ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

The fibrous husk is easily shed during milling leaving the oat grain intact with germ and bran layer - thus our oats if steelcut or rolled are in the whole grain form. With the high fat content germ present, oats should be stored in a cool dark airtight place to prevent rancid off flavors developing.

High in protein and fat content, oats are an excellent source of vitamin A and contain a useful amount of vitamin E. Whole, cracked, steel-cut, rolled. The main ingredient in muesli, porridge,soup of oat flakes, Skirlie, Kail Brose, Thurso Brose, pancakes, oat milk, pie crusts and cookies. Blended with dried fruit and nuts for delightful sweet treats.

It is said that in the English-Scottish border forays of the 12th and 13th centuries, the only provision carried by the Scots was simply a bag of oatmeal.

It cannot be made into a light bread and so is used more often for oatcakes, bannocks, brose or more popularily porridge ... "The halesome parritch, chief of Scotia's food" as Burns once said. Some say the only way to eat it is with the additon of salt only; others that it should be served with individual bowls of cream into which you dip each spoonful.

Porridge
1 cup organic oat flakes
3 cups water
Pinch sea salt
To fast bubbling water add the salt.
Sprinkle with oatflakes, lightly into the water so that each one falls seperately.
Stir with a wooden spoon until the porridge thickens, put on the lid and simmer for 15 minutes.

Left over porridge incorporated into bread dough will yield a more textured loaf. Or used as a quick thickener for soups, oats turn a simple broth into a creamy fuller tasting soup.

For a creamier porridge....

Milk / Cream Porridge (serves 3)

In a saucepan add 1 cup of cold milk to 1 cup of oats and stir until combined.
Add 1 1/2 cups of almost boiling water and stir thoroughly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring, until the mixture becomes thick and creamy.
Add 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil, dash of organic vanilla powder and honey to taste and fine celtic salt.Stir until all combined.
Could add organic sultanas / grated apple and cinnamon / berries.Another good addition is sliced strawberries.
Can top with fresh cream.
Try making with almond milk and a tablespoon of dried blueberries, or raisins.

Berry Bircher Muesli (serves 6)
3 cups organic rolled oats
1 1/2 cups unsweetened organic apple juice / organic milk makes it creamier
1 organic granny smith apple, coarsely grated
2 small limes, juiced
1 cup thick, plain organic yoghurt
1 cup mixed fresh berries (blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries)
2 tablespoons organic honey

Place oats in a large bowl. Pour over apple juice or organic milk to cover. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
Just before serving, stir in apple, 1/4 cup lime juice, 3/4 cup yoghurt and 3/4 cup mixed berries.
Spoon muesli into bowls. Top with remaining yoghurt and mixed berries. Drizzle with honey. Serve immediately.Could add toasted almonds.
Berry bircher muesli is best made 1 day in advance.

Baby Bears Porridge
Rolled oats (soaked overnight in fridge with water to cover), orange juice and rind, grated apple, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds.
Blend. Try different combinations of juice / nuts / seeds / dried fruit.
Carrot juice and fresh grated coconut is a  yummy combination.

Try this oat-cream soup.

Soup of Oat Flakes
4 onions cut into small moons
1 cup oat falkes, slightly roasted
Celtic salt
1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
Tamari
Heat the oil in a pan, cook the onions for 3-5 minutes, stirring reduce heat and cook for further 8 minutes.
Pour the onions and salt into 6-8 cups of boiling water, stir
Cook on a low heat for 20 minutes. Add tamari before serving , stir again.

Skirlie
3 large onions
3 tablespoons organic coconut oil
Oatmeal
Chop the onions finely and saute in the oil until brown.
Add enough oatmeal to absorb all the oil and make quite a thick mixture.
Add half a cup of water and stir until the mixture thickens again.

Kail Brose
Allow two tablespoons of oatmeal per person and one dessertspoon coconut oil.
Toast the oats in the oil and pour on boiling cabbage broth (the juice in which cabbage has been cooked) stirring rapidly until it thickens in the form of knots.

Thurso Brose
Season toasted oatmeal with celtic salt then stir in enough boiling water - flavored with onion and cheese if desired - to make a porridge thick enough to stand a spoon in.

Oatmeal Pancakes
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sifted organic coconut flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon celtic salt
pinch organic vanilla powder
trickle of honey
1 egg
2 lb melted butter or organic coconut oil

Pour the milk onto the uncooked rolled oats and leave to stand for 5 minutes.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Add the honey and egg to the milk mixture, beat with a fork to mix.
Melt the butter / heat the coconut oil.
Pour the oat-milk mixture and butter into the dry ingredients.
Stir until mixed but not smooth.
Proceed as for plain pancakes.

Anzac Cookies
Soak 1 cup chopped dates with just enough water to cover.
Meanwhile combine 2 cups rolled oats, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chopped almonds.
!/2 cup sultanas, shredded coconut, juice of 2 oranges + 1 tablespon rind, 1/2 cup tahini, 1 egg.
Add soaked dates and water.
Bake cookies for 15-20 minutes moderate oven. Turn on wire rack to cool.

Carob + Date and Coconut Balls

1 cup fresh organic dates, pitted and roughly chopped + 1 cup rolled oats

1 cup organic dried apricots

2 tablespoons organic sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon organic pepitas

1 tablespoon organic desiccated coconut

2 tablespoons organic carob powder

1 cup organic desiccated coconut, extra, for rolling

Process (except extra coconut) in food processor / blender to form a stiff paste.

Transfer mixture to a bowl, let little hands help you roll heaped teaspoons into small balls (makes 20)

Roll in extra coconut, shake off any excess coconut,Refrigerate the balls in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Apricot Daintees process rolled oats, organic apricots, orange juice to make just moist and small amount of orange rind, roll in coconut,

Date Delight  process rolled oats, organic dates, lemon juice and rind, roll in finely processed rolled oats / quinoa flakes.

Prune Treats process rolled oats, prunes, peeled apple pieces, cinnamon, lemon juice.

Celebration Treat process rolled oats, carob powder, bananas, lemon juice and rind, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds,pepitas, could add some nuts, blend until a paste, after processing could fold through some puffed organic cereal (eg millet or amaranth) and form in egg shape and roll in coconut or sesame seeds. A great treat to eat or a gift to help fill a little basket with and decorate with ribbons and sprigs from the garden.

Oats Pie Crust
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped dates
orange juice and rind
nuts(almonds), sweetener (honey)
Blend all together. Press into alightly oiled pie plate. Refrigerate overnight.
For chocolate crust add organic cocoa / carob powder with the oats
Could add nut butter instead of the nuts.
For crunchy pie base add coconut and seeds.

Fill with favorite blended fruit filling.