When Is an Oat Not An Oat? (for flapjacks/cereal bars)

carriebradshaw

EssexHebridean wrote: »

One thing I'm struggling to get these days is ordinary oatmeal - not porridge oats, those are easy, but it used to be possible to buy the ordinary oatmeal in the supermarket - none of them appear to sell it now?! If anyone has any ideas I'd be most grateful - I like to make my own oatcakes and you need oatmeal for those. I also used to use a handlful in stews, soups etc. It has a more "thickening" effect than porridge oats.

if you mean staffordshire oatcakes then you can use ordinary value oats for those, I do.Just give them a whizz in a blender or food processor if you've got one and it makes them a bit finer just for a few seconds though or they'll be dust

nesssie1702

EssexHebridean wrote: »

One thing I'm struggling to get these days is ordinary oatmeal - not porridge oats, those are easy, but it used to be possible to buy the ordinary oatmeal in the supermarket - none of them appear to sell it now?! If anyone has any ideas I'd be most grateful - I like to make my own oatcakes and you need oatmeal for those. I also used to use a handlful in stews, soups etc. It has a more "thickening" effect than porridge oats.

Tesco stock it North of the border , as do the Co-op, but that might be "regional" variations?

You'll need to stock up on it the next time you come up this way EH, :rolleyes:

Pinhead or fine oatmeal is what I use when I make porridge, though the coarse oatmeal is good for oatcakes.

Caterina

I buy whole oats in bulk (5kg bags) when I do my bulk buy and use them as porridge for breakfast. They are delicious!

First I boil them hard for a minute or so in a cast iron pan, then I leave them in the pan on my woodstove overnight to keep cooking, then in the morning all they need is a heating up and a spoonful of sugar (DH) or a pinch of salt (me - I used to be married to a Scot when I first came to the UK and this is the way I learnt to enjoy oat!).

If I want oatmeal I put a cupful in the food processor and I get a medium texture oatmeal.

Occasionally I buy porridge oats (flakes) because I use them mainly for topping crumbles (sweet and savoury), and if I am in a hurry to make morning porridge.

EssexHebridean, I would love to read your homemade oatcakes recipe! Thanks.

nesssie1702

Caterina

There's a recipe here for Scottish oatcakes, I've used a similar one when making them too. This recipe does them in the oven, but I tend to do mine on the hob on a griddle.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usrecipes/oatcakes/index.html

Will be interested to see how it compares to EssexHebridean's recipe?

PasturesNew

The reason I've never had oats before is I first experienced them on a trip when I was about 14. I queued up for breakfast and there was a tray of grey water. Looking through the grey water I could see some white stodgy mass at the bottom. I asked "what's that?" "Porridge" they said . . . ewwwwww. And I've never felt any desire ever since to ever try any.

EssexHebridean

nesssie1702 wrote: »

Tesco stock it North of the border , as do the Co-op, but that might be "regional" variations?

You'll need to stock up on it the next time you come up this way EH, :rolleyes:

Pinhead or fine oatmeal is what I use when I make porridge, though the coarse oatmeal is good for oatcakes.

I will indeed - actually that's not a bad plan - we already go back laden with Hebridean Smokehouse Pate, Stag Bakeries biscuits, McLeans oatcakes Salar salmon, and fresh scallops - a few bags of oatmeal won't be much of a problem to add to the list. Oops - forgot the Stornoway black puddings! I suspect you're right about regional variations in stocks too.

Caterina wrote: »

EssexHebridean, I would love to read your homemade oatcakes recipe! Thanks.

nesssie1702 wrote: »

Caterina

There's a recipe here for Scottish oatcakes, I've used a similar one when making them too. This recipe does them in the oven, but I tend to do mine on the hob on a griddle.

Will be interested to see how it compares to EssexHebridean's recipe?

I don't have a specific favourite recipe really - last time I made them I seem to recall using a Nick Nairn one, I think. They taste so delicious freshly made - or purchased freshly made from the bakery - quite different to the ones we usually buy in packets.

PasturesNew

There's a business plan there.... supply people from outside the area proper oatmeal, by mail order.

she_grinch

This company http://www.dailybread.co.uk/northampton/index.htmlsells oatmeal by mail order and also most other dried goods and is marvellous for basics, food allergies, vegetarians, vegans as well as everyday food items http://www.dailybread.co.uk/downloads/Price_list_08.pdf
oatmeal is on page 11

Gigervamp

I've seen oatmeal in Tesco here in Wales.

Frugalista

I bought a bag recently at Mr M's.