Boxing Day – Sweetie Scone Day

Boxing Day – Sweetie Scone Day

As today is Boxing Day I thought I’d look at what would traditionally happen on Boxing  Day in Scotland.   The term ‘Boxing Day’ started many centuries ago, where the Lord and Lady of the manor/castle/estate gathered together at the manor house, castle etc., the workers including those from the outlying fields, forests and streams, […]

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What is a Quaich?

What is a Quaich?

    The quaich is a traditional Scottish drinking vessel which was used to offer a guest a cup of welcome and also a farewell drink, usually a dram of whisky. The quaich has a rich heritage in Scotland. Indeed, they are a uniquely Scottish invention, having no apparent connection to any other European drinking vessel. […]

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Top 5: Whisky of the Clans

Top 5: Whisky of the Clans

Intrinsically linked like bread and butter, whisky and the Clans are about as all things Scot as you’re going to get. Here are our top five links between the water of life and Scotland’s oldest families. 1. Dalmore In 1263, an ancestor of Clan Mackenzie saved King Alexander III of Scotland from being gored by […]

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Burns Night Prep – All Things Haggis

Burns Night Prep – All Things Haggis

This coming Saturday is perhaps the biggest day of the year for Scottish cooking – Burns Night is the day in which the Scots skill for bashing turnips and squeezing minced sheep offal into an animal’s stomach bag is celebrated the world over. An absolute culinary essential to any Burns Night supper is the mighty […]

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A Beginners Guide to Burns Night

A Beginners Guide to Burns Night

Thank goodness Burns Night is just around the corner. With Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations all over for another year, I’ve been suffering from post-festive-season-depression this past week. Touted as Scotland’s unofficial national day, Burns Night is a celebration of the birthday of Scotland’s most loved bard, Rabbie Burns. It’s also the perfect excuse to get […]

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Scots Christmas Fare

Scots Christmas Fare

Perhaps my favourite part of Christmas (after opening presents, of course), are the days spent feasting and picking at leftovers until you can’t possibly eat any more. Here’s a compile of traditional Scots Christmas fare, guaranteed to warm your cockles this holiday season. All recipes featured below come from Theodora Fitzgibbon’s book Traditional Scottish Cookery, […]

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Scottish Beef Back on US Menus

Scottish Beef Back on US Menus

Here’s some delectable news for our American readers – Scottish beef is set to make a return to dinner tables across America following an almost 20 year ban. US officials are moving to reopen the American market to Scottish farmers after a scare over BSE (commonly known as Mad Cow Disease) resulted in a ban […]

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