It all began with our biannual date night.
Living thousands of miles away from family means we have a decided lack of babysitters, and this means that my husband and I get a rare child free night out approximately once every two years.
A friend had kindly offered to babysit so we could spend the night in town for our second wedding anniversary recently (you can read all about that on my Shetland.org blog post).
We packed up the car and with an air of excitement we started on the 25 minute journey into town (and the babysitters) stopping for fuel half way.
Since, just the day before, I’d paid the £2639.55 car bill with the freelance and blogging earnings I’d saved; savings that were supposed to be spent on taking the entire family to Norway this summer, it should stand to reason that after refueling the car it should decide not to start.
Seriously.
We had to phone the AA.
Now, living on a remote island in the middle of the North Sea means that the AA isn’t as depicted on the tv commercials. There’s no one coming to your rescue within 20 minutes. Nope. The AA person on the phone had to ring the subcontractor on Shetland, who, we have subsequently discovered, is the only breakdown assistance driver on these islands. Just the one. For over 22,000 people.
I’m a bit stubborn in that I have a tendency to refuse to ask people for help, so I made my poor family eat a lunch of olives, cold meats and Devon scones in the car while we waited for the breakdown assistance guy. Do you have any idea how many crumbs kids can make with Devon scones? Not my best food choice for car picnic eating.
The temperature in mid-January at 60 degrees North was rather cold. Freezing temperatures, to be precise, and since the car wouldn’t start we had no heating. I played music on my tinny sounding iPhone. We held out as best as we could but after about an hour our toes started to get a bit nippy, so we went into the petrol station to walk around a bit and try and warm up.
The staff kindly invited us into the staff room to warm up by the electric heater and gave us juice and coffee, which I was most grateful for.
After I warmed up I went browsing around the shop aisles and much to my delight discovered a brown paper bag filled with Orkney beremeal from Barony Mills. I have a little bit of an obsession with beremeal, a six row heritage barley grain thought to be brought to these remote islands by the Vikings, way back when.
The only place that still grows and mills it commercially, to my knowledge, is Barony Mills in Orkney, and so when I saw this gorgeous little paper bag filled with the stuff I had to buy it. £3.50 for 1.5 kg of stoneground bere meal. Bliss!
This bag of beremeal was first opened in The Old Haa, on the island of Yell. I was playing personal assistant to the wonderfully fantastic food and travel blogger Kerstin Rodgers aka Ms. Marmite Lover while she prepared some beremeal bannocks to be cooked over the peat fire. (As an aside, you have to check out one of her many fab books – V is for Vegan – inspirational!). She was up for the Up Helly Aa celebrations, and it was lovely to be able to spend some time with her.
You have to excuse the grainy texture of the photograph, there had been some problems getting the peat fire going and the entire building was filled with peat smoke! Very atmospheric!
So yes, beremeal bannocks cooked over an open peat fire. It can’t be beat! Watch this space for a recipe link.
There’s a bakery in Orkney that make the most delicious beremeal shortbread biscuits. I could seriously eat the entire pack in one go they’re that good, and so with my bag of beremeal I wanted to make my own.
It took a bit of guesswork and tweaking, but I think I’ve come up with a good recipe. They’re not like the Argos bakery biscuits, but they are certainly a reasonable alternative.
I’ve had no fewer than 15 different taste testers for these biscuits, including my eldest son’s home economics teacher, so the consensus is rather good (either that or everyone’s just really polite and didn’t want to tell me they were awful!).
I’ve added a little sprinkling of Scottish seaweed (I used Mara) just because I like to put seaweed in my baking, and it makes the cookies a little bit different from the Argos Bakery variety. All in all I’m pretty impressed with them. 🙂
As for the car, when the AA guy showed up 90 minutes later the car started right away. First time. Murphy’s Law! We had our night out and then took the car back to the garage. They couldn’t find anything wrong, and we’ve had no problems with it since. Knock on wood.
As for Norway. All of us can’t afford to go, but I have my plane ticket booked for July. Visiting Norway is on my 40 Things I’d Like to Do Before I Turn 40 list.
Orkney Beremeal Shortbread with Scottish Seaweed
Ingredients
- 175 grams butter cold
- 80 grams caster sugar plus extra to dust
- 175 grams beremeal flour I used Barony Mills
- 50 grams cornflour
- 1 tsp dried dulse flakes I used Mara
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C / 160 C fan and line a baking tray with a silicone baking mat or baking paper.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. I use my Optimum ThermoCook and select CHOP for 60 seconds.
- Add the remaining ingredients and combine thoroughly. If using the ThermoCook select CHOP for a further 60 seconds.
