Applesauce Oatmeal

• 3 cups tap water
• 1-1/2 cups dry quick cooking oatmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup apple juice concentrate
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1 cup applesauce

Bring the water to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. When it is boiling briskly, gradually stir in the oatmeal. Add the cinnamon, salt, sugar, and ginger. Boil this for a minute or two and remove it from the heat. Cover the oatmeal and allow it to stand for 5 to 10 minutes. This is to thicken everything up to the right consistency. Stir in the applesauce right before serving. Bring it to the table hot and pour on the milk (or cream or soymilk). Especially good on cold winter mornings. Makes 4 servings depending on appetite.

To replace the quick cooking oatmeal with old-fashioned oats use the following directions:
Use 1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal instead of the quick oats. All of the other measurements remain the same. Cook the mixture on the stove for 5 full minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the applesauce and serve immediately. Old-fashioned oatmeal is actually a little quicker to prepare than quick oats if you add in the standing time. Such is the nature of the modern world.