This is a perfect breakfast for Valentines day.

or PALENTINES day (a day for showering your friends with love.)

It’s a porridge not necessarily for a significant other.

But for you.

Reminding yourself to practise self love and self compassion.

And I’m going to be honest, I’m not good at this.

I have never loved myself.

I’ve tried to.

Tried really hard.

And I think that is part of what has got me here.

I don’t love me.

‘How can you love someone if you can’t love yourself?’, the great late Maya Angelou said.

That is why we get frightened, that is why we hide, that is why we push friends, family and loved ones away.

Well at the grand old age of 26 years old, I have to, no NEED to start learning to love myself.

This oatmeal is also for somebody you love.

Whether that be a best friend.

Your mum.

Your partner.

Yourself.

Reminding them AND yourself, that they are loved and treasured.

I cooked it for my very jetlagged best friend, Hatti as a treat for her returning from a conference in Texas.

So she was my lab rat for testing this recipe.

I cannot ever thank you enough, beautiful friend, for your constant support, emotional and otherwise.

And thank you for being the first person to try my porridge.

My love always to you.

Why buy a dozen roses when you can put rose in your porridge?

The ultimate bowl of LOVE.

As I mentioned in my first post, my first memories are of food.

I don’t know about you, but I was one of those kids who would watch the T.V. or read a book and salivate over the description of food or the cartoon drawing of food.

Remember how on The Simpsons the pizza would always look melty and oozing with cheese?

I wanted that cartoon pizza!

A lot!

So when I read ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ as a child, instead of taking the message that you should NEVER accept candy from strangers, I became slightly obsessed with Turkish Delight.

Floral and sweet with the slight salty, savoury taste of pistachios contrasting it.

Oh, the sweet sensation of biting into the soft gelatinous texture and letting your mouth fill with the delicious, perfumed, oozing goo.

Anyway, don’t accept candy from strangers, kids.

Soooo…. Inspired by this, I had a mad thought wandering round my local supermarket.

To be honest, this was a bad day.

I’d woken up having a panic attack and had to persuade myself to get out of bed and not just hide under the covers.

I hadn’t showered. I looked grim; wearing my slouchy clothes.

My hair was a mess.

BUT (and that’s a major BUT) I left the house.

I went to my local supermarket for a wander.

I took myself to the world food section and walked past a bottle of Rose Water (only £1).

And inspiration struck!

I would make Chocolate Turkish Delight Porridge!

I searched for recipes for this online to try and figure out the perfect way of balancing out the flavour. Not too sweet. Not sickly sweet. Just right. (In the words of Goldilocks)

But couldn’t find any. Or non specific to what I wanted.

So after a test of trial and error to balance the flavours ‘Just Right’, I had created Chocolate Turkish Delight Porridge.

So here it is…

Chocolate Turkish Delight Porridge.

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Serving: serves 1 (double quantities as you go if serving for more)

What you’ll need:

• 45g of oats
• Milk of your choice (enough to cover the oats)
• 2 tbsp of cacao
• 1 piece of dark chocolate (you could use milk or vegan milk)
• 2 tbsp of rose water
• 1 tbsp of maple syrup
• 1 pinch of salt (always)
• A handful of pistachios
• Raspberries (or any fruit of your choosing to top)

How to make it:

• Put porridge oats into a pan or bowl.
• Pour enough milk to cover the oats and a little bit more.
• If heating on the hob, heat at a low temperature stirring gently to avoid porridge sticking to bottom of pan. Keep stirring until the porridge thickens, adding the rose water. Keep stirring until it reaches the consistency that you desire. You can add more milk if needed.
• If heating in microwave, heat for 2 mins. Then stir. Add rose water. Heat for another 2 mins. Stir. Heat for an extra one minute if you want it slightly thicker. You can add more milk if needed.
• Add cacao powder, dark chocolate , 1 pinch of salt and the maple syrup. Stir till all mixed into the porridge.
• Top with pistachios and raspberries.
• Find a comfy seat, breathe and remind yourself and your loved one, you matter, you are loved and you are enough, you are more than enough. 
• Eat your porridge and enJOY.

Much love to you all,

Joy xxx