Hello Fellow readers!
I am delighted to be welcoming
Joana Starnes to my blog today, for another stop on the
'Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter' blog tour!
I was unaware of the subject of Joana's post and was pleasantly surprised to find it featured one of my favourite chapters in the book, dear Mrs Reynolds diary! (by the by, a book i heartily give a 5 heart ~ Mr Darcy rating!)
Now, let me not leave you in any more suspense and hand you over to Joana.
Thank you, Tamara, for ever so kindly welcoming me at My
Kids Led Me Back to P&P on the blog tour for my latest book, Mr
Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter.
By now your kids probably are well past the
cookie-baking stage, but I still thought I might bring
Mrs Gardiner’s
Oatcakes on my visit to your lovely site.
The Oatcakes are mentioned twice in the book, and one of
those instances is in a tender moment between Darcy and Elizabeth, once they
are settled in their Derbyshire home:
The old housekeeper looked up from her papers at the
sudden noise. She could not quite place it, but it sounded like an exclamation
of some sort. From Mrs Darcy’s pastry-room. She was still there, then? Pen
poised, Mrs Reynolds stopped to listen. But the room around the corner had
grown suspiciously quiet. Perhaps she ought to check that Mrs Darcy was well –
it was always better to be safe than sorry.
Sorry she was not, far from it, as soon as she
rounded the corner to come across a highly unexpected but also highly
gratifying sight. There was the Master, in a part of the house where he had not
ventured for fifteen years or so; not since the days when he and his cousin
were pilfering sweetmeats from the pantry. There was no question of pilfering
now, the treats were willingly bestowed, and Mrs Reynolds very nearly chortled
as she wondered what Mr Howard [the butler] would say to see their young master
literally eating out of Mrs Darcy’s hand. The diverted smile grew warm and
maternal and the housekeeper dropped her eyes, unwilling to intrude even
unnoticed on the joyful and very private moment. So she made to turn away and
leave the dear pair to their good cheer – he grinning widely, she likewise, her
youthful cheek marked with specs of flour – but was not quick enough and
chanced to catch a heart-warming glimpse of Mr Darcy abandoning the
confectionery for the even sweeter treat of his wife’s kiss.
Mrs Reynolds quietly hastened on her way, yet she still
heard her master chuckle, “I would not dream of saying so to your aunt when
they visit, but your oatcakes are even better.”
Would you like to hear more about Mrs Gardiner’s oatcakes?
Once again, it was Claudine’s wonderful idea that I include them in the blog
tour and share the recipe with you. It’s based on a traditional Derbyshire one
for Winster Wakes Cakes (“sweet wheatflour biscuits with egg and currants,
associated with the annual Wakes holidays at Winster, near Matlock” www.foodsofengland.co.uk).
Derbyshire oatcakes are sometimes savoury; they’re cooked as pancakes and
served with bacon and eggs (Ann Wall, ‘Favourite Derbyshire Recipes’).
But since it might have been a step too far to imagine the mistress of
Pemberley flipping pancakes and frying bacon and eggs, I went for the more
genteel option of Elizabeth baking sweet oatmeal biscuits.
I couldn’t in good conscience post a recipe without trying
it first, and hey, I’m still here to tell the tale of baking Mrs Gardiner’s
oatcakes. Would you like to try? It’s ever so simple. A bit messy and sticky
halfway through, but quick and easy. Here are the ingredients again:
12.5 oz (350g) oatmeal or finely ground oats
3 oz (85g) butter
3 oz (85g) caster sugar
1.5 oz (40g) currants
1 egg
1 pinch of cinnamon, if you’d like to make them a bit more
Christmassy
The more finely-milled the oats, the less chewy the texture
and less crumbly the oatcake. The milled oats I used looked like breadcrumbs. I
could have used the more floury oatmeal, or just flour (white or wholemeal). If
you’re using rolled oats the oatcakes will be really chewy. As
for the butter, Mrs Gardiner might frown but surely a healthier spread would
do.
So, what next?
Mix the oats or flour with the sugar and the softened
butter, then stir in the currants, the beaten egg and the pinch of cinnamon.
Mix everything till it forms a dough. If the dough is still too sticky add
another sprinkling of oats or flour.
Roll it on a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/2
inch and cut into 2 inch- or 3 inch rounds. If you’re using a 3-inch cutter the
above quantity makes 12 oatcakes.
Place the rounds on baking paper on a tray, reasonably well
apart (they spread a bit) and bake for approx. 20 mins in a moderately hot oven
(350ºF; 180ºC; Gas mark 4 in UK). You might have to use a spatula to get them
off the baking paper and they're quite crumbly when hot, but if you let them
cool down there's a good chance of getting them on a plate in one piece :D
So how about reading Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter
with a glass of milk and a plate of oatcakes? (Although some recommend red wine
and lots of chocolate ;) ). For a chance to read it for free, please leave a
comment to enter the international giveaway of a Kindle copy. Thanks for
stopping by to read the post and if you’re baking Mrs Gardiner’s oatcakes
please let me know if you liked them :) All the best, and thanks again, Tamara,
for having me as your guest today!
Thank you, for your wonderful post Joana and another wonderful book to add to my JAFF collection, as well as a recipe to add to the experience :)
Giveaway Time!
Joana Starnes is kindly giving bloggers a chance to win an e-book copy of 'Mr Bennet's Dutiful Daughter' on each stop of the Blog Tour! How delightful!
For your chance to win leave a comment below and maybe tell Joana what you think of her efforts in the kitchen, could she possibly get a job below stairs, at Pemberley!
Winner to be announced on the 2nd December 2016.
Blog Tour ~
November 24/ Happy Thanksgiving
As always, it is a pleasure to hear your thoughts!
1916. World War I has turned French chateaux into bloody field hospitals, British gentlemen into lice-
Nicole Clarkston
would like to offer a copy of 'The Courtship of Edward Gardine to one lucky reader. Remember each blog tour also has a giveaway. The format is readers’ choice (eBook or paperback) and is open internationally. To enter please leave a comment below and the lucky winner will be announced on the 2nd December 2016!
“He
could no longer claim to be Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire, brother to
Georgiana, master of Pemberley. In that moment, he was but a man. A man filled
with more frustration than most souls could bear. A man torn asunder by his
desperation, his fruitless dreams and desires.”
