Few things are more satisfying in the morning than a warm bowl of oatmeal. But we’ve found a few—whole grain cereals made entirely from scratch in your Vitamix machine. Not only do freshly milled grains have more fiber and more naturally occurring vitamins, they also taste fresher. And the Vitamix offers the ability to create “designer” cereal combinations that you can’t find in your grocery aisle.
If you’re planning to mill whole grains only occasionally, you may use your standard Vitamix container, but we recommend the Dry Grains Container if you plan to mill on a regular basis.
- Applelicious Whole Grain Cereal: The natural pairing of cinnamon and apples (made twice as nice by using both apple cider and fresh apples) makes this blend of cracked wheat and rice one to savor.
- Apricot Brown Rice Cereal: Here, the concentrated sweetness of dried apricots complements the toasty goodness of toasted rice in a cereal that will wake you up in no time!
- Apple-Raisin Cracked Wheat Cereal: Apple meets raisin in this cracked wheat cornucopia, and it’s a win-win result.
- Brown Rice Grits: Who knew that the old familiar cornmeal grits had this exotic cousin? Serve topped with fresh fruit or maple syrup - creamy and irresistible!
- Creamy Rice Cereal: You control the speed and length of the grind, so even the youngest members of the family can enjoy home-ground, whole grain cereal in the morning. When it’s time to start your baby on cereals, make this all-natural cereal. Later, add fruit for variety.
Helpful Hints & Tips When Making Whole-Grain Cereals:
- Grinding 2 cups (400 g) of grain at a time results in a more uniformly ground cereal. Remember that the longer the machine runs, the finer the consistency of the cereal, up to the point that it becomes flour.
- You may try adding ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt to the boiling water while cooking the grains. This is for flavor only and is not necessary if you are trying to restrict salt intake.
- To save time on a busy morning, add ground cereal to a saucepan of boiling water at night. Turn the stove off, place a tightly fitting lid on the pan, and allow the cereal to soak overnight. By morning, it will be ready to eat as a cold cereal, or simply reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
- A thermos can also save you time in the morning. Place 1 cup of grain in a 1-quart (.95 l) thermos bottle (wide mouth is most convenient), then add boiling water until it is one inch from the top. Use a wooden spoon handle to stir the grain and water. Close the thermos and it will slow-cook in 8-12 hours.
- For variety, combine grains, such as oats and buckwheat, wild rice and brown rice, etc.
- Spice up your cereal with nutmeg or cinnamon. Add your favorite fruits for a change in flavor and added nutrition—peaches, strawberries, blueberries, raisins, or coconut.
Cook’s Note: Remember that dried fruits rehydrate by absorbing water, so you should increase the water portion of your recipe just slightly when using dried fruit. - For use in casseroles, substitute broth for cooking water.