Wednesday 20 April 2016

Oatcakes from Chatsworth


 This weekend just gone, Inexcuseable and a couple of her friends went to Derbyshire to visit Chatsworth House, and she brought back... Oatcakes!
 
 These oatcakes are not the horrid, dry, biscuity affairs that originated in Scotland. No. These are Derbyshire oatcakes: a pancake-like form that must be fried, ideally in lard, but I suppose some sort of vegetable oil will do if one can't stomach rendered animal fat...

 Actually, cooking oatcakes is the only time I will use lard, and that's because 30-40 years ago when I was extremely young, oatcakes fried in lard were a staple part of breakfast when we stayed with The Grandparents (The Mother's parents) in their home in Pilsley village (part of the Chatsworth estate).
 Inexcuseable, Indescribable and/or I would be sent up the road to the farm shop to fetch a packet of oatcakes so Grandma could fry them up along with bacon, black pudding, bread, tomatoes (bleeuch) & mushrooms (gag).
 Back then, the shop didn't look anything like it does now. Chatsworth wasn't the brand that it seems to be now (although I think it was on its way), and the farm shop was just a particularly well stocked village shop full of local produce. Still, times change, and I'm glad that it's so successful, but also that I can remember (just) how it used to be.

  Anyway, back to the oatcakes. As I was at work Monday and Tuesday, there was no way I was going to eat (or be bothered to cook) a greasy fried breakfast at ridiculous o'clock in the morning (besides, we didn't have bacon or black pudding), so I had oatcakes for tea (the meal, not the drink) when I got home. Just oatcakes, fried in lard, sprinkled with salt, and served with a big dollop of tomato sauce. Yum!
 
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21 comments:

  1. Ms Scarlet20 April, 2016 14:00

    Yeah.... some mushrooms would have been nice with that....
    Sx

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice20 April, 2016 19:42

      I think there are some growing in the field out back. Why don't you go and have a look?

      ::quickly shuts and bolts door after Ms Scarlet::

      Delete
  2. Hound of Hecate20 April, 2016 14:04

    I couldn't agree with you more,that that is what oatcakes should be.

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice20 April, 2016 19:42

      Hooray! Concensus!

      Delete
    2. Hound of Hecate20 April, 2016 23:02

      Oh luvvie, how cute that you stuck to your own spelling of consensus!!!

      Delete
    3. Inexplicable DeVice21 April, 2016 08:38

      Oh, gods. It's not cute, it's reprehensible! I think Witchface's SubC must have taken over...

      Delete
    4. Hound of Hecate22 April, 2016 16:04

      And did the Grandparents refer to Chatsworth as 'the big house '? I see they're looking for a first -rate housekeeper, by the way. Not suggesting, merely commenting, of course. I always fancied myself more as Audrey Forbes-Hamilton!

      Delete
    5. Inexplicable DeVice23 April, 2016 11:11

      Me, too. Although I haven't been able to get further on than a Margo Leadbetter, so far.

      Delete
  3. normadesmond20 April, 2016 17:14

    forgive me, but don't you have to be carefully taught to like this?

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice20 April, 2016 19:45

      Normally, yes, but as these are from Chatsworth, the coarseness usually affiliated with fried food is cancelled out, thereby negating the need to be taught how to eat like a commoner.

      Delete
  4. Mistress Maddie20 April, 2016 19:13

    I really need my opera glasses....i read the as out house cakes. I thought oh....he must be writing about urinal cakes. But they sound relish. Breakfast is my favorite meal.

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice20 April, 2016 19:47

      These are an excellent way to start the day. Although, I don't believe they come in lemon or pine-fresh flavours...

      Delete
    2. eroswings21 April, 2016 00:39

      These look delicious! I love regional cuisine, & those oatcakes sound amazing--Anything fried in lard sounds amazing, like donuts! Now that's a pancake! Sometimes, I eat mine like a taco--put the bacon/sausage & eggs & hashbrowns with ketchup & mayo (or syrup) on the pancake, then fold pancake over like a taco, pick it up & eat it. Half my friends think it's crazy; the other half, genius! All the kids I've shared this with think it's awesome, to the horror of some of the parents...

      Wow! Chatsworth looks amazing! What an awesome place to visit & stay & see it grow in popularity & thrive! Any sightings of Mary, the Queen of Scots, wandering around, probably eating an oatcake?

      Delete
    3. Inexplicable DeVice21 April, 2016 08:44

      The taco-way sounds pretty genius to me, too. Although I am concerned about sauce squirtage when biting into it.

      Even though I've been there no end of times, Chatsworth is pretty amazing. I've even lived there for a short time, but I don't remember it - The Parents briefly lived in one of the staff flats/apartments when I was a baby. I think Mary may have rocked me to sleep once or twice...

      Delete
  5. LẌ21 April, 2016 01:04

    Looks very tasty!

    Lard — sometimes it's best to not over-think things. It is essential for getting just the right flavor for Tortillas, Pie Crust, Re-fried Beans, Yorkshire Pudding, Indian Fry Bread, and such.

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice21 April, 2016 08:47

      Yes, it is pretty essential. I'm glad it comes in a nice. neat package, and is a lovely, clean, white, smooth consistency, belying its vile origins.

      Delete
  6. Roses22 April, 2016 15:04

    I like the look of them.

    I'm off to Devon soon, I must see if I can score some while I'm down there.

    xx

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice23 April, 2016 11:14

      Good luck! And there are always those delicious Devon cream teas to fall back on, if not.

      Delete
  7. dinahmow26 April, 2016 23:42

    Bleeuch and gag??? I expect it would be rude to call you Phyllis Stein, but mushrooms and tomatoes feature high on the menu Chez Dinahmow.So, if you pop over for a visit, give me advance notice so I can substitute some other member of the Solanum tribe...evil cackle...

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    1. Inexplicable DeVice28 April, 2016 08:56

      I hope you have better luck with your solanums than I did.
      Actually, as you'll be using them on me, I hope you don't!

      Delete
    2. Inexplicable DeVice28 April, 2016 08:56

      P.S. "Phyllis Stein" - Hah hah haa!

      Delete

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