Spurtles and Moulds

The spurtle (or "spirtle") is a Scottish kitchen tool, dating from at least the fifteenth century. It was originally a flat, wooden, spatula-like utensil, used for flipping oatcakes on a hot girdle the Scottish equivalent to a griddle. Over time, the original implement changed shape and began being used specifically for stirring oatmeal and soups. The rod-like shape is designed for constant stirring which prevents the porridge from congealing and becoming lumpy. A shortbread mould is usually made of wood, ceramic, or plastic. A shortbread mould typically has an ornate design debossed into the surface; the mould is pressed into the shortbread dough to produce an embossed design.