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I decided about a month ago that this year I was going to make a traditional Burns dinner for my husband and I....a romantic salute to the man known as "the Bard" and "Scotland's favourite son." It was a safe bet that our boys would make themselves scarce at the mere mention of haggis. Growing up, my mother told me that a haggis was a small Scottish animal with legs longer on one side than the other to keep it from falling off the steep Scottish Highlands that it ran around. As a little girl, I pictured an odd looking kangaroo-like creature. Truth be told, it is a mixture of a lamb's heart, lungs and liver with onions, suet, and spices. Nasty business that is actually quite tasty if you can just not think about it. I was feeling brave, Dear Reader. Years ago, we attended a Burns dinner that an old friend of ours, Bill Dunlop, was performing at. Bill was an old Scotsman with a thick brogue. Decked out in his kilt, he recited Burns "Address to a Haggis". We lost Bill a few years ago but I will never forget that evening because of him. He taught me to waltz that night....no easy feat as I am about as stiff as a broom pole and lack basic coordination. He should have been given danger pay for that dance lesson. That night I fell in love with the pomp and circumstance that is all part of a Burns dinner....from the bagpipes, to the reading of Burns poetry. Unfortunately, our dinner didn't include bagpipes....no matter how much I have tried to convince my boys over the years that they should take up the pipes, they just won't....pity. It would have really set the scene! We did honour tradition by reciting Burns Grace at Kirkcudbright, also known as The Selkirk Grace Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit. By candlelight we shared a few pints of Tennent's lager. I made Cock-a-Leekie soup for the appetizer, the traditional tatties and neeps (potatoes and turnip) with haggis drizzled with a whisky cream sauce for the main and Tipsy Laird (a Drambuie doused trifle) for dessert. My husband really enjoyed the meal....so much so, he wants me to host a Burns dinner for our friends next year. I think it is going to take a lot of convincing to get them to try haggis! Cock-a-Leekie Soup 1 medium onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 1/2 cups potatoes, peeled & diced in ¼ cubes 2 carrots, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 large sprigs of thyme 3 cups leeks, washed well & diced in ¾ inch 6 cups chicken broth (low sodium) 1 cup cooked chicken meat, diced salt & pepper, to taste In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté the garlic and onion in the vegetable oil until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the potatoes, carrots and celery and cook for 10 minutes. Pick the thyme leaves from sprigs and add to pot. Add the leeks and chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Stirring occasionally, skim and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the diced chicken and continue to simmer for 10 more minutes. Ladle into your nicest bowls and enjoy. Serves 6 to 8.
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Every January I think about the year to come....the things I want to accomplish, the new things I want to try. I'm not one for new year's resolutions. I feel doomed to fail when I commit to a promise like that, made under the duress of the clock ticking faster and faster towards midnight and the new year ahead. Sentimentality fueled by red wine doesn't often lead to success in such matters. Each year usually has me thinking about ways to become better organized at home and in my life as well as losing a bit of weight. You know, the usual suspects! My first project was to reorganize the linen closet that had become out of control...an easy fix that took no time at all. Too bad I didn't lose ten pounds in the process. Good thing I have the whole year ahead for that.
The flu that has had my family hostage since Christmas caught up with me this week...amounting to a couple days off work and a lot of bad daytime tv. Today, finally, I think I am starting to feel human again. I haven't been eating much the last few days, but today I fancied soup. Soup is the perfect feel better food. It fills your belly, soothes your achy body and warms your spirit. It's love in a bowl - especially if it is homemade. I made tomato soup today and feel so much better for it. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons 3 tbsp butter 1 small onion, diced 2 carrots, peeled and diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 red pepper, diced 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tbsp lime juice 1/2 tsp sugar 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 3 cups chicken broth 1 796ml can diced tomatoes 2 tbsp butter 4 slices bread ( I used rye) 4 slices cheddar cheese salt and pepper, to taste Melt 3 tbsp butter in large saucepan over medium heat and add onion. Cook onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, red pepper, tomato paste, lime juice, sugar, salt and cayenne. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 7 minutes. Add the chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until vegetables are cooked and are fork tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow soup to cool slightly. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return to pot and allow to warm over low heat while you prepare the grilled cheese croutons. Season with salt and pepper. Place 2 tbsp butter in frying pan and heat over medium heat. Place two slices of rye bread into pan. Put two slices of cheddar cheese on each slice of bread and top with remaining slices of bread. Fry sandwiches until golden brown and then flip to other side to brown. Once cooked, remove from pan and place on cutting board to cool slightly. Using a sharp knife, cut grilled cheese sandwiches into cubes. Ladle warmed soup into bowls and garnish with grilled cheese croutons. Happy New Year to you Dear Reader. Here we are...2014! A new year and a fresh start. I am already planning new things to share with you....a Robert Burns Dinner, a lovely little cake for Valentine's Day and of course Easter. Soon enough it will be St. Patrick's Day, which is also my blog's first birthday! But for now, we are going to hunker down and get through this snowy winter together. I think we need to make some soup. Maybe some baked beans. Comfort food to warm us while we await Spring. What do you think? I am still picking away at the 12 Days of Christmas for you....sorry for my tardiness. Between the power outage and the flu that has had my home under siege, I am a bit behind. We'll get there yet...I added a few more for you today....take a peek under "Celebrations" There will be more up soon....promise!
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