I made fried oatmeal this morning.

[Cassandra]

I had some leftover McCann's, cut a slab, dusted it with some wheat germ, fried in a bit of butter and topped with raisins, powdered maple and nonfat yogurt. It was ok but I have a question; why doesn't oatmeal ever taste like oatmeal cookies? If it did, I'd eat it more often.

[Warpy]

1. Short answer: fat, spices, and the Maillard reaction

all of which combine to give the cookies that toasty, sweet, spicy, chewy texture and flavor.

What you made was sort of a poor man's bannock.

Most cooked grains can be made into patties and fried. I especially like using cooked millet as a base for all sorts of savory "burgers."

[Cassandra]

2. Thanks.

I wasn't expecting it to be exactly like cookies but I was hoping it would be a bit closer.

[Duer 157099]

3. I once had some leftover cooked oatmeal

it was the steelcut kind, and had been cooked al dente. I was making cookies and figured I'd *health* them up by throwing in the cooked oats.

I actually liked the result. It cut the sweetness of the cookies, and added a different kind of chewiness. The cookies already had chocolate chips, raisens and dried cranberries in them.

[hippywife]

4. I wonder if

the raisins had been plumped and mixed into the oatmeal before frying they would have released a little more of their sweetness into the cakes?

[mtnester]

5. I had mush last Sunday

fried up in a TOUCH of butter until it was golden brown. Deargod it was good. A staple I had not had since kindergarten (40+ years ago)

[housewolf]

6. Might be a difference in the amount of sugar

Cookies have a lot of sugar in them and butter too. To my taste, cooked oats and other grains are much improved by the addition of some sugar (especially brown sugar) and butter. And, 'course, salt.

[Cassandra]

7. I'm on Weight Watchers so I'm trying to limit the sugar...

additions but I'll make some adjustments and see what happens.

[malta blue]

8. try the splenda brown sugar.

I use it to make my oatmeal all the time. Plus, I add a dab of butter to it as well..

[Arkansas Granny]

9. This recipe for baked oatmeal tastes like oatmeal cookies.

Baked Oatmeal

1 1/4 c. oil
2 1/2 c. milk
2 1/2 c. sugar (brown or white)
5 eggs, beaten
7 1/2 c. oatmeal
5 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 tsp. salt
Cinnamon

Optional: Add raisins or other dried fruits and/or chopped nuts for added flavor.

Cream together sugar, oil, and eggs. Add oatmeal, baking powder, salt, milk, and cinnamon. Put in 9 x 13 inch pan that has been greased. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

You can cut the ingredients in half and bake in an 8 inch square pan. The first time I made this I was expecting a cake-like result. I thought I had really messed up, but scoop some out in a bowl and add milk or cream and it is delicious. Leftovers reheat nicely in the microwave.

[Cassandra]

10. I think the calorie count would be frightening but...

thanks anyway. I took more of my leftovers, put it in the pot with a bit of milk, a sliced banana, a few dried blueberries, some cinnamon sugar, and after is was hot, drizzled a bit of agave syrup on it and toped with nonfat greek yogurt. It was pretty good. I'm going to try the last of the leftovers with some pumpkin butter stirred in and maybe some dried cranberries.

[yellowdogintexas]

11. I eat Silver Palate Thick and Rough, every day. I have lost 60 pounds on WW

this is my staple breakfast. 1/2 cup dry oatmeal, 1 tsp xtra lite olive oil, salt, 2 tsp brown sugar. Microwaved. 4 points.