Burleydam WI learn about oats

Burleydam and District WI's latest meeting focused on oats. Carolyn Wilde resports: "The range of food available to us in UK has never been more varied and all sorts of dietary requirements (fads even?) are catered for. Gone are the days of lettuce leaves, cottage cheese and cellulose rolls. Today those wanting to lose weight are encouraged to eat fibre and foods that are digested slowly and cereals are no longer frowned upon. Oats have been a part of the cereal diet for centuries and, today, are considered one of the "wonder" foods that have an important role to play in nutrition and health.

"Oats have been milled in South Cheshire since 1675 and the present premises of Mornflake Oats are a familiar landmark on the southern outskirts of Crewe. Jenny Wilson, ably assisted by her daughter, demonstrated the use of Mornflake oats in biscuits and flapjacks including recipes using rhubarb (as in crumble) and cranberries and chocolate. She also made savoury flapjacks using cheese. WI members were also able to buy items of food and recipe books.

"In keeping with the topic, the competition was for three flapjacks which was won by Eva Sadler, second was Gladys Burrough and third was Helen Stevenson. Members were updated on the progress of the exhibit for the Cheshire Show. Roma Twinch showed the picture she is painting on the garden theme.

"The National Federation of WI's Annual Meeting is being held this year in Liverpool. There are two resolutions for debate. The first calls for a ban on trawlers using nets to dredge up the ocean bottom which causes immense damage to the ecology of the ocean floor. The second highlights the problems of the inappropriate imprisonment of the mentally ill.

"The speaker at the next meeting on 3 June will be Idris Evans on the Drovers' routes of Wales. Visitors are always welcome."

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.