The Perfect Bowl of Oatmeal; Or, Amasake to Me

After some trial and error, I landed upon the perfect bowl of oatmeal this morning. You have to use the 5-minute cooking oats--The instant packets have little texture or flavor and aren't as filling.

For one serving:

1. Bring 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt to a boil.
2. Stir in 1/2 cup oatmeal and a little maple syrup. REAL maple syrup, from actual trees; not that Vermont Cabin Log Maid crap.
3. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring now and again.
4. When the oatmeal is cooked, pour on some amasake.
5. Enjoy with a cup of Twinings Jasmine Green Tea with a little dandelion tincture stirred in.

What is this amasake, you ask? (Of course, Lah and Charlie aren't asking. I'm sure they knew about this nectar of the gods long before I did.) Amasake is a cultured beverage made of brown rice, beloved of macrobiotics everywhere. It has a delightful milky consistency without the heaviness of milk or soy milk. Here, read for yourself.

On a related note, our precocious honors-student kitty, who normally turns up his little pink nose at all people food, will lick clean the leftover amasake out of my bowl. Who knew Noah was a macrobiotic feline.