All things Easter, Spring Solstice, Passover, or Ostara

[Jeff Wrangler]

When I hear "oatmeal bar" I think of something like this.

That's what I would think of, too. Otherwise, I've never heard of an oatmeal bar. Sounds like a Scottish thing.

But what about people who don't like oatmeal? What were they supposed to do?   

I never much cared for it, until I tried making it really thick, and eating it with butter and salt, the same way I like my grits.

None of that sweet stuff for me.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Happy Easter Monday, everyone. I hear this is a holiday in Europe. In the U.S., it's not. In fact, Easter itself is not much of a holiday. Although I did have a lovely one. In church, we are studying the Book of Mark which has a nice Easter passage. Who was that other Mary, I always wonder. There was a kids Easter egg hunt afterwards and an oatmeal bar, and a petting zoo was set up in Fellowship Hall. Then, I went to the park and met my son, his family and his parents-in-law.

I'm going to leave my Easter decor around for a while because it's mostly spring-related, not Easter-related. It doesn't feel time for Easter yet. Mornings are so chilly!

I prefer the John account myself. Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus is just so beautiful.

[Jeff Wrangler]

And Friday was also a holiday, making Easter a four-day holiday here in Sweden. In Denmark, Thursday was also a holiday meaning a five-day holiday!

Is that because of Holy/Maundy Thursday and Good Friday?

[serious crayons]

I never much cared for it, until I tried making it really thick, and eating it with butter and salt, the same way I like my grits.

I like both dishes the same way! The most sweetness I would ever add to oatmeal would be dried cranberries or canned pumpkin (I've done both). I'd also throw in chia and flax seeds and chopped nuts for extra protein/flavor. Maybe some fresh berries. But no sugar.
 
The manager of my building once threw a waffle party. You'd stand at the counter and pour waffle batter into one a waffle iron, a long line waiting behind you. When your waffle was done you'd go around a big table piling on all kinds of toppings: whipped cream, chocolate chips, little colored marshmallows. Gross! I'm not as much of a sugar purist with waffles as I am with oatmeal, but the only things I like on them are butter and real syrup. The manager spent all that money on other gross stuff -- and then bought fake syrup.

Still, the main attraction was the mimosas -- or, in my case, a glass of plain prosecco. I liked that she threw parties, even if she wasn't always great at picking the refreshments. I made friends in the building because of them.

[Sason]

Sonja, an oatmeal bar is like a salad bar except with oatmeal (or porridge, as it's called in some places) instead of lettuce. You scoop out some oatmeal and then go down the line, helping yourself to various nuts, berries, chocolate chips, coconut and other garnishes. I particularly like the dried cranberries. The oatmeal is cooked in big slow cookers.

That sounds awesome! What a great idea!

Porridge is quite a traditional breakfast here in Scandinavia, it doesn't have to be oats, it can be made of other grains too.
Here in Sweden it's usually eaten with sugar and/or jam and milk.

My mother was Danish, so when I was little we had it the Danish way with sugar, butter and milk.

[Sason]

Is that because of Holy/Maundy Thursday and Good Friday?

Yes it is. And Monday is because of, well, Easter Monday. We call it second Easter day. Just like we call boxing day second Xmas day.

[CellarDweller]

We don't get that here for Easter.   It's not considered a national holiday, so banks and all federal offices are opened on Good Friday, and there's no such thing as Easter Monday here.