I have never soaked the grains, something to try. I make oatmeal porridge quite often. Made it yesterday, cooked it with apples and blueberries and nuts in it, as well as cardamon pods, cloves and powdered cinnamon. I even eat left over day old porridge if there is any. We do make congee with left over white rice. I sometimes buy cream of brown rice and cook that too. My daughter can't have dairy products. She also doesn't tolerate modern wheat but is okay with other gluten containing products.