Oats special's.............

Dates and oat meal porridge
Deseed, chop and coarsely grind dates and store in the refridgerator.

Toast a couple of handfuls of almonds in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes. Store. (this is your weekend preparation)

Prepare your oatmeal the regular way. that is boil a tumblerful of water, add 1/2 cup of oatmeal. stir cook till it cooks to a thick , pourable consistency ( about 2-3 mts). Add 1/2 cup of skimmed milk, and a generous helping of the dates mixture. take off flame , top with a few toasted almonds. Fruits are optional.


Oats dosa
Instant Oats - 1 cup
Rice flour - 1/2 cup
Semolina (Rava/sooji) - 1/2 cup
Sour buttermilk - 1/2 cup
Ginger, green chillies, onions - 1 cup (finely chopped)
Salt to taste

Mix all the flours together and add the buttermilk. Add sufficient water to make a thick batter. Let stand for an hour. Add the finely chopped ginger, green chillies and onions and salt.Season the hot dosa pan with gingelly oil and pour dosas of medium thickness. Cook till both sides are done. Serve with mint chutney


Wholesome Oats upma
1) Oats - 1 cup
2) Finely chopped assorted vegetables - 2 cups (onions, carrots, beans, green peas, sweet corn, mushrooms etc)
3)White broad beans/paneer/chicken fillets - 1/2 cup (you can choose any one these based on your preference, this adds the protien part to the dish)
- If you opt for the white broad beans soak for about 3 hrs and pressure cook for 4 whistles. drain all water.
- If you opt for paneer, dip in chilled water for 2 minutes and cut into cubes- If you opt for chicken fillets, cut them into strips and saute them in a teaspoon of oil till the meat turns a white opaque colour.

4)chopped Green chillies - 3
5)chopped ginger - 1 teaspoon
6) Kashmiri chillie powder - 1 teaspoon
7) Garam masala or kitchen king masala - 1/4 teaspoon

Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet , add the ginger, green chillies and saute. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook till 3/4th done. Add the broad beans/chicken/paneer and saute for 2 mts. Add the oats. sprinkle water and cook covered for a minute on low flame. Add the chilie powder and garam masala. Add salt to taste. Stir fry till oats is cooked (about 2 minutes) sprinkling more water if necessary)PS: Its important to just sprinkle water. If you pour as you would for regular sooji (semolina), this upma becomes soggy and porridge like.