Baked Oatmeal or Porridge Pudding

I'm a porridge lover, and most mornings (even in the summer) I have a hearty bowl of porridge, usually topped with fruit or yoghurt. Before making the porridge, I usually sprinkle into the oats a mix of spices (ginger, cinnamon) nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, ground linseed/flaxseed) and some dried fruit (sultanas or dates). The only thing about porridge is that it isn't instant, but I've saved off a few seconds by creating a 'magic mix' of the above spices, nuts and seeds, and by sometimes soaking the oats over night.

But this morning, I was prepared to put the time into making something a bit special:  

Porridge Pudding/Baked Oatmeal

This deliciously pudding-like mix of oats, bananas and milk is worth the wait!

1/4 C porridge oats

pinch of spices (see above for my list)

pinch of salt

2tsp sultanas

1/2 water

1/2 milk

1/2 banana

1) Mix spices and other 'toppings' into oats and pour over oats, in large microwave safe bowl. Add water (you could use milk here instead if you wanted it to be extra creamy)

2) Cook oats for 2mins

3) Remove, oats should be quite doughy as you've used less liquid than porridge needs. Mix in milk and banana, spliced.

4) Spoon mixture into small oven dish. Cook on medium oven (180 degrees C) for 20-25mins

5) Allow to cool and enjoy a rice-pudding like breakfast.