don't forget the oatmeal!

generally speaking, when it comes to anything artificially banana flavored my rule of thumb is: EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION!!!!!!  the worst, which probably fuels this, is banana laffy taffy.  i once was dating a guy who that was his favorite (i think).... now we know why that didn't work out!  banana laffy taffy just seem to be the epitome of sugary fake nastiness.

now, when it comes to real bananas, we, in this house, are fans.  we usually buy enough each week that we can each have one each weekday morning with breakfast.  i guess a banana a day keeps us fed until lunch (and the doctor away?).

this last Saturday we had a combination of things that caused us to decide to do our grocery shopping at walmart while we were there for something else.  i'm not a walmart hater and that's actually a pet peeve of mine.  we just aren't used to shopping there and every time we end up buying groceries there we feel "off" because it's not the same products in the same places we're used to.  but we live because it's really ok.  the main thing we don't love is their produce.  small selection, lower quality, and some higher prices than we're used to.  so when we saw the dwindling banana supply that was also lacking in appeal so much that others were commenting and turning them down we decided to skip the bananas this week.  we did, however, find a bag of mandarin oranges that were a good price instead (point walmart).

having not had a banana for days now i decided this morning that i'd try the "bananas 'n cream" oatmeal packet that i've been avoiding for months.  (apparently will has too.. : )  now, i did mix it with some plain oatmeal (which toned it down) because that's just how we do it, but my overall analysis is: not bad.  it did start to taste a little more fakey as i was almost done with the bowl, and it's not like it never tasted at least a little fakey, but for what it could have been, it was all right.  actually, my first bite or two i convinced myself it could have a little bit of a banana bread taste... : )

conclusion: if you're curious or stuck in a pinch and it's the last meal on earth, you'll be fine.  unless of course your artificial flavor meter (especially for banana) is super sensitive... but i can only speak for my own taste buds!  (and they're my buds all right! : ) ha

now that i still have plenty to do, but can think about it while at home half the week again, i can treat you to part two of my deepest and most important thoughts... : )

about the microwave:
when our microwave beeps it flashes some message like, "food is ready."  i always think this is a little weird, because how do they know if it's really ready or not? (like the oatmeal i had to put back in...)  so i started to think about what they could have chosen instead... "food is nice and hot"... well, maybe not always.  how about, "food is warmer than when you put it in."  that would probably cover it.  but just to be safe, how about something like, "food should be warmer than when you put it in.  regardless, the container it's in sure as heck is!  careful!"

about oatmeal:
we used to like hearing dad read us "don't forget the oatmeal!"  lucky for us and our kids i have secured a used copy of the book from our library book sale!!!!  along with some other childhood favorites! : )

i remember waking up "early" enough to see dad eat his breakfast before he left and sometimes eat with him - oatmeal and milk in that green plastic cup with a handle.  i liked the oatmeal cold with just milk or water on it.... mmmmmm : )  i still love oatmeal cold with just water on it!!! : )  (will thinks i'm crazy)

also about oatmeal:
jeff and i used to profess that we could make perfect oatmeal.  this was when i decided i liked cooked oatmeal.  i can't remember if we'd measure a specific amount into the bowl or just shake some in.  then you'd carefully hold it under the running water to get just the right amount (also not scientific : )  then it was important that you stick your face over the bowl and carefully slurp out "excess" water... until it looked right... : )  then we had some magical amount we'd nuke it for (one minute?).... as magical as you could get with that dinosaur microwave with the dial... (it WAS cool because it was still the one mom and dad got when they got married.)  then you  had to pour a layer of milk on top of the cooked oatmeal and then whip it up with the spoon so it was a beautiful smooth consistency - NO CHUNKS ALLOWED!!!!!  that was very important and still is.  i can hardly think of a food texture faux pas worse than chunks of cooked oatmeal swimming in a lake of milk or any other liquid.....

if you do it right, no brown sugar needed!  i do like it with some fruit, though - blueberries and/or pomegranate seeds from the freezer have been some of my favorites lately.

about bananas:
last week i made banana waffles... mmm : )
maybe it's time to use some of the bananas in the freezer to make banana milk... another childhood treat!

and there you have it... : )

now time to grade tests....