- Using your hands, knead the dough lightly and form into two flat discs. Wrap in cling film and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
- Lightly dust your work surface with some beremeal flour and roll out the dough (it will still be fairly soft) to a four mm thickness.
- Cut with a round cutter and place on your prepared baking tray and using the tines of a fork poke a few holes in the top of each biscuit.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden. Dust with extra caster sugar as soon as they come out of the oven and leave to cool a few minutes on the baking tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Click here for the nutritional information for this recipe.
OTHER BEREMEAL RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Orkney Beremeal Bannocks by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Beremeal Recipes from Barony Mills
OTHER SEAWEED RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Oatcake Recipe with Seaweed by Ms. Marmite Lover
Shetland Flag-topped Lemon & Seaweed Cupcakes by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Green Soup with Sea Spaghetti by Fab Food 4 All
Vegetable Salad with Seaweed Miso Dressing by Fuss Free Flavours
Mediaeval Horsebread by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Vegan Tofush & Chips by Planet Veggie
Green Tea & Shetland Seaweed Ice Cream by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Seaweed Wrapped Pouting with Curry Sauce & Pumpkin Risotto by Coffee & Vanilla
Seaweed Farfalle & Pesto with Fiery Chilli Halloumi by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Shetland Pepperkakehus by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary is a Froothie Ambassador and she uses the Froothie Optimum 9400 blender, the Froothie Optimum 600 slow juicer and the Optimum ThermoCook to make many of her recipes. These are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a blender or juicer through them we will earn a small commission. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions are our own. This post also contains an Amazon affiliate link, highlighted in orange.
The Eigg, Yell, Shetland
This sounds like a flooded engine (with petrol) which may resolve after leaving it for 20 minutes or so before trying to start again.
I recently returned from Orkney with a bag of beremeal and will be trying these biscuits with some seaweed I have been ignoring in the kitchen cupboard. Maybe give some out for Christmas. Having looked online a 1.5 kg bag costs around £8 including postage! May have to buy it in bulk and share with friends.
These look delightful but I never would have thought of seaweed in something sweet. I have seaweed seasonings from Cornish Seasalt so will have to look in to your suggestion.
Thank you for the lovely recipe. Wow, that looked busy work even though I love baking too haha
These look so cute! Might try make these as a homemade gift 🙂
oooh that sounds awful – 90 minutes in the cold with kids is not to be sneezed at – hope it is not 2 years until your next date night
These look delicious! Hope your car is ok now (fingers crossed!) How exciting to be going to Norway 🙂 Kaz x
Sometimes I feel that I live in a remote backwater, then I read one of your blog posts and it brings me back to the reality of mainland living! I love the Beremeal shortbread biscuits, I’ve never tried baking with it, but would like to try so will lookout for it.
They look irresistible!
I adore shortbread especially with a nice cup of tea. These look delicious. So sorry to hear if your car troubles.
Enjoy Norway, it’s really a beautiful place
I love shortbread, but these ingredients in this cookie are new to me. I bet the seaweed would give it a bit of a salty flavor which would go nicely with a sweet cookie. I’m very interested in these, and have pinned them to make later.
What a delightful Mother’s day gift these shortbread cookies would make!
These little cookies would go perfectly with my afternoon hot chocolate!
I love shortbread and I am totally intrigued with the delicious flavors of this one! Perfect with a cup of tea!
I’ve had to entertain kids in a cold, non functioning car before while we waited (forever) for help. I don’t envy you that! Im glad you found the beremeal as your bit of fun for the night. Looks like you put it to good use Too! Love the look of these yummy cookies!
Oh my gosh, what an adventure you had, sounds like you & the kids were real troopers! Good thing you made up for it with the biscuits, they look divine! 😀
Shortbread cookies are a favorite, I would definitely try adding seaweed though this is the first time I’ve heard of it.
Wow, that’s quite a story and a good one. I’m intrigued by beremeal and wish I’d tried it when I lived in the North East because these cookies look delicious.
Love shortbread cookies! But beremeal flour and dulse flakes are new to me. Got to explore more about them. But these cookies look great and makes me want to try them.
Could really enjoy this with a nice cup of tea
I tried this recipe and the shortbread was lovely – I omitted the seaweed though! I got the beremeal from Scoop in Lerwick.
Our local cafe/deli has started selling Beremeal. Bought some yesterday and made Bere bannocks and then found your recipe . Worked really well. The dulse gives a real depth of flavor to the shortbread. Will definitely make again.
I tried your recipe and the shortbread is lovely – I omitted the seaweed though! I got the beremeal from Scoop in Lerwick.
