Sunday, January 24, 2010

Burns Supper

Tomorrow is Robert Burns' birthday. Yesterday, my friend Donnie decided to celebrate the late Scottish poet's special day over dinner with friends. I must say, this has got to be the least appetizing-looking meal I've ever posted. But the flavour of each dish was outstanding.

We started off with some Scottish beer – Harviestoun.

Or choice of scotch. (I must say, I do not have the taste buds for this at all.)

Donnie said 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.

Onto the Haggis!
Haggis is a mixture of pork liver, lungs, beef suet, oatmeal, pork heart, pork tongue, onions, spices and salt simmered in the animal's stomach for a few hours. Haggis is normally made with sheep's pluck (ours was pork based).

It tasted a lot like tourtière but far more flavourful if you can imagine that.

Alongside the haggis was some mashed tatties and neeps. My husband prepared this dish, whipping potatoes and turnip with some green onion and truffle oil (normally prepared with butter). The truffle oil added a delicious rich flavour.

We also had some steak and kidney pie. So filling and so comforting!

As if that wasn't enough, Teresa brought her grandmother's famous shortbread made with only 3 ingredients: Brown sugar, butter and flour. This stuff was addictive! And melted so nicely in your mouth.

What a feast. I think this has to become an annual thing ok Donnie?

The haggis and steak pie were purchased at The Scottish and Irish Store.

4 comments:

Don Mills said...

Definitely an annual. You forgot the canned vegetarian haggis.

Rachelle said...

Of course! And there was even some vegetarian haggis!

Don said...

Mmm...That meal doesn't look the least bit unappetizing! As always, your husband made quite the plate.

Though, I have never heard haggis described in tortiere terms. :)

Today, on occasion fo Robbie Bruns, I am putting a frozen haggis, purchased from Saslove's, and a canned authentic Scotch haggis (flown in from Scotland) on the menu. Neither haggis is vegetarian, both lamb.

Thanks for the heads up on the Scotch and Irish stores. Methinks, I will need to visit one soon!

Rachelle said...

Ohhh, nice! Enjoy your meal!!