Who Was Robert Burns?
Burns was well loved by some of the giants of American literature and thought. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln were all admirers of Burns, as were Robert Frost, Willa Cather, William Faulkner, Mark Twain and John Steinbeck.
What Is A Burns Supper?
A Burns Night supper is a special holiday, a festive secular occasion that serves to commemorate Robert Burns and his genius, but by extension the event turns into a chance to commemorate the struggles, rugged perseverance and humble dignity that people from Scotland have always demonstrated and to take stock in the unique gifts that Scotland and its people have brought to the rest of the world.
What are your favorite sites for Scottish recipes and cooking ideas? We've found a few!
We have a well-stocked cookbook library, sure, but we also love poking around on different recipe sites and cooking blogs to see what people are fixing up in their Scottish kitchens.
Black bun is often served at New Year, but you don't need to wait for a holiday
Black bun is a dense and rich fruit cake, stuffed with currants and raisins. Black bun was sometimes called Scotch bun. Technically it's not a cake, since it's basically just fruit filling encased in a pastry shell. And, like a Christmas cake, black bun is best when it is made a few weeks in advance and allowed to "mature." The concentrated density of black bun -- a little goes a long way! -- might have something to do with its traditional role as an accompaniment of the ritual known as "First Footing,"
More Thoughts on Scottish Food
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