Neeps, Tatties and a Broken? Nose.

Neeps and Tatties
On Friday I spent most of the day in the kitchen of the Presbyterian Church preparing Neeps and Tatties for the next day's Robbie Burns supper. You don't need pictures, I've done this many times before. When I arrived, there was already an army of volunteers peeling the Neeps (turnips) and the Tatties (spuds, potatoes) so I set to by chopping green onions. By the time that job was finished, some of the cooked turnips were ready to mash. Just add a large dollop of butter, a couple of beaten eggs, salt and pepper, and bake in the oven with some grated cheese on top... yummy!

Then in the afternoon it was the turn of the Tatties. Add generous dollops of sour cream, butter, cream cheese, chopped green onion, some salt and pepper and some milk, and mash like mad!

Altogether we prepared 18 large turnips and 70 pounds of potatoes. Enough to feed 160 people. Phew!

A Broken? Nose
I think it might be broken but there's nothing I can do about it.
I was looking after TessaDog while YoungerSon and family had a weekend winter adventure. We were playing chase the ball in the snow. I bent down to get the ball, and Tessa jumped up at the same time, and I heard a mighty CRUNCH! Her hard head and my vulnerable nose collided. Lots of blood dripping onto the snow, but I finally managed to staunch the flow with a crumpled kleenex, while desperately trying not to get blood on my new Olympic mitts, and at the same time Tessa jumping up and down trying to get me to throw the ball again.... total chaos! And did I mention that it was -14C at the time? Brrrr.
Now I have a cute nose bump that wasn't there before. Oh well. Thanks for the nose job, Tessa!

Robbie Burns Night
Burns Night is usually celebrated on Rabbie's birthday, 25 January, but ours was a couple of weeks early, as usual. There was the Address to the Haggis, accompanied by a bagpiper, and followed by a toast to Rabbie Burns. There was Scottish Country dancing, singing of Scottish songs, and quoting Burns poetry. And the best dinner you can get for $20.00. Here's mine......

On looking back at previous Burns blog posts (just click on the Burns label at the end of this post), I see I've taken a pic of my dinner every year. Probably because it's always SOOOO GOOOOD!

Happy Birthday Rabbie Burns!

Another Burns Day is upon us. Time to get out the kilts and the tartans. The Poet of Scotland, Robert Burns, is celebrating his birthday on 25 January. He'll be 254 years old, and still lookin' good and ready for some partyin'!
As always. I got myself volunteered in the food preparation in the church kitchen. I don't know why I do that, I make the same mistake every year! First we peeled 50 pounds of tatties and about 70 pounds of neeps (that's potatoes and turnips to the uninitiated!).

Then it was all cooked, mashed, salt and pepper and butter added and piled into serving dishes ready to be heated up the following day.

One of my tasks is to heat the haggis, and here they are in my kitchen, ready to pop into the oven. The national dish of Bonny Scotland - sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lungs) minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach.... doesn't that sound appetising? Best eaten with your eyes shut!

The haggis is traditionally piped into the dining hall with the diners standing to attention, and Burns' "Ode to a Haggis" is recited over it as it is ceremonially opened with a sharp knife. We drank a toast to the haggis with apple juice... the closest we'll get to Scotch tonight, this is a church function!!!

My dinner.... roast beef and horseradish, haggis, peas, tatties and neeps, all smothered in gravy, with some coleslaw on the side.

After the dinner is consumed and the tables are cleared, the entertainment! Traditional Burns' poetry, Scottish songs from the church choir and from Susan, a soprano with the voice of an angel, memories of Scotland, a Scottish singalong, and of course, no Burns Night would be complete without the dancing girls! First Sarah demonstrating an energetic Highland Fling.....

.... and then a strathspey and a reel from our Scottish Country Dance Group.... I'm peering over everyone's heads from the back row. 

T'was a Braw, Bricht, Moonlicht Nicht....

