positively perfect porridge.

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Well, well, well, look at what I found today!  Would you believe I just happened upon Libby's canned pumpkin in the regular grocery store?  For those of you just tuning in, they don't sell Libby's here, they don't even sell true pumpkin here, just lots of butternut squash masquerading as pumpkin.  If you want a can of Libby's you usually have to pick it up from a store specialising in American food, of which there are absolutely zero in Wellington.  There is a store up in Auckland, but they are asking $6 for one 15 oz can, plus shipping!  I decided that I could suck it up and attempt a butternut squash pie to soothe my autumn cravings, but now I don't have to.  The best part?  We picked these bad boys up for just $4.99 each.


It's interesting looking at the International section and seeing what your fellow American's clearly miss from the homeland.  Other foods for sale included cans of Cherry Coke, Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce, Solo Marshmallow creame (a brand of marshmallow fluff I have never even heard of before), and rootbeer and Poptarts, both of which were completely sold out.  Some of the selections I could understand, but New Zealand has a large variety of BBQ sauces to choose from and I have picked up Marshmallow Fluff brand in the regular baking section of my usual grocery store.  What I have yet to see on any store shelves, Chips Ahoy.  Based upon Expat forums, I have been lead to believe this is the most-missed food from America.

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While you are going to have to wait a bit longer for a pumpkin recipe, never fear, I have a nice cold-weather recipe to tide you over.

I have never been one for porridge.  I love the way it smells, okay, really I probably just love the smell of cinnamon and brown sugar, but that consistency, blegh!  It never mattered if it was instant or homemade, I'm just not a porridge girl.  That is, I wasn't until NZ Hoopfest.  The first day the kitchen served up a porridge that was the talk of the fest.  I ate breakfast before they put it out, and due to my prior feelings about porridge I likely wouldn't have given it a try anyway, but throughout the day I kept hearing how amazing it was.  The next day, I decided to give it a shot, one tiny little spoonful and oh my, it was delicious!  I went back for a bowl and devoured the whole thing.  Now the recipe is here for all to enjoy, hooper or no.

Positively Perfect Porridge
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 Bramley apple*
2 tsp sugar
2 Tbsp raisins
1/4 cup oats (not instant)
7 fl oz coconut milk

cinnamon to taste
brown sugar to taste

*It is very important to use a Bramley apple, as it gives the best flavour. 

1. Peel and slice the Bramley apple.

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the apple and fry for approximately 3 minutes, or until soft.

3. Add in the sugar, making sure to coat the apples, and cook for a minute longer.



4. Add in the raisins, oats, cinnamon, and coconut milk.  Simmer until smooth and consistent throughout, stirring often to prevent burning.  You can add more coconut milk if like a runnier consistency.

5.  Spoon into a bowl and serve with brown sugar sprinkled on top.

Adapted from BBC


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