Jesper & the Hares with a Smidgen of Apricot Flapjack

Jesper & the Hares with a Smidgen of Apricot Flapjack

Author: Rachel Mosses September 15, 2020 Duration: 27:43

In which we find out how giving away your lunch can find you a bride and win you a kingdom and how relevant that is to a delicious apricot flapjack.

Jesper and the Hares is essentially a Jack tale who’s hero just happens to be named Jesper. Jesper is wily, clever and tricky and has two foolish elder brothers. He also wins the day though a combination of trickery and generosity to those more vulnerable and needy than himself. I don’t think we need to worry about a spoiler alert, there will be no tragedy tales here.

We also talk about the significance of grain and the harvest in fairy tales and how important this was to the original audience of these tales.

The recipe for this week is apricot flapjacks, the oat based bar as opposed to the American/Canadian pancake.  It's an unusual recipe as it has a squidgy filling layer of apricot rather than apricots chopped through.  

You can use a different dried fruit if you’re not keen or just leave it out altogether but it does add a touch of luxury and sharpness to cut though the sweet oat mixture. 

Its great for breakfast or as a snack and would be perfect to give to any old ladies that you happen to come across when out walking even if you’re not trying to win a princess.

You can find the recipe here as well as some further information about the history of flapjacks and the story.


Rachel Mosses hosts Folklore, Food and Fairytales, a podcast that sits at the comfortable, worn-in table where narrative and nourishment meet. Each episode begins with a story-a piece of folklore, a fairytale, or a lesser-known myth-and then delves into the culinary world hidden within its lines. The discussion isn't just about whether the porridge in a tale is symbolic or simply a relatable detail; it's about unearthing the real food history and traditions that those fictional meals echo. You'll hear about the rituals of both eating and storytelling, and how each feeds a different kind of hunger. This podcast naturally explores how recipes are themselves stories passed down, and how the history of a dish can be as compelling as the plot of a legend. Listen for a thoughtful blend of narration and analysis, where a great story is always served with a side of fascinating context, leaving you to ponder the deep, savoury connections between the tales we tell and the food we share.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 92

Folklore, Food and Fairytales
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