.... and indeed it was braw for our Rabbie Burns Night Dinner, it was -12C outside.

Scotland's favourite son and poet, Rabbie Burns, was born in Alloway, Scotland, on January 25, 1759, and this year celebrates 253 years since his birth. He died in Dumfries, Scotland, on July 21, 1796.

Robert Burns' acquaintances held the first Burns' supper on July 21, the anniversary of his death, in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the late 1700s. The date was later changed to January 25, which marks his birthday. 

And what's the best way to celebrate a birthday? Well, have a party, of course. And that's exactly what Scots all over the world (and wannabe Scots, like me) do every January.

Sorry, no photos of the fabulous food, I was too busy enjoying my dinner to take pictures, but you can see a sample of previous Burns Dinner delights here and here

And it's not only the tradition of food and drink. There's poetry, song and dance too. These young ladies demonstrated the Hornpipe and Highland Dance.

And then it was the turn of the Scottish Country Dance group.... I'm the one behind the camera. We danced the strathspey Peggy Spouse MBE and the reel Mrs MacLeod of Raasay.

The evening culminated with everyone joining in a rousing version of one of Rabbie Burns' best known songs..... Auld Lang Syne. Won't you join us next year? Planning has already started for our Burns Night 2013!

The Wee Beastie

Let me tell you, it's hard work creating an interesting blog post every other day through the month of January. I'm glad I didn't commit to posting daily!
But here's something you don't see every day........ Haggis!

At the moment 25 pounds of yummy Haggis is sitting in a cooler in my garage, waiting to be popped in my oven to be served at tomorrow's Robbie Burns Night dinner.
Yes, I know..... you're going to say that Robbie Burns Night isn't until January 25th. We know that. We just like to celebrate a few days early.... when the Haggis harvest is nice and fresh.

And today was spent preparing the traditional "Tatties and neeps" to accompany the Haggis... that's mashed potatoes and mashed turnips to you Sassenachs.... well, actually I'm a Sassenach too, but don't tell anyone.
There'll be roast beef and horseradish too, and peas and gravy, and cake and Scottish shortbread for dessert.... and then the entertainment. Come back in a couple of days for pictures.

On The Table #1

Fellow blogger Madretz in San Francisco has suggested a Monday blog theme of "On The Table", pictures taken from a table viewpoint.

I can't guarantee that I'll be posting one of these every Monday, but here's a start.
My dinner at Saturday's Rabbie Burns Night. Roast beef, horseradish, HAGGIS, coleslaw, mashed tatties, green peas, chappit neeps, and gravy!
I can't believe I ate the whole thing!!!!

Wee Beasties

What is it? Any guesses?
Alien creatures from outer space?
Something found slithering in the basement?
Something you might find out behind the barn? Ewwww....

Nope.... none of the above.
There are FIVE of them warming up in my oven right now.
Yes.... HAGGIS!

You've heard of a HAGGIS haven't you? A small furry animal with one set of legs longer than the other so that it can run on the steep slopes of the Scottish Highlands without falling over. But it can only run clockwise.

You don't believe me?

You're right. Haggis is a kind of giant Scottish sausage containing sheep's heart, liver and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, lots of pepper to drown the taste, and simmered in a casing of sheep's intestine. Sounds awful but actually is quite good. Just remember to keep your eyes shut while you're eating it.

All this in preparation of our annual Rabbie Burns Night tonight.

Rabbie Burns Night 2010

Yes... I know, and all you Scotophiles out there will be quick to point out that Rabbie Burns 251st birthday is not until January 25th 2010, but we like to celebrate early.
Saturday night saw the 16th Annual Rabbie Burns Night organised by St James Presbyterian Church, and it was every bit as good as the previous 15. Better in fact!
To start the procedings, the piper led the procession around the room to the strains of "Scotland the Brave".....

.... closely followed by the haggis bearer. It's a very serious business, haggis bearing.

