Rolled oats, ubiquitous in our modern culture, didn’t exist 150 years ago. Yet oats have been eaten for many centuries. Our ancestors, instead of consuming rolled or flaked oats, stone-ground their grains, creating ‘meal’ (aka flour) of different grades. What … Read More
For centuries the Scots made a beneficial bacteria-rich porridge (called Sowans) and drink (called Swats) from oat grain ‘waste’. In this article, I’m going to explain what sowans and swats are and how you can bring them to life in your own kitchen!… Read More
There are many types of oats on the market. The choice, and their different names, can be confusing. This article explains the difference between two of them – rolled oats and oatmeal. It also illuminates the history of both types … Read More
Cottage pie is a British favourite that’s been around for 250 years. It’s a frugal dish, developed by home-cooks as a way to use up previously-cooked meat and was traditionally topped with a UK staple: potatoes. In this version, I’m … Read More
Watch my You Tube video How to Make Healthy, Fermented Oats here. Download the accompanying one-page PDF printable instructions to make fermented oats here. Once you click, the file will start downloading to your computer in the background. If you’d … Read More
Fermenting oats into oatmeal (or if you are outside the US, porridge) is a delicious way to enjoy a healthy breakfast. This article will explain why you should be fermenting your oats, show you how to do it, and answer … Read More
Oats have an almost mythological connection with the Scottish. Maybe, as you stand in the kitchen making your breakfast oatmeal – pouring in rolled oats, adding water/milk and stirring – you imagine that you are doing just what your Scottish … Read More
As conscious eaters, we often think about how the meat on our plate was raised or what condition the chickens who laid our breakfast eggs were kept in. But how often do we stop and consider what happened to the grains that accompany our meals before they got to our kitchens?… Read More
Fermenting oats into sourdough oatmeal or porridge is easy and has so many benefits: The oats will be softer, cook more quickly and be easier to digest. The resulting oatmeal will be more nutrient-dense thanks to reduction of the mineral-leaching … Read More
“Jannock is scarcely ever seen in south east Lancashire now; but it used to be highly esteemed. The common expression “That’s noan jannock” applied to anything which is not what it ought to be, and commemorates the fame of this … Read More