Since the launch of Broken Promises, lots of people have been getting in touch with me asking about the oatcakes I mention in my books. Why, I hear you ask? Because in Stoke-on-Trent, we have our own recipe, something that I have grown up with since I was a child.
Before I started school, while my mum was at work, I was looked after by a woman I lovingly called Ettie. Every Friday she would make oatcakes in batches, I presume to sell.
To my memory, she had an iron plate that she would put on the top of the oven, ladle out the mixture and after a minute or two would flip the oatcake over to brown the other side. She used to make me mini oatcakes, I do remember that!
We have lots of oatcake shops around Stoke and us Stokies all have our favourite ones to visit. Now we also have a company, The Staffordshire Oatcake Company, that you can purchase ready-made bags to do-it-yourself.
I am not affiliated with this company, but I thought I would try them for myself. Honestly, me and my fella thought they would be a disaster (purely to do with our cooking skills) but they turned out really well.
There were a couple we had to throw away - let's call those the trial ones - but after that we were well away!
So here you go, in a few photos, how we did it! A proper Stokie breakfast - well, one of them because we have them with eggs, sausages, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes etc.
Some people even have them as a sweet with bananas and nutella, although I haven't tried them that way.
You can find out more information on their website.
What you find in the bag
Not that appetising yet - but look at the yeast bubbles.
Leave to rest for 15 minutes
Ready to cook - bacon and cheese!
Tada - the finished product!
Ready to eat!
