• dash salt
• 2 1/4 c water
• 1 c rolled oats or other rolled or flaked grain (wheat, rye, quinoa, millet, kamut, brown rice flakes)
• butter to taste
• salt
• sweetener (maple syrup, sugar, brown sugar, honey)
• milk or cream

1. Combine water, oats, and salt in small pan on high heat.
2. When water boils, turn heat to low.
3. Cook, stirring, till water is just absorbed = 5 minutes.
4. Add butter, cover, and turn heat off.
5. Let sit 5 minutes, then uncover and stir.
6. Add any other ingredients.

*Ideas for additions:

• ground spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cardamom, anise)
• chopped dried fruit
• chopped nuts and/or seeds
• fresh fruit, chopped or sliced if necessary (apples, bananas, strawberries, apricots, peaches, blueberries, cherries, raspberries)
• jam, jelly, marmalade, or preserves
• shredded toasted coconut
• granola
• grated cheese
• chopped hard-boiled egg
• poached egg (or crack an egg into simmering mixture during last 3-5 minutes of cooking)