Happy St Andrew’s Day

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Today, 30th November, is St Andrew’s Day and I would like to send my best wishes to all fellow Scots and those of Scots ancestry here on BC/TS.

How many of us will be tucking into haggis, neeps and tatties at our evening meal tonight? Not forgetting the dram of whisky poured over the haggis as “gravy”.

Slainte mhath,

Gabi.

Comments

Scots Recipes

I was persuing a web site that was all Scots recipes, every one of them sounded good then as it got to the bottom it would digress into which whiskey would be best with it or something to that effect. It was very well played out. Actually some good recipes too!
Very much the Julia Child of Scots food.
There is an American comic of Scot decent who tells a tale of going back to his ancestral home and while in a pub some of the lads decide to have a lark at his expense and offer to take him on a hunt for Wild Haggis, ...everyone knows they are best when fresh and of course one you shoot yourself is all the better.
They have him out pre-dawn in the moores and tell him where to point the shotgun and to just shoot when they say to, they will beat the bushes and scare one up. But they warn him that they are so terrifyingly ugly he could not possibly eat one if he had ever seen one in real life so they will put it all in a sack and get it back to the pub where the chef will have it ready for him by dinner. A very funny tale when you hear it from the source.

That Reminds Me Of The Running Gag About Snipe

jengrl's picture

That reminds me of the running gag about Snipe hunting. They take some poor unsuspecting dolt out into the woods with just a gunny sack and tell him they are looking for Snipe. True Scotsmen and Women know what Haggis is. I'm told that it is an acquired taste. I'm amazed he fell for that one LOL!

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Somewhere I have a recipe for haggis

erin's picture

It was written by an American of mixed ancestry and says at the bottom that it will serve 8 Scots or 192 Norwegians. :)

Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

And Norwegeans eat ...

lutefisk, cod preserved in lye.

-- YUCK ! -- And I'm part Norwegian.

For them not to relish haggis says volumes.

Maybe that's what made the Scotch warriors so tough: horrid food, cold drafts up their kilts and lots of single malt whiskey.

John in Wauwatosa

John in Wauwatosa

The Last King of Scotland

laika's picture

...was a film about a pyschopatic Ugandan dictator who had a soft spot for Scotts. Which goes to show you don't have to be from Scottland to appreciate Scottish culture. They make great starship engineers.
A most bonny St. Andrews Day to all!
~~hugs, Laika

.

(Oh, and speaking of UGANDA...
Isn't that a mess what's going on there? I feel so damn powerless to do anything to help.
I don't suppose me writing my representatives will do any more good than it did about Darfur.
I'd boycott Ugandan coffee but I don't think the cheap American brands I drink come from there.
I just hope that those affected by this law will take the lessons of history seriously,
and if they have the means will running for the nearest border before it's too late,
and that other states will grant asylum to these victims of "morality" gone mad.
In the mean time I pray...)

Scotland The Brave!

jengrl's picture

I am very proud of my Scottish ancestry. I actually do own a wee piece of the homeland there. I think I mentioned it a few months back. My last name is Campbell but I am also a Macaulay as well. The Macaulay side has been traced back to 1326. It is on my mother's side. My official title is Lady Jennifer of Bandrum. I was amazed when someone identified me as a Campbell just by looking at me. He asked me if he was right and I told him yes. When I hear "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes it gets me every time.

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I am somewhat envious

My last names are Boucher and Webb, and the best I can do is postulate that the Boucher side came from Worchestershire. I don't know any juicy fables about my English history. We apparently fled to the Colonies around 1735, and after that were Pastors, Teachers, and Rum Runners. :)

As far as I know, there are no dashing heros or royalty, however.

Gwen

Don't worry about it

At least you can find a past for yourself, however vague. For my part, my father was illegitimate, born in Wales to an Irish bar owner. I've no idea about his mother. Or any of his half brothers or sisters. On my mother's side, although the family is vast, none of it comes from anywhere near the UK. Her mother could walk unnoticed down any street in China/South East Asia, her father ditto for southern India. The name Sim runs in that side of the family, which is supposed to be part of the Fraser clan, but knowing my luck it's probably Korean. I guess I'm a genuine product of the old Empire. I'm English by birth, look entirely indigenous, but not a drop of English blood runs in my veins.

Penny

Everyone Knows

joannebarbarella's picture

That the haggis graze on steep hillsides and always move in the same direction, so that they have evolved with legs much shorter on the uphill side (absolute proof of Darwinism).

They are easy to catch. One simply beats the heather in front of the flock, making them panic and try to flee in the opposite direction, whereupon they lose all foothold and roll down to the bottom of the brae, where they can be gathered at leisure.

Of course it depends on your religion whether you are permitted to hunt and eat clockwise or widdershins haggis. A remote cousin called the leek is found in Wales.

There have been unconfirmed rumours that miscegenation occasionally occurs and a creature somewhat like a sheep with legs of equal length is the outcome. These tales are generally treated as pornographic and definitely not repeated in polite company.

When cooked they are doused in whisky to make them edible. It is also usually necessary to drink three-quarters of the bottle before pouring the dregs over the puir wee beastie.

Edward I had William Wallace tortured to death by continuously feeding him haggis until he died of a surfeit,

Anybody interested in more detail can read my definitive book "The True History Of The Scots", available at all reputable booksellers, usual price US$50,

Joanne

To a distant cousin...

Dear Gagi...

I'll raise a golden measure with a cousin any time. A blessed St. Andrew's!!!

Slainte a Dia Duit

Kelly Blake

Thank you very much...

This from one that's over 1/3 Scot (most from my dad, but some from my mom as well).

Perhaps I need to convince the local establishments to begin to celebrate, as they celebrate the Scottish patron saint of Ireland (St. Patrick). :-)