blogs:

• Eggs Benedict - The Knead For Bread
• Double Blueberry Crisp Bars - Breakfast at Banjo's
• Breakfast Quinoa with Clementines, Sour Cherries and Pecans - Mostly Eating

Daily Tiffin Reading Tip:

• Waste: The Demon of Despair written by Deeba

 

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