Bugger Red River cereal

My mother and her family visited Agawaten Lodge, an assemblage of separate spare cabins and the main lodge on Golden Lake, On., since the 50s. We visited it, too. I cannot remember when we stopped.

But I have memories of being there alone with my grandparents when I was about five, and my grandfather waking himself up snoring but blaming us all for it.

I remember my pale-skinned sister insisting she run about naked and getting sunburnt — huge blisters on her shoulders — despite my parents' best efforts to keep her covered. I shiver, still, when I think of the time I emerged from the swampy portion of the lake, about 8 years old, simply covered in large black leeches and having to stand very still, freaked to the core, as they got rid of every one. And I remember doing surface dives after I received my bronze cross and medallion (at age 12, thank you) when some kids went missing and finding a decomposing body on the lake bottom.

But, really, what I remember is the Red River cereal. It was the only time I was ever allowed to put sugar on my food. It was also a place where I could get that rarity of rarities, white bread — verboten as it was in my crunchy granola home.

In some fit of knowing what my body needs to get through this pill hell I bought some last week. I made some. I ate it alongside the mass of pills and somehow the nausea was lessened. However, I also made a major mess in my microwave.

Now, the box has clear directions as to how to make the stuff in the microwave. I followed them. Without directions to put something on top of the bowl when nuking it (for 7 min. which now seems excessive) I did not. Most of the Red River cereal ended up splattered all over the microwave. This does not happen with old-skool porridge.

Next day's attempt included less time cooking with the same results and even less cereal in the bowl than was around the microwave. The next effort included plastic wrap cover — somehow, somehow the Red River cereal seeped out from underneath the wrap to again cover the microwave bottom.

How, HOW do you make Red River cereal in the microwave and retain most of its contents IN the bowl for consumption? For the entire benefit of making the stuff in the microwasve when you are ill is to not then have to wash another pot; This requirement of wiping down the microwave after each bowl is becoming much more tiresome ...