HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: When was the last time
you had cereal? I was thinking about it the other day when Jonathan lugged his
super-size box of Cheerios to the office.
How long had it been since I had cereal? I can’t even remember…
I used to
LOVE Rice Krispies, I remember how they get all nice and soggy, especially with bananas, and how the nice
sugar I sprinkled on top melted into the milk, Raisin Bran, too, with the nice
chewy raisins and the soggy flakes (I was never big on crunchy) and the, um,
sugar melting into the milk.
I was
more a Shredded Wheat girl (bananas and sugar) than Lucky Charms, and I never,
even as a kid, liked the chocolate or marshmallows or fruity stuff.
I did go through a Frosted Flake phase, but
that was in college, and we would eat them dry, like sweet potato chips. (Not
sweet-potato chips, that’s a different blog.) And of course oatmeal, but that’s
not the same. (Is it?)
And
then—because I guess there’s a zeitgeist-- I started seeing articles about some study that said cereal manufacturers were
panicking, because people were not eating cereal any more!
(I mean,
it’s not a disaster. But a 13 Billion dollar industry is down to 10 Billion.
It’s a slippery slope.)
And being a mystery author, I thought: Cereal
Killers.
According
to the articles, the mystery of the cereal killer is solved. Apparently it’s
gluten-free diets, low carb diets, paleo diets, high-sugar content and our busy
schedules. The people who eat
breakfast are chomping on granola bars or yogurt. Or fast food. And millennials,
says the study, don’t eat a traditional breakfast because they “snack all day.”
Whatever.
So reds,
do you eat cereal? Do you miss it? What are your faves?
HALLIE EPHRON: I do eat cereal. I buy healthy tasteless brands which grow bugs and I
throw away; I eat Raisin Bran and homemade granola, Lucy's recipe. Delicious. And
I'm a big one for banana with cereal, too. Also oatmeal and browns sugar. Yum.
Nothing better on a frosty morning.
HANK:
What's pipped?
RHYS:
It's a bloody English expression! Pipped
at the post--from horse racing, I believe, meaning just got there first. I was
planning to do a post on rediscovering Cheerios! We're obviously on the same
wavelength.
HANK: SO
funny! Yeah, there's a zeitgeist. Proof! Anyway, you were saying, Rhys?
RHYS: I
had grandkids to stay this summer and found a box of Cheerios in the pantry the
other day. There was no other cereal so I ate a bowl--and really enjoyed it.
How long since I've eaten Cheerios? Well, never, except for the odd one when I
was feeding infants. I'm not a huge cereal fan. Sometimes Special K, sometimes
Shredded wheat, but I do like hot Wheetabix on a winter morning (English cereal
biscuit thingie)
 |
| Weetabix. Ah, yeah. |
HANK: I just have to say. I wondered--what's a Weetabix? And here are two, above. Don't they look totally yummy? Yeesh. Sorry, Rhys. You were saying?
RHYS: ...and I do like oatmeal. Did you know that Starbucks makes
oatmeal with nuts and raisins. It's my go-to breakfast when I have an early
morning flight. Oh, and I must have
banana and berries when I eat cereal.
SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: I don't like cold cereal. I just don't get it, really. But I
don't really love breakfast in general.
However,
like Rhys, I think oatmeal can be pretty amazing on a cold morning. We buy the
packaged stuff, and Miss Edna likes the cinnamon and spice and apples and
cinnamon flavors, and I like the brown sugar and maple flavor. (You can tell we
buy the instant packet stuff, huh?)
DEBORAH CROMBIE: For years I had a soft-boiled egg and whole wheat toast for breakfast
every morning. How British! I never ate cereal, not as a child, not even as an
adult in Britain where cereal is merely the first course in a B&B proper
breakfast. But the last couple of years I never seem to have time for the
five-minute egg (three minutes only works if the eggs are room temp, so beware)
and toast, so I've become a granola eater. Healthy granola, mind you, half a
cup with plain yogurt and a splash of milk. Bird seed...
 |
| Frosted MIni-Wheats! |
Hubby
eats Frosted Mini Wheats, and packaged oatmeal. I like my oatmeal steel cut,
still slightly chewy, with a sprinkle of brown sugar. That sounds fabulous--it
must be fall!
LUCY BURDETTE: Every morning Hank! I've become addicted to Barbara's Morning Oat
Crunch, with blueberries or peaches added if they are in season. I get upset if
I don't have 3 or 4 extra boxes lined up in the cupboard in case the
supermarket runs out or doesn't carry it. Although for special occasions, as
Hallie mentioned, I do make darned good granola.
http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2012/06/lucy-burdettes-good-for-anything.html
 |
| Barbara's Oat Crunch |
Oh and I
am not averse to eating that same cereal for dinner if it's late and I'm too
tired to cook--and if John's away. He absolutely refuses to consider cereal for
supper...
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I've spent years forcing
oatmeal down my children's throats (so healthy and nutritious) but my secret is
out - I can't stand it myself. Yes, I've tried steel-cut and fine cut and rough
cut and finally I just had to cut it out. Ugh. If you're not introduced to it
by age two, it will never taste like anything except podgy pale wallpaper paste
(sweetened with brown sugar.)
I do like cereal, though. I went for several
years as a child where ALL I would eat for breakfast was Cap'n Crunch.
(Confession: I tried a handfull dried a couple years back and it was fabulous.
It's like golden, wheat-based crack.) Ross and I get Raison Bran with Granola,
and I love other chewy, granola-y cereals, so I'm, going to try Lucy's recipe!
