496630 Fri Mar 07 04:11:55 -0800 2008 2 31 Home Cooking 0 3468747 At work I decided to use the boiling water from the tea kettle in the break room rather than the microwave to prepare my oatmeal. What a difference! The oatmeal retains so much more of it's texture when prepared this way. I will never use the microwave to prepare my instant oatmeal again. Fri Mar 07 04:11:55 -0800 2008 26180 Chinon00 1 3469408 Good for you. Fri Mar 07 08:52:24 -0800 2008 3468747 40674 dream_of_giusti 1 3471510 Cninon00, I understand your excitement! It's funny how the littlest victory can be so satisfying. In high school, my family had one of those water coolers with cold and hot taps, and I always used that. It really did make a difference, as did adding a bit of powdered milk for added creaminess and nutrition. I know some people look down upon the instant stuff, but it can be great when you need a fast burst of energy in a cooking-unfriendly place. Now that I think of it, I bet you could add certain organic dried or freeze-dried fruits and some powdered milk to plain instant oatmeal, and make a healthier version of the flavored instant stuff (mmmm strawberries and cream....). Fri Mar 07 18:40:36 -0800 2008 3468747 132749 porceluna