The haggis was ceremonially sliced open as the piper recited Burns' poem "Ode to a Haggis", and we raised our glasses to toast the haggis and the Scottish Bard (apple juice.... none of the hard stuff, this is a church event!).
Then, before the dinner, The Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.

Dinner was the traditional feast of roast beef, mashed tatties, peas, champit neeps, coleslaw, haggis, horseradish sauce and gravy... followed by assorted pies and Scottish shortbread.... all local produce prepared by the church ladies. Scrumptious!
And after the dishes are cleared away, it's time for the entertainment. A children's choir, Highland dancers, readings of Burns' poetry, a singalong of Scottish songs, and a wonderful soprano soloist.
And, of course, Scottish Country Dancers. We danced a strathspey, "The Rakes of Glasgow"......

..... and then a costume change for a reel, "Corn Rigs".

And we'll be doing it all again this time next year when we celebrate Rabbie's 252nd birthday! Wouldn't you like to join us? We'll save you a seat.

Rabbie Burns Night 2009

Welcome to the 15th Annual Rabbie Burns Night Dinner hosted by the local Presbyterian Church, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's favourite poet!

We spent a whole day giggling laughing gossiping working hard in the church kitchen, peeling, cooking and preparing 70lbs of potatoes and about 25 large turnips. This makes mashed tatties and champit neeps. With the addition of coleslaw, green peas, roast beef with horseradish, haggis and gravy, this is enough to feed 160 hungry Scotophiles. Here are some of the hardworking kitchen help.... don't ask about the fingers....

.... and this is the resulting dinner. All this and entertainment too for only CDN$16?? What a bargain. Don't you wish you had bought a ticket?

Our expert gravy maestro makes two, yes TWO, kinds of gravy, one with onions (my favourite) and one without.
What's a roast beef dinner without gravy???

Besides, many people claim that it drowns enhances the taste of the haggis!

Everyone stands in respect for Rabbie Burns as the haggis is ceremonially piped in by the piper.
Strains of Scotland the Brave assail our ears.

The haggis is carried behind the piper on a silver tray, and traditionally follwed by glasses of Scotch for drinking the health of Rabbie Burns, even though Rabbie's been dead since 1796.
In this case, the Scotch is replaced by apple juice.... this is a church function. Don't tell Rabbie.
At this point in the procedings, it's time for the traditional "Address To A Haggis".

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy o' a grace

As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hurdies like a distant hill,

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

In time o' need,

While thro' your pores the dews distil

Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,

An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like ony ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn,

they stretch an' strive:

Deil tak the hindmost!

on they drive,

Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve,

Are bent lyke drums;

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,

"Bethankit!" 'hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout

Or olio that wad staw a sow,

Or fricassee wad mak her spew

Wi' perfect sconner,

Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view

On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,

As feckless as a wither'd rash,

His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,

His nieve a nit;

Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,

O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread.

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He'll mak it whissle;

An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,

Like taps o' thissle.

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware

That jaups in luggies;

But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,

Gie her a haggis!

It's all Greek to you? Desperate for a translation and/or explanation?

Click here.

After the dinner plates are cleared.... it's time for dessert. Help yourself to a piece of pie.... your choice.

The evening's entertainment includes music, poetry, song and dance, all with a decidedly Scottish flavour. Our Scottish Country Dance group demonstrated "Wisp of Thistle" a strathspey, and a reel, "Reel of the 51st Division".

The table centres depicted Scottish Dancing around the world......

... created by four ladies sitting round a kitchen table one winter afternoon not long ago, armed with paper and scissors and glue and tartan ribbon.... fuelled by homemade shortbread and cups of tea!

On 25th January, don't forget to wish everyone a Happy Rabbie Burns Day!

Byebye 2008, Hello 2009.

Only one more day until I can wave goodbye to 2008. So many good things to look back on.... performing in our local Variety Show in April, a trip to England in June, and a vacation in Florida in October.

