recipe for irish oatmeal cookies????

[lorilei]

I believe this recipe came off of a box of McCann's Irish oatmeal:

Irish Oatmeal Cookies
(Ireland)

1¼ cups margarine
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
3 cups Irish oatmeal
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts

Cream margarine and sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add to shortening mixture. Mix well. Stir in oats, raisins and walnuts.

Drop rounded teaspoons of batter on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool one minute before removing to wire cooling rack. Makes 4½ dozen.

[Beth]

Is that the difference between Irish oatmeal and the usual stuff? My sister's husband is from Dublin, so I asked her, but she didn't know.

[lorilei]

I believe the difference is in the method of harvesting the grain. Irish oatmeal is usually something called "steel cut oats".

Steel cut oats are whole oat kernels which have been thinly sliced by steel blades. They have a somewhat chewier texture and heartier flavor than rolled oats.

Anyhow, that seems to be the difference.

[tina LG]

Lorelei,
Most excellent!
Thanks so much for the recipe. The boxes of McCann's that I have been buying haven't had the recipe and I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I think you're right about the description. To be honest, I had no idea of whether they actually had the hull or not, I just wanted to emphasize the difference between the McCann's and the rolled oats. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif Your explanation was clarifying. Thanks! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[tina LG]

Does anyone know of a good, light recipe for oatmeal cookies made with Murphy's Irish Oatmeal or any other oatmeal that still has the hull on it?

[lorilei]

tina - glad to help!
Let me know how those cookies turn out. I must confess I've had the recipe for some time but have never tried it out.

[Kristilyn1]

If you want to add some serious good flavor to oatmeal cookies--add some ground up almonds. Smack your lips good.

Also, dried blueberries are pretty tasty too....

Kristi

[lorilei]

I've gotten into the habit of adding dried cranberries or cherries to mine http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

...looks like we're on a roll with additives!

[Karen from VA]

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has actually tried using McCann's Irish Oatmeal in a cookie without pre-cooking or soaking. Since it needs to be cooked for about half an hour, or soaked before cooking to eat it as a cereal, it seems to me it would be very gritty and hard if used straight out of the can in cookies. But maybe there's enough moisture in the cookie dough to soften it during baking. Also, I think there's a difference between Murphy's and McCann's Irish Oatmeal isn't there? Isn't Murphy's a rolled oat similar to Quaker Old Fashioned while McCann's is steel cut and not rolled. I don't know, but I'm curious.
Karen

[lanie]

Karen - interesting question - I just opened the 'can' I have and it looks very much like wheat berries - I am too wondering if they would cook in that length of time - it does say to cook 1/2 hour for oatmeal - anybody tried the recipe - was going to try it tomorrow or soon????? and is there a difference between McCann's and Murphy's?

[tina LG]

Lianne,
Well, I finally had the time to try the McCann's Oatmeal cookie recipe. I looked everywhere to find out if I needed to soak the steel-cut oats and couldn't find anything. So I gave it a shot and made them. They were very very crunchy. Pepperidge Farm used to make an Irish Oatmeal Cookie and these tasted somewhat similar. But definitely more crunchy. My husband really liked them, but I think I might try to give them a bit of a soak the next time. I'm thinking that I might try soaking them for an hour or so in some water and then pouring off the water. If anyone has any other suggestions, let me know. Thanks.

[tina LG]

Oops, sorry Lanie. :0
I messed up your name.

[lanie]

Hi Tina! Well the farthest I got was soak the oats for oatmeal - which by the way was very good - but they were HUGE by am - I think you idea of soaking for about an hour would be great - in fact that is I what I will do and maybe tomorrow - will let you know - I can only eat so much oatmeal http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif