Burns Night, haggis, neeps n tatties etc

[antongould]

In my youth I used to go to the local Burns Supper each year and could recite Man Was Made To Mourn!

[french frank]

But ...do you boil it or bake/roast it?

I always boiled it, but last year tried baking it and it burst. (Please don't say 'microwave it' - I understand you need a TV licence to use a microwave)...

[amateur51]

But ...do you boil it or bake/roast it?

I always boiled it, but last year tried baking it and it burst. (Please don't say 'microwave it' - I understand you need a TV licence to use a microwave)...

We microwaved it last year and it was very swift & excellent. In previous years it's been wrrapped in foil and placed in a big saucepan with sufficient water to cover it & boiled gently. I've baked it too but like yours, mine burst BUT the tin foil kept it all 'on the island' as my mother was wont to say

[amateur51]

You've all been very kind and not mentioned it, but I've noticed a dreadful trypo (my speciality) in the heading to this thread - I need to change it to Burns' Night

French frank, could you oblige please

[Anna]

But ...do you boil it or bake/roast it?
I always boiled it, but last year tried baking it and it burst. (Please don't say 'microwave it' - I understand you need a TV licence to use a microwave)...

I've always wrapped in foil and baked it, naked of its plastic wrapper of course. (I don't have a microwave although I do have a tv licence)
On the subject of whisky, I bought the Glenmorangie as you did say on another thread you had it and I saw it on offer at the CooP for £21 but I had £5 of CooP vouchers so got it for £16. I was also advised to buy a bottle of blended for hot toddies and other medical emergencies so I also have, bargain price at CooP, a bottle of Black Grouse. (Which the purists will scoff at but I think it's probably one step up from Teachers!) Interesting survey lately, whisky usually perceived as the drink your old grandpa used to sip whilst wearing slippers has gained a huge following amongst women who perceive it as - well - a rather lovely drink that gives you a certain parity with men. The last is a totally ridiculous of course, but, we struggle on!!

[french frank]

You've all been very kind and not mentioned it, but I've noticed a dreadful trypo (my speciality) in the heading to this thread - I need to change it to Burns' Night

French frank, could you oblige please

I've omitted the apostrophe altogether (sort of descriptive rather than possessive), though I was tempted to add the greengrocer's apostrophe to neep's.

[french frank]

Anna

Yes, you're right - it was on offer at the Coop and I did take advantage for that reason.

[Anna]

Anna
Yes, you're right - it was on offer at the Coop and I did take advantage for that reason.

Always take advantage of the advantage and when the Divi arrives, take even more advantage!!

[amateur51]

I've omitted the apostrophe altogether (sort of descriptive rather than possessive), though I was tempted to add the greengrocer's apostrophe to neep's.

[amateur51]

well - a rather lovely drink that gives you a certain parity with men.

I always had you down as a person of greater ambition than that, Anna

[Anna]

I always had you down as a person of greater ambition than that, Anna

Yes, but sometimes Ammy, on Burns Night, Well, Bless Them, and I do like to see men in kilts. Actually, some of them look ferocious, wi' the tartan and sporrans, silver buttons, and those cool socks and slippers, honestly, it's enough to make you melt as you look at the total masculinity of them with their daggers at the ready! And, then think, it's only one day of the year, let them live a fantasy, us Welsh do it all the time.

[mangerton]

Yes, but sometimes Ammy, on Burns Night, Well, Bless Them, and I do like to see men in kilts. Actually, some of them look ferocious, wi' the tartan and sporrans, silver buttons, and those cool socks and slippers, honestly, it's enough to make you melt as you look at the total masculinity of them with their daggers at the ready!

Well! I'll bear this in mind. I take it you know that one of the traditional toasts at a Burns' (please all, note spelling ) Supper is "The Lassies". The toast is of course replied to, and as until quite recently women were not present at Burns' Suppers the reply would perforce be given by a man. I am sure that the women on this board would be well up to the task.

Yesterday I posted a link to probably Burns' best known poem. Here is a link to another - the text of The Rights of Woman. Unlike Tam, this is written in standard English, and even has a bit of French at the end.

Enjoy your Burns' night, whatever you're all doing. Reaming swats that drank divinely

[mangerton]

But ...do you boil it or bake/roast it?

I always boiled it, but last year tried baking it and it burst. (Please don't say 'microwave it' - I understand you need a TV licence to use a microwave)...

Boiling of course is the traditional method, and to stop it bursting, it has to be brought slowly to the boil from cold - don't add the haggis to boiling water! That said, when catering for smaller numbers, I find microwaving (sorry!) absolutely fine, although I always add a little (a tablespoon) of water and cover the dish. This stops it becoming too dry. Of course, it has to be removed from the skin first.

If baking you'd also have to remove it from the skin and again I think a little water would be a help.

[arancie33]

Boiling of course is the traditional method, and to stop it bursting, it has to be brought slowly to the boil from cold - don't add the haggis to boiling water!

I have memories from childhood of the haggis bursting when boiled so avoid it m'self. Steaming works well, keeping the casing (plastic for us I'm afraid) intact and unpierced. I had thought that some fried haggis would be great for tomorrow's breakfast but, what with one thing and another, there's none left. Memo to self - get a bigger one next year (or next time - our butcher has them all year round). 'Fraid there were no recitals at Casa Arancie though, and we drank a robust Portugese red (thank you Tanners - - again).

[ahinton]

I've baked it too but like yours, mine burst BUT the tin foil kept it all 'on the island' as my mother was wont to say

Well, don't tell Mr Pee; he seems to have abit of a thing about "islands"...