For me, the highlight of 2008 was the birth of my gorgeous grandson, Callum, in February.

But 2008 hasn't been good to everyone. Lost jobs, shrinking savings, stock market fraud, failed mortgages, reposessed homes. War in Iraq, war in Afghanistan. Lets hope 2009 is more hopeful.

I'm welcoming the New Year with open arms. Why? Lots of reasons.

• The annual Robbie Burns Supper in January. I'm on the potato peeling team again.
• Watching Callum learn and grow. He'll have his first birthday in February. Should it be chocolate cake or vanilla?
• Our 49th Music Mania Variety Show at the end of April. I'm Co-Producer this year.
• Learning to enjoy living on my own. The Space Cadet is no more. In orbit somewhere.
• More travel... I haven't decided where yet.
• 2009 is the year of decluttering the house. More on this ambitious enterprise later in the year.
• And the best of all..... another grandchild is on the way! YoungerSon and The Bride are expecting a brand new family member in May. Whoopee! Just call me Nana x 2.

May 2009 provide good health, happiness and fulfillment to all of you out there in Blogland!

The Burns Supper

As with every Burns Supper, the Haggis is piped in, and paraded around the room, closely followed by three glasses of Scotch for drinking the health of Robbie Burns, even though he's been dead for over 200 years. (In this case it was apple juice, not Scotch... church function, y'know.)


Before the meal can begin, it is traditional to quote Burns' famous poem, Address To A Haggis, you can find the words and the translation here, followed by "The Selkirk Grace".

"Some hae meat, and canna eat,

An' some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae the Lord be thankit"

Let the serving of the feast begin.

On the Bill of Fare: Haggis, Roast Beef, Mashed Tatties, Peas, Champit Neeps, Coleslaw, Gravy, Killer Horseradish that takes the top of your head off, and makes your eyes water.

Make sure you leave room for the pies and the shortbread.

An evening of entertainment with a Scottish flavour follows the dinner. Lots of singing the old Scottish songs, many of them with words written by Burns, bagpipe music and Highland dancing.

Two of our young dancers.

And the Scottish Country Dance emsemble. We danced "The Minister on the Loch" and " The White Cockade".

Back row: Wilma, Jean, The Space Cadet, Moi.

Front row: Bernice, Helen, Beth, Jean.

I'm the only one without even the tiniest drop of Scottish blood running through my veins. Eating haggis probably makes up for it.

Piper picture "borrowed" from the Stouffville Tribune - thanks Jim.

Preparing for Robbie

On January 25th every year, faithful Albannachs (and some misguided Sassenachs, I'm one of them) celebrate the birthday of Scotland's National Poet, Robert Burns.
This year is the 249th anniversary of his birth in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Quite the handsome devil, methinks.

St. James Presbyterian Church celebrated a little early by feeding 160 people a traditional Burns Supper.
This included 25 huge turnips boiled to perfection...

... mashed with some salt and pepper, generous dollops of sour cream and cream cheese....

.... and then baked in the oven with a cheesey topping.

70 pounds of potatoes, peeled, cooked, seasoned and mashed...

... and of course, the HAGGIS, 5 of them, please don't tell me what it reminds you of, I don't want to know!

Wrap all 5 haggises (should the plural be haggi?) in foil, heat at 300F for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours, remember to put about an inch of hot water in the pan. Believe me, there's nothing worse than the smell of burnt haggis. It stinks the place out for days. (If you're wondering about the brick wrapped in foil, it was the only way to get both pans in the oven at the same time.)

Then wrap the haggis in towels to keep warm, put in the cooler and deliver to the dinner venue.... stay tuned to this blog for more pictures of the dinner and entertainment in the next post!

Robbie Burns Day

Happy Birthday to Robert Burns, the National Poet of Scotland. More can be found about him here. He celebrates his 248th birthday today. He looks pretty good for his age, doesn't he?

