Lavish(TM) Chocolate Oatmeal?

Oatmeal is oatmeal.

–B.G.–

http://gossamergear.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Discos-Homemade-Energy-Bars.pdf

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/quick_healthy_meals_with_an_ultralight_cook_kit.html

There are several high quality oatmeals that I enjoy. The differences between the run of the mill (think Quaker cylinder) and quality oatmeals are discernable even just by sight. When I have some good oatmeal at work, folks ask what I'm eating. The oatmeal has texture and body. I enjoy having oatmeal with texture and more mouth appeal rather than the mush of a cheap oatmeal. The aroma of even the plain good oatmeal is wonderful, and the flavor is distintly better. Certainly use a good oatmeal for bars, but also don't forget to make some oatmeal cookies as well. A really satisfying breakfast is pancakes made with oatmeal instead of flour; the meal sticks with you well, and is fun to eat.
Jim

care to name names :)

Don't get confused by the basic nature of the oatmeal. In the north of England, you are likely to encounter steel-cut oats. In the U.S., you are likely to encounter rolled oats.

–B.G.–

Trader Joe's (tastes better and you get more per packet than Quaker)

Sorry, good instant oatmeal is an oxymoron. I can wait a few minutes while my regular rolled oats (supplemented with freeze dried fruit plus a shot of flax seed meal, and maybe some Nido) FBCs. Gives me time to drink my coffee so I don't have to eat it out of the bag. No comparison to steel cut oats but a decent compromise for the trail.

One of my favorite brands is Flaherty. They make a variety of plain and flavored oat products. I especially enjoy the dry fruit in their products; it tastes better than most separately sold dry fruit. Reading the cooking directions is also fun as they instruct you about the hob. McCann's has a variety of rolled and steel-cut oat products that are quite tasty. They do sell some instant oatmeal, but I've not tried it. The non-instant types only take a few minutes to prepare. The aroma from the McCann's oats fills the kitchen nicely. Bob's Red Mill has a variety of oat products, both rolled and steel-cut. I like the flavor of Bob's products most of the time, but have been disappointed several times by a stale product. I don't think their packaging is as good as it could be. I like Honeyville farms products in general; if you want a good source of relatively low-priced product give them a try. They have periodic 10 or 20% off sales. They also have a lot of other foods for gourmet backpacking, in my opinion. I enjoy both rolled and steel-cut oat products; good quality food can be prepared from either.
Jim

How does this stuff even taste in the first place? I just bought a box for our upcoming trip.