Oatcakes

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats/traditional oatmeal (not quick cooking, not instant) (alternatively 1 1/2 cups rolled oats and 1/2 cup steal cut oats)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 or 1/8 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup butter (or shortening--if you have problem with butter)
1/4 cup hot water

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, and baking soda. Add the butter and use a large fork, or your fingers, to work the butter into the dry ingredients.

Add the hot water and stir until everything sticks together into a thick dough.

The dough can be rolled out onto a floured surface and cut into round shapes or it can be hand-pressed/shaped into lumpy 1/4-inch rough shapes. Bake about 12 minutes. Then, reduce the oven to 325°F and bake until lightly browned, about 5-10 more minutes.

When they have finished baking, let them cool. The oatcakes can keep well stored in an airtight container, such as a cookie tin, for a week or two.

Bake Time: 15-25 minutes
Yield: About 16 oatcakes

Buy Walkers Highland Oatcakes, Savory Crackers, 10.6-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4), accessed January 7, 2013.

The Celtic Goddess Brigid is associated with oats. Hence, oatcakes, oatmeal, oat bread, and even modern oatmeal cookies are eaten on her feast day, February 2, which is known as Imbolc/Oimelc/Oimealg/Candelora/Brigid's Day/La Fheile Bride/Candlemas/Lady Day/Festival of the Hearth/Feast of Torches/Festival of Lights/Festival of Purification/Groundhog's Day/Feast of the Waxing Light. This festival marks he first stirrings in the womb of the earth and the Hearth-fire is honored.

Brigid's Day, Imbolc, or Oimelc is the time when sheep give birth and begin to lactate. The name, Oimelc, comes in part from the phrase "ewe's milk." The Goddess Brigid is associated with both dairy cattle and sheep, as well as the hearth fire.

Brigid's Day is a festival associated with dairy products: cheese, butter, milk. As a children's activity, some folks make homemade butter with their kids, using whipping cream. The butter can be eaten on oatcakes, crackers, or bread.¹ I would also suggest Irish cheese to be eaten with oatcakes for this festival. Irish lamb stew is a hot food enjoyed by some Neo-Pagans for this festival.

¹ Making butter is a fun kids activity, however, I've only made butter with Pagan kids as part of May Day festivities.

Patti Wigington, Imbolc Meal Blessings, 2013

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