Robbie Burns Supper.... mmmmm HAGGIS!

Edited January 15 2017: There have been a lot of visitors to this blog post recently as it's getting close to Burns Day, so if you use any of this "Reply to the Toast to the Lassies", please leave a comment and let me know where you're from, and tell me about your Burns Day celebrations!

Yesterday we celebrated Robbie Burns Day (a little early, the real date is 25 January) with a traditional Robbie Burns Supper for 160 people. On the menu: roast beef, HAGGIS, mashed tatties, peas, champit neeps, gravy, followed by pies and shortbread. The haggis was piped in by a Highland bagpiper to the strains of Scotland the Brave. Silly me forgot to take the camera so I "borrowed" this pic from the internet.
The Space Cadet was given the task of giving The Toast to the Lassies, which he did with poetry and a lot of laughs, and I was elected to give the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies. I was kinda nervous to stand on the stage in front of 160 people, however here's my speech:

Thank you. Such inspired poetry!
What a pity Robbie Burns himself can’t be here to hear you, I’m sure he would be sitting with his mouth open struck completely speechless at your poetic talents…

I have to admit I was a little surprised when asked to give the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies this evening, as I don’t have a single drop of Scottish blood in me. Sorry, it’s all English!
However, many years ago, I was forced to stay overnight in Scotland when my plane broke down at Prestwick Airport on a flight from London to Toronto, so perhaps one night at the Railway Hotel in Glasgow qualifies me for the task. And if any of you have ever stayed at the Railway Hotel, you'll know it's not for the fainthearted.

First, a little story:
Our minister (name withheld to protect the innocent) was visiting patients at the local Hospital the other day.
She asked the first patient “How are you feeling today?”
First patient “ Well, here’s a hand my trusty fiere and here’s a hand of mine…”A little surprised, she spoke to a second patient “And how are you feeling today?”
Second patient’s reply “O would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us.”Astonished at the answer, she moved on to talk to a third patient.
The third patient replied "The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men gang aft agley."
Amazed, our minister turned to the doctor in charge, and asked “Is this the psychiatric ward?”
“Oh no” replied the doctor, “This is the burns unit.”

(You have to know a bit of Burns to get this joke!)

Robbie Burns certainly loved the lassies, and many of them, of that there is no doubt.
You have a Burns poem about you if your name is Anna, Alison, Katie, Mary, Jeanie, Chloris, Clarinda, Nancy, Nell, Molly, Polly, Peggy, Bessie, Jessie, Eliza, Maria, and Delia.
And probably a few others who I have missed.

Of course, the love of his life was Jean Armour. Jeanie had four children by him before Robbie married her, five more after, and he fathered several more children with other ladyfriends during their marriage. He certainly loved those lassies!

It is said that there are three rings in marriage. The engagement ring, the wedding ring, and suffering.
Of wedding rings, Burns wrote:

"She asked why wedding rings are made of gold;

I ventured this to instruct her;

Why, madam, love and lightning are the same,

On earth they glance, from Heaven they came.

Love is the soul's electric flame,

And gold its best conductor."

You men may not be great believers in the institution of marriage, but let me remind you of something. There is only one thing worse than being a bachelor - and that is being the son of a bachelor!

Here’s a few facts about the laddies:

· Men love to barbecue. Men will cook if danger is involved.
· Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.
· Men think that they are marrying Miss Right, but unfortunately her first name usually turns out to be Always.
· Any married man should forget his mistakes - no use in two people remembering the same thing.
· A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
· Men hate going shopping. That's why the men's department is usually on the first floor of a department store, two feet from the door.
· When men play their favourite game, golf, they yell “Fore”, hit six, and write down four.

So ladies, stand, and drink a toast
To the lads we honour most
They are heroes, strong and Spartan
They are our heroes wearing Tartan!
Ladies, raise your glasses for a toast… To the laddies!