A spurtle is a Scottish cooking implement used for stirring porridge (oatmeal) and dates from at least the 15th century. It's design is ideal for constant stirring and thus preventing the porridge from congealing and forming unappetising lumps.
It is recommended that you stir your porridge clockwise with your right hand - to stir counter-clockwise could invoke the Devil or bring bad luck.
I picked up the mini spurtle on my trip to Miniatura and will be in The Tenement kitchen. The 1:1 spurtle will feature in The Tenement too but more of that later.
Irene, I remember my best friend's mother (she was Scottish) telling me about spurtles. She also told me a recipe for skerlie (not sure of spelling here) where you fry onions then add oatmeal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories!
Glenda
Hi,
ReplyDeleteCrikey I wouldn't want to invoke the Devil by stirring my porridge the wrong way!
I might just try that tomorrow morning to see if Gregory Peck turns up in the kitchen with red eyes.
V
That's really interesting Irene. I love these little domestic/social history info bits you add to your blog. I'm a a bit surprised I've never heard of one of these since the area of NZ I'm from was a Scottish settlement and remnants of language and culture persist. Whenever I visit it takes me about 10 minutes to drop 'small' from my vocabulary and replace it with 'wee' and about 10 days - and a lot of cajoling from my husband - to reverse the habit when I get back to Sydney :)
ReplyDeleteYay, a mini spurtle! I want one for the Tudor kitchen so much :) Congratulations on your great purchase ...
ReplyDeleteIt's great, the object and the explanation as well. I am always interested in traditions.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this one.
Geneviève