Make Oatcakes and Skip the Biscuits!

Have you seen the cost of Oatcakes these days? Ever thought of trying to make them? Well actually they are really simple and you can make them from cheap and natural ingredients. Learn the recipe from the MeanyGoat, make oatcakes and maybe give the biscuits a miss for a change!

Oatcake History:

Oatcakes were traditionally used to replace bread and were eaten with most meals. The modern versions tend to be treated as cheese biscuits. If you make oatcakes then you can use them as a great alternative to normal biscuits or cheese biscuits….they really are a healthy alternative snack with a frugal twist since they cost next to nothing to make! The full history of oatcakes can be found here in the Wikipedia.

The MeanyGoat Oatcake Recipe:

You can vary the ingredients and the method to create your own favorite kind of oatcake….but here is the basic recipe:

• 120g Oatmeal – choose fine, course or a mixture of the two
• 60g of Brown Flour – again, any kind you like
• 60g of Butter – Use proper butter not that slimy margarine
• About 10 Tablespoons of either water or milk depending on choice
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt

Optional Ingredients:

• 1 Teaspoon of Honey if you want them sweet
  
• 1 Spoon of small seeds like linseed, poppy or nigella

The Method:

You can make oatcakes quickly….but the first time you will end up in a sticky mess! Don’t worry this is normal!!

1. Put all the ingredients apart from the liquid into a mixing bowl
2. Rub the butter into the mixture
3. Start to add the water or milk and stir in with a wooden spoon
4. Kneed the dough with your hands until you can form it into a smooth ball
5. Add more water if it is too dry or more oatmeal if it is too wet
6. Wrap in clingfilm or put in a covered bowl and leave int he fridge for an hour or so
7. Kneed the dough again to soften it up
8. Divide it into two pieces and start to roll out one of them with a rolling pin dusted in flour
9. You will find that the edges tend to crack…this is normal…just concentrate on making the main part thin and smooth
10. Cut out small circles using a pastry cutter or upside down wine glass…I like small ones about 4 or 5cm in diameter
11. Lay them out on a baking tray dusted in flour…..dust the top of the oatcakes with flour if you like
12. Cook in a hot oven (180 to 200C) for 15 minutes or so
13. Take care to not overcook, take them out and lay on a cake rack until cool
14. Store in a sealed plastic lunchbox

Healthy Eating:

Make Oatcakes and you will never want to buy them again! Eat them straight from the oven for a real treat...

Learn to make oatcakes and use them as a snack between meals in order to help you stop eating sweets or biscuits. If you make oatcakes rather than buying biscuits then you will also save money since they only cost a few cents a batch. Try to do all your baking at the same time in order to save electricity or alternatively have the oatcakes ready to pop in the oven after you have cooked something else.

Frugal Tip from the MeanyGoat: Learn to make oatcakes and you will have a whole load of fun as well as find that you save money and eat a more healthy diet.