The present invention provides a process for making hand-held shaped
cereal and milk products having a smooth, homogenous-consistency texture
and a moisture content higher than 35%, using about the same amount and
ratio of cereal flour to fluid-milk as found in a traditional combination
of (RTE) cereal pieces (made from cereal flour) and fluid-milk that have
to be eaten from a bowl with a spoon. In the process of the present
invention, each pound of cereal flour is cooked with 3 to 4 pounds of
fluid-milk together with starch-complexing agents in a continuous cooker
at temperatures above 175 F. It is then discharged as a hot,
fluid-milk-hydrated, starch-complexed cereal flour which continues to
absorb retained fluid-milk until it becomes fully-cooked, fully-hydrated
and viscous enough to retain a shape. It is then formed into units, baked
to firm their textures while retaining a higher than 35% moisture, and
stored refrigerated or frozen.