Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year, New Spurdle

So, a spurdle (or spurtle, or spirtle, or - of all things - theevil) is a Scottish porridge-stirring stick. I'd known about their existence for a while, but had never seen one in stores, and really wasn't sure how much of a difference it would make versus a wooden spoon. It's supposed to keep the oats from breaking up too much, and by golly it actually works like that! I felt like I was wielding a fairy wand when I used it for the first time. It makes really fluffy oats. yay! I also got a gigantinormous glass jar of my favourite brand of porridge, and an bowl-cozy with moo-cow pattern on it, cos my mum knows me sooooo well and knows I would squee like a wee kid for all the oatmeal bling. I wonder how many times I can say oatmeal? :o

I'm also pretty keen on stirring deosil - clockwise, instead of widdershins - counter-clockwise, lest the faeries come and steal my first born or turn me to ice or at any rate have their evil fun with me. You can't be too careful!

The Banana Wheat Germ Muffins from the Veganomicon are really nice, too. Slightly crispy as advertised, verrrrry light, almost cupcake-y in texture. I wish I had remembered to stir the walnuts inside, but they're pretty on top. I also might add another banana to the recipe, or use bananas that were more ripe and flavorful, but anyway they were tasty. (use the whole tbsp of cinnamon! It's not too much)

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

oooh you make me want to make some of them muffins! yours look lovely.

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Haha I'd never heard of a spurdle before, which is strange since I am an oatmeal fiend!

Anardana said...

I always stir things clockwise, too!! I read once that it brings good energy. Counter-clockwise seems like bad luck.

Ruby Red said...

the walnuts DO look pretty on top! i've been looking at that muffin recipe lately too, they sound excellent.

you are too funny, i love reading how excited you are about your spurdle. and i thought i was a hardcore oatmeal lover!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

ahh so a spurdle is a porridge-stirring stick, eh? fascinating!! I wonder if I could find one of those where I live... looks quite handy for those of us who fancy oatmeal/porridge!!

The Banana-Wheat Germ Muffins look incredibly delicious - especially with the walnuts on top (better than stirring them inside for sure, since they add a nice "finishing touch" to the muffins). To make them more flavorful, you could try adding dehydrated bananas or banana-chips - that would DEFINITELY add a banana-flavor-kick!!

Rural Vegan said...

I've finally learned what a spurtle is! There is a cooking gadget for everything isn't there? Glad it works as advertised!

Rage And Love said...

Hmmm...spurdle...never heard of it, but I like it already!

Those muffins are AMAZING! (sorry I have a thing with muffins...)

Wish you all the best for 2008!
(I'll link you up on my list of bloggies!)

aTxVegn said...

So where did you find a spurdle? I think I need one!

The muffins look very tasty.

Happy New Year!

urban vegan said...

I want one of those for brekky!

Ashasarala said...

Where does one go about finding a spurdle, exactly?

Anonymous said...

A spurdle, huh? I've never heard of such a tool before, but it certainly does sound like a magic wand- I wonder why it works so much better than the average spoon!

Hot, spiced oatmeal sounds pretty good right about now though, so perhaps I should invest in one myself...!

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

I've also heard of people turning their average spoons around to use the handle instead! But if anyone wants to find one, apparently mine came from Lee Valley Tools... it's a canadian woodworking store. Don't know how easy that would be to access for non-canucks, but that's where it was got.

Yay for muffins as well! Rage and Love, I'm bloggying you back, and I am so so also a muffin fiend. My favourite dinner is a toasty EB'd muffin (or 3!)

Anonymous said...

Another spurdle adventurer. Got mine at the gift shop at The Clearing in Door County, Wisconsin - a folk school that hosts week-long, residential classes in art and nature - and serves oatmeal, family style, every morning for breakfast.

dcain said...

I just wrote a post about our spurdle collection. My wife became intrigued by them and now we have a few hanging in our kitchen.
http://nancydavebuildhouse.blogspot.com/2011/07/spurdles.html

eva said...

lovely spurdle,
where did you find it to buy???
i'm looking for one too.....

lee valley tools sells them - hoping to go there tomorrow and pick a couple up.
xo
eva