This might just be my all-time favorite breakfast cereal. It's the perfect antidote to winter's cold and dreary days---it's hearty and hot, but never mushy like an instant cereal; this has real texture from the different whole grains used. Vermont Morning fills you up nicely thanks to its protein content and the eight grams of fiber per serving (three of those grams are soluble fiber, a nice plus). And no, it doesn't taste like cardboard! While the cereal itself contains no salt or added sugar, there's a touch of cinnamon that's a great complement to the nutty flavor of the whole grains (of course, if you like, you can add a little sweetening or some fruit; I like to sprinkle on a bit of maple sugar).

You hear a lot of talk these days about whole grains, and how you should be getting more of them into your diet. The current recommendation, 48 grams per day, can be a real challenge for some people. This cereal is a one-stop shop for your recommended daily intake, with 53 grams of whole grains per serving. There's an Original Blend and a Wheat-Free Blend; both are made in a nut-free facility. And have I mentioned that both varieties are certified organic?

This is a cooked cereal, but the cooking time is brief, a mere 6 to 8 minutes. Package instructions note that this can be made in the microwave or on the stovetop, but because I can be crowded for time in the mornings, I'll cook this cereal a day or two in advance and refrigerate it, covered, until I want to eat it. Then, I reheat it in the microwave, adding more water as necessary and stirring to break up any "clumps" of cold cereal.

You can find more information on the website, at www.vtmorning.com. Online ordering is available. Vermont Morning Cereal makes an ideal breakfast, though some of us have been known to dive into a bowlful for dinner after a particularly tough day!