look what was gifted to me today. I have no idea what I’ll do with a knitting machine, or how to work it, but I have a pile of instruction manuals and the thing is just so cool that I’m sure I’ll do something fun. Thank you Mhairi.
Except that I am not allowed to play: I have essays that must be written this week. So I made some studying fuel:
This recipe came from a booklet of recipes for playgroups that we have had maybe since I was small enough to be in playgroup? Anyway we’ve been making them for a long time. Here’s the basic recipe to which I added some chopped walnuts, flaked almonds and raisins.
Rough Biscuits:
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup flour (normally I use plain flour but today I only had self-raising, didn’t make much difference)
1 cup sugar (I use light muscavado usually)
5oz butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate soda
1 tbsp boiling water
Preheat oven to 180 degrees c. Melt butter and syrup. Mix dry ingredients except bicarbonate soda in a large bowl. Add butter and syrup and mix. Mix bicarbonate soda and water in a cup and add to mixture. Roll into walnut sized balls and place on baking tray, squish flat. If the mixture is too wet to do this add some more oats or flour. (I’ve ended up with one giant biscuit before!). Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden. Allow to harden on tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
I’m writing this up here mainly for myself. Last time I wanted to make them I phoned my parents house and made my brother rummage in kitchen drawers for the booklet and read the ingredients to me over the phone – he does indeed think I’m crazy. Of course I wrote it down, but I’ve done that countless times and keep loosing it so now it’s here.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
those biscuits are anzac biscuits! as in, Australian & New Zealand Army Corp! that basic recipe is made by every kid and every mum in australia. the recipe comes from WWI, when women would make them to send to the troops in the trenches, because they were energy dense, but didn’t really go off/ go stale before they got there.
you can buy them from the bakery section of the supermarket, and in packets here too. if cafes have jars of biscuits at the counter they nearly always have a jar of anzacs. anzac biccies are that common/ well known/ popular.
oh wait. they should have some dessicated coconut in too, i think.
I’m sure you, of all the knitters I read, will do something fantastic with that knitting machine! Can’t wait to see it!
Thanks for sharing the “cookie” recipe; my little girls will be my taste-testers.
Those biscuits look delicious and I envy you the knitting machine. Mmm, shiny.
You will love your Brother knitting machine. I have several posts (with tons of pictures) on my blog on how to set up the knitting machine, how to thread it, and how to knit your first stockinette square. My blog is fairly new so it shouldn’t take too long to skim through my archives. The pictures alone should help you to understand the printed manuals better.
Don’t be afraid to seek out a local Machine Knitting Guild. I have always found guild members to be extremely helpful in encouraging new members.
Enjoy your machine! It won’t bite. You got a great model. Brother machines last forever.
Oops… I was so happy to see another hand knitter with a knitting machine that I typed my web address wrong.
I’m at http://www.knittsings.com
Oh, you’re so lucky to have a knitting machine! I really want one. I’ll get one eventually. Those biscuits look so yummy!
Have fun with the knitting machine! I have a Brother too, haven’t used it in years, which I feel very guilty about. But it was lots of fun – great with fine yarns – making a sweater in a day is easy!
And I’ll have to make the biccies for my British-born boyfriend.
I was also gifted a Brother knitting machine. I haven’t quite figured it out yet. I’m anxious to see what you make with yours.
Kathryn- I’m so glad you posted the link to your blog. I’m off to read it now. Maybe I’ll pick up some helpful pointers.
oooooh, knitting machine *droolz with jealousy* can’t wait to see what you create with it!
ANZAC biscuits! Wow, the UK has them too…. try adding ginger and chopped macadamia nuts (if you guys can get them) – yummo!
just made the biccies, taste just like hom
Yummmmmmie
thanks for a great recipe
You’ll bake up delicious knit goods once you figure out how to work that machine. What a lovely gift. I took a one evening machine knitting class and made a scarf I felted (shibori) and love it. I look forward to reading about your machine knitting experiences.
http://www.bunnydesign.com/2005/11/shibori_process.html
oh one more comment from me… love the new site/blog look.
can’t help you with your knitting machine (sorry) – I don;t have one although I have often been tempted to get one – yearnings to make lengths of knitted fabric easily and quickly that I can then felt and cut out to make other stuff (Is that sacrilige?????)
but I did want to comment on your rough biscuits recipe – I made them with my girls the other day…. very very easy and they loved them – the lasted all of about half an hour!
I had a knitting machine once but it went to the charity shop – I just enjoy knitting with my hands too much
I just logged on tonight to get the biscuit recipe as I got oats tonight at the supermarket especially so I could cook them!!
I’m making your cookies for the second time to bring to work tomorrow; the 1st batch went fast! Thank you!
I have a Brother KH400 and need a needle retainer bar for it. Where can I find one?
was looking for this recipe my mum had the playgroup book and I did at one point, love these biscuits!