For coffee at home

Just a recipe for oatcakes. I hadn't made cookies in and age so broke down last night and made one of my favourites. These oatcakes are great with coffee (or Scotch to toast Robbie Burns), less sweet than most cookies and are based on a Nova Scotia recipe. They are crisp without being hard and are warm and cosy.

1 c brown sugar
1 1/4 c shortening
2 c rolled oats
1 c spelt flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c boiling water
2 c oatbran
+ flour for rolling

Add baking soda to boiling water and set aside to cool. Cream together sugar and shortening. Add dry ingredients and cooled water with baking soda. The mixture should be slightly sticky but not wet. Add another 1/4 c or so of flour if it is. Roll out until about a 1/4 thick and cut into rounds a large cookie cutter.
Bake at 350 F for 12 mins or until golden brown and crisp.

PS Most of the pottery you will see in my pics was made by Carol Taylor.