I would never in a million years have thought to put seaweed and short bread together, they have me interested I want to try them
oh wow these look and sound amazing I so need to try these
I love shortbread but I have never had it with seaweed before! I am intrigued about the Beremeal too! Thank you x
These are my favourite biscuits! They look so yummy
I’m so glad everything turned out okay with the car, and isn;t it always the way that it works when someone comes to check it!? This recipe looks lovely, by the way, I wouldn’t ever have thought to add seaweed but I can see how t works!! xx
We love shortbread, and these look and sound great!
Shortbread are one of my favourite biscuits ever!
Such a shame about the car, but you turned it positive. It must have been fun to cook with Ms Marmite Lover and these shortbreads sound amazing!
Oh I love shortbread, thanks for this! xo
Gorgeous. I would happily have these for breakfast, lunch,, or supper!
1 driver and 22,000 people? Wow. PS I would happily be the 16th tester for you.
I really love shortbread and these ones look super tasty! xxx
These look fabulous and I love the idea of adding the seaweed. I live in the US. Do you know if the beremeal is available on-line?
That Beremeal sounds incredible as do your shortbread cookies. I did laugh at the scone eating scenario in the back of the car! How many times had you attempted to start the car when it conked out? Thanks for including my soup:-)
Aw you poor thing sorry to hear all your earnings went on your car but what a delicious recipe you made and great that you made the situation positive. How are things with you?
Maybe the car breaking down was because you were meant to buy the beremeal flour? Although i am guessing it was extremely frustrating at the time. I love seaweed although my other half doesn’t so I would have to do half an half! xx
The shortbread looks ace always reminds me of my granddad who used to get it for us as kids. these biscuits look amazing though ,less stodgy than normal. xxxx
These look super yummy! Making me so hungry!
i would love to try these. i have a shortbread addiction that will never go away
These sound gorgeous! You did make me laugh with the comment about the car, that really is sods law! xx
Yikes, sorry about the car business! I hope everything else made up for it. The shortbread looks great!
Such a shame your holiday savings had to go on the car! I know how that feels 🙁 The shortbread looks wonderful. I’m very curious to try Beremeal now ☺
Never heard of beremeal before, but now I’m intrigued. The shortie looks very tasty indeed.
These look delicious , I have never cooked with beer earl flour so off to google about it.
you had me at the word ‘Shortbread’ . We love it in our house
The shortbread looks great – I’m so curious to know what seaweed tastes like in them. So sorry to hear about having to spend so much on the car though – it’s so depressing having to spend on ‘boring’ things like that but more so now you can’t take everyone to Norway. If I win big on Euromillions I’ll make sure to pay for you all to go 😉
I have never heard of these before, they do sound interesting though
oo these look delicious! I love that you added seaweed too to give them a little something extra! my mum loves shortbread!
Wow, what a nightmare! But at least something good came from it! I’ve never head of Beremeal, it sounds fantastic. These shortbreads look perfect for this time of year with a big cuppa!
Your photos are beautiful! This shortbread looks amazing. I am a huge shortbread fan! I can’t wait to make this with my family!
All right, that does it, I am googling that grain. It sounds fascinating! I just put a barley breakfast bowl on my site because I adore barley, but mine was the plain-Jane type of barley. I want YOURS!
These biscuits look wonderful – but I’m afraid all the fun ingredients you’ve mentioned aren’t available in the US. 🙁 I’ve never heard of beremeal flour or dried dulse flakes. Is cornflour like cornmeal or masa?
Oh these look delicious you’ve got me wanting to go and bake now!
I have never had seaweed in a sweet dish before, but this has inspired me to try!
I love shortbread and these are just beautiful!!
These really look wonderful. I love how rustic they look and how you’ve styled them.
Love the story! glad u got your date night. These biscuits look delicious
Wow sounds like you’ve has enough excitement for one year haha. How cool is beremeal! I’d never heard of it before. Fantastic recipe!
Yum! I love seaweed but never heard of this – will need to have a go!
I love using seaweed in savoury dishes but have yet to be convinced of its place in sweet. Love the sound of the beremal though.
I can’t believe that your car broke down after spending all that money on it. At least you managed to find some flour to make the amazing shortbread biscuits though. I’ve never actually tried to make my own shortbread but I might have to now! x
I can really relate to the bi-annual date day and lack of child-free time. Isn’t it the way that these things happen just on the days you’ve been looking foward to! Glad it was sorted without too much trouble. The biscuits look divine!
Oh my word, these shortbread biscuits look heavenly! My husband loves them, will certainly keep this recipe in mind 🙂