Tastes of Scotland: Iona Oat-Nut Bars

Carolyn McDonald Graf

Iona is a small island off the coast of Mull, but it has a long and far reaching history. It is barely three miles long and one mile wide, yet this small island was the center of Christianity in Scotland and northern England beginning in 563 AD, when an Irish monk settled on the island with 12 of his followers.

St. Columba was the son of a royal Irish family. He was the grandson of the Irish King Niall. Columba became a priest and founded several monasteries in Ireland. He had a book of the Gospels which he had copied illegally and which he refused to turn over to the king. This resulted in a furious battle during which many were killed. As penance, St. Columba left Ireland in a crude boat.

Once on Iona, St. Columba set to work on building an abbey. He allowed no cows or women on his island since he believed that “where there were cows, there were women and where there were women there was mischief.” All the workers hired to build the monastery had to leave their wives and daughters on a separate island which was named Eilean nam Ban (Woman’s Island). It is also said that he eliminated all frogs and snakes although there is no documentation of how this was accomplished.

During the following 34 years, Columba and his monks created a missionary outreach to the northeastern parts of Scotland, bringing Celtic Christianity to the pagan inhabitants. Iona became known as a center of healing, learning and hospitality. It became a place of pilgrimage and 48 kings of Scotland were buried there.

Over the centuries, the monks of Iona produced countless elaborate carvings, manuscripts and Celtic crosses. Perhaps their greatest work was the exquisite Book of Kells, which dates from 800 AD, currently on display in Trinity College, Dublin. Shortly after this, in 806 AD, came the first of the Viking raids when many of the monks were slaughtered and their work destroyed. Celtic Christianity waned and was eventually overtaken by the Roman church. No part of St. Columba’s original buildings remain and there is a Benedictine Abby now on that site.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/St-Columba-the-Isle-of-Iona/

Iona oat-nut bars

This recipe is similar to one served in a teahouse on Iona today.

Ingredients

½ cup softened butter
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup rolled oats
¾ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly butter the bottom and sides of an 8” square baking dish.

In a medium bowl cream the butter and sugar. Add the flour and mix well. Spread it evenly in the prepared baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.

In a medium bowl combine the oats, sugar, baking powder and walnuts. Stir in the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Spread this mixture evenly over the baked crust and return to the oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in pan and cut into 16 squares.

The Scottish-Irish Pub and Hearth Cookbook, Kay Shaw Nelson, 2003, Hippocrene Books, New York, New York.