Celebrations

[electricland]

Happy Year of the Ox, everyone!

Also, happy day-after-Robbie-Burns-Day. I had been muttering about having a Burns Supper for some time, but didn't do anything about it until life_on_queen told me (Friday) that I had to decide, dammit. Well, I said, I probably won't be able to get a haggis this late, but if I do, we're on.

Saturday: stopped in at Meat on the Beach and acquired a small (3 lb) haggis. That was much easier than I was expecting. They are not prepossessing creatures. However. Then Jen and I went to the St Lawrence Market, where she bought a ham hock and I found neeps and tatties. Except actually I bought turnips, and it turns out neeps are actually rutabagas (or swedes, depending). Food terminology, why must you be so confusing?

The tatties were fine, however, and I bought a rutabaga at the IGA. So that was OK.

Sunday: prepared cock-a-leekie soup (simplest recipe ever, and really tasty) and started boiling the hell out of the haggis. Stepped out to go to choir. There were only four of us including the director -- we are having trouble gathering this semester, but it will all work out -- so she let us go early. Came back, bashed the neeps, chappit the tatties, made gravy [PDF p. 6] and whiskey cream sauce, found some poetry and instructions, set the table, felt competent.

Jen refused haggis but bought a can of vegetarian haggis from the Nutty Chocolatier -- it looked highly suspect but apparently wasn't bad. life_on_queen provided music and dessert. John provided single malt scotch (well, we did a roundup around the house, too, and ended up with about 6 different kinds -- no, we are not lushes, why do you ask?). I dug out my tin of shortbread which is nearing its best-by date.

We ate, drank, read the Address to a Haggis, read some other stuff, sang, and generally had a fine time. And the haggis was GOOD. In fact all the food was good, I am quite pleased (and I have a hell of a lot left, too, as my usual we-can't-possibly-let-anyone-starve-to-death that-would-be-the-worst-thing-in-the-world instinct was in full force). Next year I shall plan further ahead and invite more people.

Comments

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a lot of fun. Although...is veggie Haggis a contradiction in terms? ;)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I would say yes, but I guess the vegetarians don't agree. ;)

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

My father kept a canned haggis on his desk for years. After a while we all got nervous about what was actually taking place inside the can...it was literally years. ;)

[briasoleil.livejournal.com]

I've heard tell of veggie - even vegan - haggis and I can't make heads or tails of it. I can't imagine liking the original enough to want to make a mock meat out of it. I didn't grow up in a very British household, I must say.

I also hate turnip. It's really the only vegetable I hate. I'm not necessarily fond of kale or cabbage, but I'll eat them. Turnip, not so much.

What does chappit the tatties mean? I understand that tatties are potatoes? But chappit?

[electricland.livejournal.com]

But the original is GOOD! People make such a fuss about it, but it's basically a giant sausage. And who doesn't love sausage?

Chappit tatties appear to basically be mashed potatoes. At least that's what I do to 'em. ;)

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

It sounds absolutely divine!

I didn't even think to inquire around Bloomington to see if anyone sold a palatable haggis.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

It was good!

and who knows, maybe Bloomington has a whole Scottish enclave that produces haggis all the time...