Recipes with Julie Van Rosendaal: Ways to spice up your hot cereal this winter | CBC News (2024)

Julie Van Rosendaal · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 23, 2022 8:12 PM EST | Last Updated: November 24, 2022

Red River cereal is back! The hot cereal, made with a blend of cracked wheat,ryeandflaxseed, was first created in Manitoba in 1924and named for theriver valley surroundingWinnipeg.

Red River ceased distribution in Canada near the beginning of the pandemicand then production ceased entirely. But then, in June of 2022, Arva Flour Mills—North America's oldest continuously operating commercial flour mill, situated just north of London, Ont.—acquired the Red River brand from Smucker Foods.

The mill is in the process of acquiring a hammer mill to crack the wheat, rye and flax in order to restore the cereal to its original texture.

Fans of these coarse, grainy porridges also love Sunny Boy, similarly made ofwheat, ryeand flax, and produced in Camrose, Alta., since 1926.

• Bookmarkcbc.ca/juliesrecipesto keep up with all of Julie Van Rosendaal's dishes.

Highwood Crossing in High River also has a locally made (and grown) hot cereal. Power Grains is not like Red River and Sunny Boy. It's a delicious blend of organic oats, millet, flax and sunflower seed.

Of course, it's not just for breakfast.

We spoke about a few ways to mix up your use of hot cereal on the Calgary Eyeopener this week.

LISTEN | Julie Van Rosendaal explains why she loves hot cereal:

You can make hot cereal savoury by simmering it with stock and garlic, and perhaps a parmesan rind.Add grains and water to the pot after sautéing a shallot in some butter or oil, and stir in any leftover cooked veggies you have.

A small handful is also a great addition to soup. The finer bits will thicken the stock slightly, and you'll get some texture from the larger cracked grains.

And if you have any leftover cooked porridge, you can always slice and fry it in butter, or turn it into bread, muffins, pancakes or waffles.

If you don't have leftovers, you can begin by soaking your Red River or Sunny Boy in some milk (or even boiling water) to soften.

Red River or Sunny Boy Muffins

Grainy Red River and Sunny Boy makes excellent muffins, whether you have leftover cooked porridge or need to soak some to start.

If you have some leftover, anywhere from one to two cups will work fine.

Ingredients

• ¾cup Red River or Sunny Boy cereal
• 1½cups milk or buttermilk (any kind,I used oat milk)
• ¾cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup canola or other vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1½cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• a shake of cinnamon (optional)
• ½tsp fine salt
• ½ - ¾cup raisins, chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional)
• coarse sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Put the Red River or Sunny Boy into a large bowl, pour over the milk and let stand for an houror overnight (warm up the milk to speed things up if you're in a hurry).

Stir in the brown sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla.

Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and stir just until combined.

Stir in the raisins (or chocolate chips, or nuts).

Line a muffin tin with paper liners and fill them to the top (even overflowing a little, if the batter isn't too runny).

Bake for 20 minutes, until domed and springy to the touch.

Makes about a dozen muffins.

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