Simple Breakfast Porridge

We love a good whole grain for breakfast--especially on cold mornings. The nice thing about this breakfast is that you can use leftover grains (variation 1) or cook it the night before and leave it on the stove to warm in the morning (variation 2). Easy, breezy--that's what I like for breakfast!

Variation 1
1-2 cups leftover cooked brown rice (or any leftover grain)
~2 T rolled oats (optional)
~2 T water
Toppings of choice*

Put everything in a pot over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes or so until oats are cooked. Add toppings.*

Variation 2
1 cup whole grain (quinoa, oats, brown rice)
~2 cups water (add a little more if you like it creamy)

Put grain and water in pot with tight fitting lid and bring to a boil. Turn heat off and leave pot on stove overnight. Warm in the morning and add toppings.*

*Topping suggestions--experiment and find your favorite combination:

• Sweeteners--local honey, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, dried fruit,  fresh fruit (especially berries), crystallized ginger
• Crunchy--nuts & seeds & nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower)
• Spices--cinnamon, ginger
• Other--flax meal, wheat germ, miso
• Unusual combo--just to spice things up, try steamed veggies and greens drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with gomasio