porridge

There are some pretty fun alarm clocks out there, but this weekend the internet was abuzz over a different kind of alarm clock. According to Scotland's Daily Record, Quaker Oats is testing a bedside alarm in the UK. Now you'll be able to wake up to a warm bowl of porridge or oatmeal each and every morning.

The device, which is called The Porridgemaid, contains a thermos to keep the milk cold overnight. However, once the alarm goes off, the thermos is heated up and in three minutes you've got yourself a bowl of breakfast. In our ever increasingly fast-paced lifestyles, I suppose every minute counts. However, I could see myself reaching for the snooze button and putting my hand right into a bowl of porridge. It also reminds me of the episode of The Office where Michael cooks his foot, and we all know that that was a completely bad idea. What do you think!?

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Quick, when you think of holiday feasts, what food comes to mind? Turkey, ham, duck and let me guess, probably not Sochivo. That is, unless you celebrate a traditional Russian Christmas. Sochivo, a porridge made from wheat, barley, rye or (more recently) rice, is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve (which is actually celebrated there on January 6th - they're on the Julian calendar). So if you're looking for something new and adventurous, give this a try.

The recipe sounds simple, yet cryptic. I must admit I haven't tried it myself, but be sure to leave a comment below if you do!

Sochivo
From Olga Timokhina

2 cups wheat
1/2 cup honey
1 cup poppy seeds
1 cup walnuts
salt to taste

Sort wheat, wash and put in boiling water. Bring to a boil, drain and wash under cold water, bring to boil, cover tightly and put in the oven until soft. Then take out and cool down. Wash poppy seeds, scald, wash under cold water and ground until homogeneous and white, add sugar or honey and a bit of salt. Combine with wheat. If sochivo is very dense, add some water. At the end add chopped walnuts.

As they say in Russia, "S Rozhdestvom Khristovym!"