Chocolate Porridge

Chocolate Porridge is the perfect union of simple and indulgent. Transform humble oats into something luxurious with cocoa powder, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It's gonna be an awesome morning.

What's your morning routine like? Is it slow and luxurious, filled with meditation, journaling, and quiet contemplation? Or is it a bit more frantic? Are you pressing snooze seven times before you finally realize that you need to throw clothes on your body and get in the car? Are you hurriedly trying to apply mascara in the rearview mirror and cursing yourself for not packing a lunch yet again?

I'd say mine's somewhere in between, but I'd definitely like it to be that gentle and nurturing morning that sets you up to feel truly awesome. I'd love to sip my tea in front of a big window that looks out onto the woods, pen in hand and inspiration flowing. I would also love to cook myself a delicious breakfast every morning and actually sit down and take my time eating. Instead, I'm usually stuffing a granola bar in my face between meetings at work. Still, it's important to know what you want before you can manifest it.

What makes Chocolate Porridge so awesome?

Wanna know what makes this awesome? It's chocolate, obviously. But more than that, I love that this recipe is extremely simple to make, and you can easily make it for just one person or multiply the recipe to feed a few. Homemade porridge or oatmeal is way better than the instant version. The oats aren't broken down as much, so you get a much heartier texture. Plus, it only takes a few extra minutes beyond what you'd throw in the microwave. True, you probably can't make it at the office, but when you're ready to enjoy your morning, this is what you want.

The addition of cocoa powder just makes the whole thing insanely delicious. I also still add my usual cinnamon and brown sugar to deepen the flavor and add sweetness. Remember, cocoa powder isn't sweetened, so unless your tolerance for bitterness is through the roof, you'll definitely need to sweeten this somehow. To make it extra special, add in some fresh fruit if you happen to have some. It's just extra credit.

Magical Properties of Oats

As with any staple grain, oats have a long history in mythology and magical practices. This grain can call in the energy of stability, endurance, and persistence. They're also great for house magic and can be used in spells for happiness, friendship, family matters, and spiritual growth. I associate oats with wholesomeness, so I'd use them to invoke a grounded contendedness and abundance. (Source: Witchcrafted Life)

For more on the magical properties of chocolate and other ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Tips for making Chocolate Porridge

The important thing to know about making porridge is that you need twice as much liquid as oats. The other important thing to know is that you don't need to be too precise. You can easily adjust the consistency by adding a bit more of this or that if you really need to.

Basically we start with a half cup of water and a half cup of milk. You could use all milk if you wanted a richer porridge. We'll also whisk in a pinch of salt, a pinch of cinnamon, and a tablespoon of cocoa powder. Bring that to a simmer, and as soon as you see bubbles, add your oats. Then you just let that bubble away over low heat, stirring frequently, until it's thickened. Turn the heat off while you still think it's a bit too thin because it will continue to thicken as it cools. Stir in a tablespoon or two of brown sugar until it's as sweet as you like. You could also sweeten this with maple syrup or honey if you prefer.

Not every morning can be gloriously relaxing, but when they can, we should make the most of them. I think a bowl of Chocolate Porridge will get you off to a great start.

Looking for more awesome breakfast ideas? Try this Black Pudding Hash or some Savoury Sausage Bread Pudding.

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Recipe adapted from We Made This Life.