Oat Cuisine

Ahhh, the humble oat. The Latin name avena sativa has a musical ring to it, though. It's a relative newcomer to the cultivated grain family. Imagine - folks ignored it as a weed! The cheek!

The oldest evidence of cultivated oats was found in Switzerland and dates from the Bronze age. Originally used as feed for livestock, the straw (the stalk of grain left after threshing) was used for bedding. Oats have a lovely sweet smell and it couldn't have been long before someone worked out that they'd make a lovely dish for humans too. Apart from making a fine breakfast food, oats can be used much as barley or rice are used - in savoury dishes or as a starchy side. Oats are great for digestive function and clears cholesterol from the body. They make a lovely mucilage that is terrific for your skin when added to a bath, or to another base for skin care.

But we're talking about eating oats... Some folks like the grain whole, some like it cut, some like it squished flat and chopped, and some like it pulverized. I like oats anyway I can get them - must be the Scot in me. I thought it was about time I posted another recipe so here's an oaty one (and remember, if you can eat it without a plate or utensils, the calories don't count!):

William's 'It's Great to be a Kid' Oatmeal Cookies

I make these with William, our 4 year-old . He puts in all the ingredients and I only take over the mixing when it gets a bit stiff.

3/4c. butter (no substitutes)
1-3/4 c. flour
1c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. organic sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp.baking soda
2 c. rolled oats (some like 'em squished!)
raisins (golden or black - or any dried fruit you like - make sure they're cut raisin size!)
nuts (our faves are walnuts and pecans)
Chocolate chips (or any chip you like - carob, white choc., pb, or butterscotch)
*Note: dried fruits, nuts and chips should total about 1c. to 1-1/2 c.


Cream butter and sugar, add vanilla and egg; blend well. Combine flour, powder, and soda; blend well and add to butter/sugar mixture. Add oats, fruit, nuts and chips. When combined, drop by the spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 325F for 15 minutes. Should yield around 4 dozen cookies. When they're cool, heap 'em onto a plate and pass the milk!

I found this anecdote on the University of Iowa's website: In Samuel Johnson's dictionary, oats were defined as "eaten by people in Scotland, but fit only for horses in England." The Scotsman's retort to this is, "That's why England has such good horses, and Scotland has such fine men!"

Verily I say "Amen!"