Comments on: What’s Cooking Wednesday: Oatmeal

By: michelle

michelle — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:11:19 +0000

Hi Lily, you won’t have any trouble finding oats in grocery stores in Florence, from what I hear — it’s still difficult for me down here in Calabria, but the cities are very well stocked these days In bocca al lupo!

By: lily v

lily v — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:38:59 +0000

hi there,

I also share a deep seeded love for oats! I will be studying in Florence Italy for the next two months and it had not occurred to me that I wouldn’t be able to buy oats here. As this was updated a few years ago, I was wondering if anyone had any developments on where to find oats in Italy (Florence specifically if possible)?

Any suggestions much appreciated!

By: helena

helena — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:23:00 +0000

I’m a journalist – acting foreign editor on occasions – and screeds on Perugia came thru yesterday. Cases like this get a lot of international coverage and interest. We all hope that young people/students studying far from home are safe. That could be us or our loved ones. When the worst happens, it feels a bit close. We have a similarly distressing case involving foreign students here in Australia, which occurred several days ago.

I hadn’t heard about the Australian case. Can’t imagine the nightmares the parents of these students are living

By: helena

helena — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:04:09 +0000

There’s nothing in the fridge for dinner and I’ve finished the wonderful Sicilian anchovies on olive bread…our local Greek baker is a genius…so it’s oatmeal for dinner…yes, that’s weird but I’ve had such a gruelling day at work – Perugia murder case and all – super fast comfort food is all I can manage, so I’ll add some raisins and cinnamon and a drizzle of honey, then run a hot bath and go sit in it and eat the hot oatmeal.

That sounds lovely to me actually; I love all breakfast foods for dinner…something so comforting about it.

Are you writing about the Perugia case? I just got finished reading the Corriere della Sera article; I’ve been following it closely as well, although just as a personal interest from my legal background (and interest in Italy, of course).

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:02:42 +0000

Okay, so I’m up here in Milan, which is a “particular” place, and not technically on the peninsula, but I have been able to track down some important expat foods here and in Florence.

Brown Sugar
My friend found some at the very expensive American imported food store, along with condensed milk, but I one-upped her by getting a bag of the good stuff at COOP. I haven’t baked with it because of the Baking Powder Mystery.

Peanut Butter
Yes, it is around 5€ a jar at a regular supermercato, but if you pick it up at an Asian (usually Chinese, but sometimes Korean) market, it costs less than 2€. Note: Please don’t attempt to make your own peanut butter with a mortar and pestle. It’s a lot easier just to open a bottle of wine and read the blogs…

Cardamom
While you’re picking up your Peanut Butter at an obscenely low price and marveling at all the translations (Erdnusscreme Mit Erdnussstückchen!), you can find some of that cardamom, usually in the shell, or “coat” or something, in a little plastic packet next to the other bagged spices. Now is the right time to bring out the mortar and pestle.

Powdered Milk
Yes, you can find powdered milk at COOP, EsseLunga, etc., but for 20€ a can! Instead, double-check while you’re still at the aforementioned Asian Market. Not all of them carry PM, but some do and at a much more reasonable 7€ for a can of the same size. Because PM is usually only given to babies as formula, the inflated prices are connected to some sort of European price-fixing scandal I read about somewhere.

Now where can I find the thrift stores?

Thanks for all your suggestions Melissa–particularly the warning on the peanut butter. Believe me, I wasn’t about to make any–my JIF is flown in from the US thankyouverymuch (Same with my brown sugar.)

The baking powder mystery? Yeah I have that shipped in too, but they tell me that “lievito per dolci” is just baking powder with vanilla added, so that a bustina equals about a teaspoon (and leave out the vanilla if your recipe calls for vanilla). More info at Expats in Italy.

As for my local Asian market, sorry to say, we don’t have one–not even within an hour radius, probably even farther than that. We have a good number of Chinese people around, though, so hopefully they’ll start bringing some of their goods in and putting them up for sale for the rest of us.

I *thought* I saw cardamom when I was in Palermo, though, and then I looked closer and had just misread the bag…so close!

That said, Palermo *did* have thrift stores! Closed when we walked by, but there were at least 2 right on the main drag–one of which had a big American flag painted on the front of it b/c obviously thrift stores are American. Thought to take a photo and then didn’t, but it was hilarious

By: jody

jody — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:00:05 +0000

I like mine the way you make it. I do add some cinnamon to it as well.

Jody, you’ve made me come back to this post, and guess what…now I’m hungry for oatmeal Thanks for commenting!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:14:02 +0000

I recently discovered steel cut oatmeal and I have been enjoying it a lot recently.

Kevin’s last blog post..Shrimp Tom Yum Goong Soup

Another vote for steel cut! Thanks Kevin

By: nyjlm

nyjlm — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:33:07 +0000

I had some really great oatmeal last week- I added some slivered almonds and craisins. Growing up we always had it with butter, a splash of milk, and brown sugar. That way is still mmmm yummy! nyjlm's last blog post..Preparations My mom just sent me some craisins--so tasty!

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:28:30 +0000

Best of all, you can cook the steel cut oats in the crockpot overnight, which saves tons of time in the morning! For instructions on cooking them in the crockpot, go here: Let it Snow Let us Slow LaDonna's last blog post..Quick–I Need Your Recipes! Thanks so much for the link! Mmmmm....

By: cheeky

cheeky — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:13:52 +0000

I *heart* oatmeal and always have. My step children are against it, exclaiming “Ewwee, porridge!” They haven’t the faintest idea of how good it actually tastes. I’m always encouraging them to try things and low and behold, they end up saying “mmhhh” rather than “ewwe”!
I grew up with oatmeal on the stovetop daily. My gran’s was always the best. Creamy and good. We ate it with honey and milk. Brown sugar too. I’m not a fan of raisins in other foods, generally speaking, but I do love raisins. I think I prefer them uncooked out of the box. Hers had raisins. I love brown sugar and do put more on than I should but I love the taste. It is not a weird combination for me to have fresh orange with oatmeal. More fiber! Fresh orange is absolutely my favorite drink and my beverage of choice in the morning, even if it’s snowing! Yeah to oatmeal. (I also love semolina (cream of wheat) although not healthy like the oats.
I hope “P” comes ’round and realise how good it actually is, and how good he’ll feel to eat brekkie.

Ciao Bella! Your feelings about raisins are kind of how I feel about nuts–I love them eaten by themselves, but I don’t tend to like them *in* things except, maybe, some cookies. I like the idea of them in oatmeal, but I know I would like that surprise crunch. I know–weird!

Also, oatmeal and orange juice forever!!!

cheeky’s last blog post..A Sign of Promise