Cereal Grains

Corn Meal and Oatmeal

In The Searchlight cook book one can find recipes for cereal grains. Many people today have forgotten how to make some of these foods. I am going to focus on corn and oatmeal since these are widely consumed foods in our culture. Try to buy only organic corn as 90% of all corn and corn products in the USA are GMO. Steel cut or old fashioned oatmeal is the best for you.

Corn Meal Mush

1/2 cup corn meal
 2 3/4 cups boiling water
3/4 sp. salt

Sprinkle cornmeal, stirring rapidly, into rapidly boiling water. Add salt. Cook thrity minutes over direct heat, or over hot water in double boiler one hour.

Fried Mush

Prepare corn meal mush. Pour while hot into pan or mold which has been rinsed with cold water. Smooth the surface of mush. Cool until firm. Cut into 3/4" slices. Brown in hot fat. This is the same mush sold in stores except this is fresher and better for you as there are no preservatives. Serve with warmed syrup or however you enjoy your fried mush. Also serve with bacon or sausage on the side.

Oatmeal Gruel

1/4 cup rolled or flaked oats
4 cups boiling water

Slowly sprinkle cereal into rapidly boiling water. Boil rapidly, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Strain. This is good for those who are ill and need something nourishing, but who cannot tolerate solid foods.

Oatmeal Patties

Leftover oatmeal may be packed into a one pound can and stored in the refrigerator until needed. Remove oatmeal from mold, cut into 1/2" slices, and fry in hot cooking fat until well-browned on both sides. Serve with hot sausage and syrup.