Sampling from “Scotch Colony Hearts and Hearths” History/Cookbook, now available for $20, proceeds to support Scotch Colony projects.

Upper Kintore

Oatmeal Dressing

Recipe from Ethel (Flewelling) Barclay and Myra Barclay

2 c oatmeal
2 finely chopped onions
Salt & pepper
4 Tbsp of turkey drippings

Stir oatmeal, onions and seasonings into hot drippings. Put the dressing in a turkey. Variations: You can use use a cup of oatmeal and 1 cup of bread crumbs and add ½ tsp of sage. The Grierson family used summer savoury instead of sage. Often Carrie Grierson made hers with olive oil instead of drippings and added a bit of chicken or turkey broth for moisture in the latter years when cholesterol became a problem. When Jean Drum, of Bon Accord made this dressing she used only 1 c oatmeal along with the 2 onions. This dressing was commonly used among the Scots of the Scotch Colony. Aunt Ethel Barclay & Grammie (Myra) Barclay would always make oatmeal dressing to put in their turkeys or chickens. Many of the family members still use it or a variation of it today. The Scots’ name for oatmeal stuffing is Skirlie.