A Very Scottish Burns Night Supper

We celebrated Burns night at Nanny J’s this year. I don't know why we haven’t had a Burns supper with her before, as she is a bonafide Scot. She even grew up in the very heart of Burns land – in the county of Ayrshire and village of Mauchline, the same village Robbie Burns lived with his wife Jean Armour.

Hubby and I had already had a few drinks at the pub so we kicked off the meal with some very merry dancing (round in circles around the living room) to classic Scottish songs while our brilliant hosts were busy in the kitchen.

 

Burns Night Supper With Haggis

 

We had a starter of smoked salmon with salad and homemade whisky crème fraiche sauce. Nanny J was quick to explain that this was not a true traditional Burns night starter and with more time to prepare we should have had Cullen Skink - smoked fish chowder.

Our Macsween haggis was served up already taken out of its lining alongside a terrific platter of neeps & tatties. Normally the haggis should be carved at the table with a guest reading Robert Burns’ address to a haggis while carving.

Haggis Is Lovely 

I bloody love haggis. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I only have it once year so it's always a bit exciting and something different but I think the marrying of spiced meat with oatmeal and herbs is a great combo. The Macsween haggis is made with lamb, beef, oatmeal, onions, pepper and spices.

Haggis then Whisky Makes You Feel Fine 

 After our warming winter feast, we moved on to a whisky tasting (thanks granddad Steve), formed from Steve's personal collection.

We blind tasted four different types. I'm not generally a whisky fan but the tasting was a good introduction for a novice like me into just how varied it is. We sampled Laphroaig - which had a delicious smoky aroma, Jura, Glenlivet, and Glenmorangie  - my favourite of the four which was light and pale and probably quite a girly whisky.

We finished with some not so classic Burns recitals of, "But when I get a couple of drinks on a Saturday Glasgow belongs to meeeeee".

Happy Burns Night everybody, did anyone else celebrate?