I wonder if all of you know that a deep and abiding love of the humble flapjack is ubiquitous amongst Englishmen. True. It is as English at Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudd, Scones, Strawberry Jam and Devonshire Cream, Spotted Dick, Rock Buns, Yorkshire Parkin, Cumberland Sausage and Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas. A man is simply not English if he does not like flapjack.
Flapjack, not flapjacks. In our Peaceful Home one makes flapjack and cuts it into pieces that are then called pieces of flapjack. Other Englishmen bake a batch of flapjacks. We do not make flapjacks. I do not know why this would be so.
Flapjack is one of those dreadful recipes that never tastes as good as the one that Mum or Grandma or your first girlfriend's Auntie May or in Mr PD's case Grandad used to make. And believe me, they all will have made it. It can be crispy or chewy, dotted with currants, oaty, buttery, pliable or brittle, flavoured with almonds or ginger or cherries, or dipped in chocolate. All are flapjack.
Despite the fact that I can never live up to Grandad's offerings, I have over the years discovered that in Beloved's case, simple is best. Butter, oats, golden syrup and brown sugar. Chewy not brittle and at least 3/4" thick. Mmmmmmmm. A batch of flapjack is an Act of Service. It tells my husband that I love him. It is also easy enough that Jemimah can whip up a batch whenever she needs some Brownie Points from Daddy. Melt, Mix, Bake. Her efforts are shown above. They're a bit darker that she would have liked, but they are still chewy. Well, they were before Daddy got home. Ahem.
Without further ado, here is the recipe for Grandad's Flapjack:
180g butter
3 tabs Golden Syrup
240g Rolled Oats
90g Brown Sugar
Melt butter and golden syrup.
Add other ingredients and mix.
Spread in well greased tin (Ours is 18x28cm)
Bake in moderate oven (180°C) 15 minutes or until the edges are brown and the rest is a goldy colour. Cool in tin 10 mins and then cut into bars. Leave to cool completely before removing from pan.
Feed to your favourite Englishman.
Sounds good. I thought they were pancakes, but more like a granola bar..
ReplyDelete:) Here, we call those granola bars. "Flapjacks" is an old-fashioned term for pancakes. I kept wondering why you just made one!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. A bit like an anzac bikkie slice? I'll have to try it sometime.
ReplyDeleteI thought flapjacks were pancakes too:) yummy (the flapjacks I mean) and pancakes too I guess! :)
ReplyDeleteMy DH moved to Australia with his family at age 10. When he makes flapjack, he doesn't bother with the last step, he eats the mixture unbaked for breakfast. It is known to the children as 'Daddy's Special'.
ReplyDeleteFunny, Claire. I've been known to do that as well. Pavlova and yoyos have wonderfully more-ish mixtures as well. Yum.
ReplyDelete