h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Oats - A2318069
Author: Oojakapiv. To look for hidden doors, tidy floors, more applause - U147203

This entry has been lazing around on my PS for several months now - I reckon it's high time it got up off its bum and did something to earn its keep So, inspired by a question in Ask this morning from YalonKSA, here's my entry about Oats.

If anyone has suggestions for more traditional oat recipes I'll be only too happy to do some research and include them

Briiliant Entry, Ooj.

Just a thought; as oats is low in gluten, it'd be worth mentioning that it is good for people with gluten-intolerance/coeliac disaease.

Under nutrition, you mention that it is not as high in some minerals as other grains. but it is worth mentioning that they are relatively high in iron.

Can't remember if you put figures like this in, but a couple of bowls of oat bran or oatmeal can depress blood cholesterol by 10% or more.

Under 'fibre' it might be worth considering linking to the EG Entry called 'Dietary Solutions for Constipation' (or something like that).

Did you mention eczema and psoriasis under folk medicine?

Good point about gluten intolerance - I'll see where I can work that in.

I'll look at my research to find out about iron.

As far as the 'couple of bowls' idea is concerned, I really don't want to get into anything quite so nutrtinally or medically specific as that, apart from the quote from the FDA. While researching this entry I found so many different examples of how much oats you should eat and how much it can lower this or raise that, that I decided to simply stay away from anything of that nature.

Since you ask me if I mention excema or psoriasis, I'm guessing that I didn't I'll go through my research again to see if those two conditions are mentioned.

Thanks

Links added to 'Dietary Solutions for Constipation' and 'Defecation'

you did mention ecxema but not psoriasis. (I'm just hopeless at keeping things in mind when I'm commenting on posts)

You seem to say that insoluble fibre is best for diabetics, and also that soluble is best for sugar control. I don't know myself which is right, but it's not likely they both are.



I like that you have adapted the measures in your recipe so people can use it without having to do their own conversions ad hoc.

What kind of food is parkin? Is it a cake, fancy gingerbread or maybe a like a ginger-snap biscuit? If you are pouring it out into a pan like that, how many people should you likely cut it up for?

Interested in an Ancient Australian recipe for Anzac Biscuits?? (oats, butter, flour, golden syrup etc.)

Reply by the enclosed homing pigeon.

Good Entry, although as a Scot I'm under obligation to object to your recommendation that you serve porridge with sugar.

True, so true

I was going to do some work on this today but I've lost me specs and it's much harder for me to see the writing on the screen - I have to get to within about a foot of it and it's giving me a terrible backache

If you can point me to a good bannock recipe though I'd be much obliged

Not entirely sure what bannock is but I'll speak to my auntie, she's brilliant for traditional Scottish food.

"You seem to say that insoluble fibre is best for diabetics"
Ah, that's a typo - should read 'soluble fibre'

Parkin is indeed a ginger cake. I'll point that out in the entry. As for how many people a parkin serves, well, as with any cake, the size of the slices is entirely up to who's doing the cutting

A couple of recipes added, and some of the suggestions made earlier incorporated. I'm waiting to find out a bit more about Anzac biscuits so that I can write a little intro for them.

There was a lot of interest in Anzac biscuit recipes a few years back, I'm not sure why they didn't make it into the EG. Asking at Ask H2G2 should get you lots of info on them.

Funny you should mention that - I've just added some info I got from anzacday.org.au

Excellent entry! I really don't have anything much to add to it, but I can confirm the bit about parkin's popularity in northern England. I remember being given 'parkin pigs' as a kid - flat parkin cakes cut into the shape of a pig, with little legs and a snout sticking out and a currant for an eye. These days I eat quite a bit of porridge - nutritious and cheap, and thus great for a skint student!

Once again, well done!

Thanks Ormy

Still thinking about a few more recipes for cosmetics, so don't pick this one yet everyone

Bum.

Okay, I've got one more recipe to add but I'm waiting for clarification about the process before I can put it in. Then the entry will be ready to head off to the Sub. I'll post here when it's done

Hi Oojakapiv,

I have read this right through with much interest.

You will know about my personal medical problems; they're here for all to see!

But what you don't know about me are my other problems arising from the gastrectomy and the history of surgery that has left me with that legacy. They include psoriasis, ischemic heart disease and angina, and problems with the elimination of waste!
Your Entry has told me a great deal about oats. I love porridge, but found that it seems to set like concrete in the lower intestine! But many of its beneficial qualities would otherwise make it an ideal breakfast for me personally. I have a problem absorbing iron, for one. At present I eat oat crunches for breakfast, which (perhaps) give me the best of both worlds, so to speak.
I shall try porridge again, using your recipe.
And since I've learned to drink much more water with breakfast instead of tea, which helps elimination (not being a diuretic) it might just help the porridge to do its beneficial best for your's truly!

Thanks for your great Entry. The fact that it's so professionally written and easy to read doesn't surprise me in the least.

This'll hit the front page quickly!


f.