Who Killed the Corn Flakes?

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.

RHYS BOWEN: You pipped me to this topic, Hank!

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! 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: So how about you, Reds? Has your relationship with cereal...changed?   

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