Paleo Porridge

I like to make a big batch of oatmeal, buckwheat, quinoa, etc, for the week on Sundays so that S can have it every morning for breakfast.  Even though S is gluten, and not grain-free, I still get this twinge of guilt every morning when I give her oats or whatever.  It just bothers me.  She looooooves her oatmeal, I mix it with unsweetened applesauce and plain yogurt and she slurps it up, but am always thinking to myself, there's got to be something better.

So this Sunday, as I was pondering this question once again, I thought, there must be a way to make a coconut porridge/cream of wheat.  This recipe is incredibly easy, and really tastes just like cream of wheat, or what I remember it tasting like anyways.  I'm excited to try different versions of it.  I hope you try it too!

Paleo Porridge 
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp flaxmeal
1 cup liquid (water, nutmilk, or a combo, which is what I used)
1/4 tsp kosher salt (do not omit!)
1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
another 1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut, to add at the end


Add everything to a pot and bring to a simmer.  Stir continuously.  If you like, add more liquid to make it puff up even more, it will just take longer to cook down.  I know I've mentioned I don't like flax.  But you really do need it in this recipe, to bind everything together.  Don't worry, you don't taste it.  Once it's thickened up to your liking, turn off the heat, and dump in the rest of your coconut.  This will make it super thick and give it some good texture. 

Because I mix this with applesauce and yogurt, this amount yields enough for about 4 baby-sized servings.  If you were eating it yourself and not mixing in all that stuff, this would be plenty for at least 2 servings.  So yummy with a bit of melted butter, coconut butter, apple butter, or nothing!  This would even be great for those nights when there is nothing in the house to eat and it's 8 o'clock and and I'm spent from the day.  Try it out and let me know if you like it!