The Melaniff Family Cookbook

Oaten Bread

Francisco de Cuellar was a Spanish sea captain who sailed with the Spanish Armada in 1588 and was wrecked on the west coast of Ireland.

“They do not eat oftener than once a day, and this is at night: and that which they usually eat is butter with oaten bread. They drink sour milk for they have no other drink; they don’t drink water, although it is the best in the world. On feast days they eat some flesh, half cooked, without bread or salt”

Ingredients

1 1/2 C oatmeal

1 1/2 C buttermilk

1 3/4 C flour

1 1/2 t baking soda

1 1/2 T sugar

Procedure

Day before making bread, mix oats with buttermilk in bowl.

Cover; let stand overnight.

Sift flour, sugar and baking soda into deep bowl.

Stir in oat mixture; knead in bowl, making soft dough.

Dust with flour if dough is sticky.

On lightly floured surface roll dough into round loaf 1 1/2 inch thick and 6 1/2 inches across.

Cut into 1/4s using floured butter knife. Cut all the way through, but don't separate sections.

Place on lightly floured baking tray.

Bake at 350°F for 55 minutes or until well browned.

On www.melaniff.com since 2014