Steve, did you ever get your hands on any of that Coastal Rugged Mature English Cheddar that I buy here but that is made near you? (It was discussed a long time ago in this thread.) This weekend I grated some to pile on slices of a kalamata/onion yeast bread I was given by a friend, and it really makes it perfect.

I experimented with oatmeal yesterday. I usually make it overnight in an old low-power crockpot, but I hadn't and I wanted some and my rice cooker was out, so I cut up dates, added a little salt and the oats and water and 30+ minutes later I had very nice oatmeal not scorched to the pot in any way. It still is easiest to set up overnight in the crock pot, but if I decide to make it the morning I want to eat it, I'll switch to the rice cooker instead of a pot on the stove.