Nick Offerman and Helen Rebanks Team Up to Share Their Love of Farming and Food
Helen and James Rebanks own a cattle and sheep farm in the Lake District of England. In her beautifully written memoir, The Farmer's Wife: A Life in Days, Helen opens up about the difficult and rewarding experience of living on a farm with James and their four children. Interspersed with "day in the life" reflections, she shares 50 recipes for the nourishing food she feeds her family and guests.
Helen and James struck up an unlikely friendship with actor and comedian Nick Offerman after they discovered a shared appreciation for author Wendell Berry on Twitter. Nick visited the Rebanks farm when he was filming in Manchester, and they adopted him into their family. The Parks and Recreation star has cattle on their land and works as a farmhand when he visits.
Here, Nick joins Helen to make Raisin and Oat Cookies. Nick laments the fact that they could've been making other recipes from Helen's book, namely Spanish Chicken Stew, Minted Lamb Steaks, Lamb Empanadas, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings, Honey Mustard Sausages, Steak and Homemade Fries, and Eggs Six Ways. But, Helen says, "I promise you they're going to be delicious."
In the end, Nick agrees, "These cookies are so delicious, and it was truly easy to make." They pair perfectly with his Lagavulin Offerman Edition whisky. Try the recipe for yourself, and be sure to pick up a copy of Helen's book for a taste of her country lifestyle. Nick calls it "An exquisite love-letter to the goodness of the natural world, and to shepherding family, marriage, and a farm to health and prosperity."
Yields: 4 dozen
Prep Time: 10 mins
Process Time: 1 hour 1 min
Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Ingredients
3 c.
all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1 1/4 c.
old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp.
baking soda
1/2 tsp.
ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp.
kosher salt
1/2 c.
plus 2 tablespoons (2 sticks, plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 c.
plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 c.
packed dark brown sugar
2
large eggs
1/4 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 c.
raisins
Directions
Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beats in eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated after each addition and scraping bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Stir In the raisins.
Scoop dough (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each) onto prepared baking sheets, arranging them 2 inches apart. Press the top of each cookie gently with a fork. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
Taken from The Farmer's Wife by Helen Rebanks. Copyright © 2023 Helen Rebanks. Use by permission of Harper Horizon, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus, LLC.
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