Scottish Anniversary. Recipes.

[Game Photography Edinburgh.]

Today, the 25th of January is a day of celebration here in Scotland. It's the 250 anniversary of the birth of Robert (Rabbie) Burns. For those of you who don't know, Robert Burns was and still is the most famous poet of Scottish verse and song Scotland has ever produced. Tonight, all over Scotland, England and aroond the world people will be sitting down to a "Burns supper" which consists of the Scottish delicacy of Haggis, neeps (turnip) 'n' tatties (potatoes), playing the bagpipes, drinking whiskey, reading poetry, singing and generally having a good old frolick!

Before eating Haggis it must first be addressed. To mark the occassion I give my American cousins, many of whom I'm sure will have Scottish ancestors and relatives, Robert Burns's "Address to a Haggis." You probably won't understand a word of it! lol! And the recipe for cooking Haggis. Enjoy!



Address To A Haggis

1786
Type: Address

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' yet 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 was 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 like 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 make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody 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' hands will sned,
Like taps o' trissle.

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!

[Anita Fixx]

I just wanna write that although I'm not Scottish. I do think that Scotsmen are the hottest thing ever!! I love men in kilts! I've gone out with a few guys of Scots ancestry. And I'd mention another thing that I like about them but it wouldn't be rated "PG". : P

Cheers!

[Sickgirl Creations *SGC*{PLA}]

My great grandma was Scotch/Irish and she would make haggis, I was never much of a fan. but thanks for posting this it gives me a little touch of history to a meal that my grandfather and greatgrandfather loved so much.