Five Grain Cereal with Dried Fruit

For Day 2 of BM# 16 I made this healthy and delicious 5-grain cereal with dried fruits. We just came back from our vacation to Disney World in Orlando, Florida and I can't seem to forget the oats that I ate for breakfast in the resort for almost everyday. It was just simple cooked oats and they would add your favorite toppings on it -- either fresh berries/ dried fruits/ nuts etc. It was very filling and would keep me going until afternoon.

So when we got back I wanted to make something similar but more hearty and healthy. I found the recipe for this 5-grain cereal in "Cooking Light - Way to Cook Vegetarian" cookbook. Recipe makes about 10-12 servings, I made me a whole batch and stored it in an air tight container in the fridge, this way I can make my bowl of cereal whenever I feel like it.

Ingredients:

Steel Cut Oats - 1¼cups
Cracked Wheat - ½cup
Regular Grits - ½cup
Oat bran - ½cup
Wheat bran - 1/3 cup
Flax seed - 1/3 cup
Salt - ¾tsp
Dried Fruits - total of 2 cups. Use whatever you like or have. I had a bag of tropical flavored dried fruits with dried papaya, pineapple, banana and coconut. I also added some golden raisins. Coarsely chop all the big pieces of fruit.
Sweetener of Choice - as per taste (optional)  (I use agave nectar or maple syrup to sweeten my cereal)

Method:

• Combine all the ingredients and store in an air tight container in the fridge and use as needed.
• To make the Cereal: For each serving, add ½ cup dry cereal mix to 1½ cups of water. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Add cereal; cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Uncover and cook for 2 minutes or until thick, stir constantly. Stir in the sweetener (if using) and  serve immediately.

 

Let’s check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked up for Day 2 of BM# 16.