The Untied Kingdom? - the British thread 2021

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  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    @Firenze - I think your immoral chicken sounds lovely - I might even give it a go sometime, although it might be hard to find a small enough amount of haggis to stuff just one chicken-breast. Can you get McSween's in really small tins?
    As the weather's meh, verging on dreich, amblage was limited to going across the road to Fork Handles, where I bought a medium-sized frying pan and a spoon-rest.

    For the sort of things I actually need (including, but not limited to, a nutmeg grater and a bog-brush*), what I want is an Expotition to Ikea, but that would really be limited to when I could get transport. My sister-in-law quite likes a trawl round there occasionally, and I'd ask her for a lift, but she's retired, so doesn't need to go at weekends, when I imagine it's hoaching.

    * I managed to snap the handle of the bog-brush that came with the flat - I don't know my own strength ... :flushed:
    My steak should have just about marinated enough, so I'm off to sort out some spuds and veggies to go with it.

    Bon appetit!
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Shipmate
    edited May 8
    There's a nice version you buy in a vacuum pack that cooks v well in the microwave - good for a quick mid week dinner.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    edited May 8
    Boogie wrote: »
    Haggis comes in tins?

    I didn’t know. 🙂

    Tins, sachets, plastic as well as sheep stomachs. Oh, and on pizza and as a flavour of crisp.

    ETA. I'm pretty sure I've seen it as pakora as well.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Husband en rouge has obtained some Japanese WINE (no, I didn't know they made it either).

    Wine wine not saki? Certainly shows a certain chutzpah selling it to France.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    Haggis is great on pizza.
  • I nearly bought a haggis in Tess Coe the other day, but it looked to be a bit large for one small Finger to cope with.

    Is it available in one-person portions, whether tinned or otherwise?
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    @Piglet most butchers sell slices of haggis, which is probably better for one, whether for Balmoral (or immoral) chicken or for just having as haggis.
  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    Saturday’s cocktail is pisco sour, which we are currently having with glorious ginger chocolates from Friars of Keswick.

    Later, we have pork medaillons in Marsala with potatoes Anna and creamed leeks.

    Aaah.

    MMM
  • Huh. Mackerel fillets squished onto TOAST here...

    CHEESY Bread and CHEESE later, perhaps. No wonder I get funny dreams some nights...
    Cathscats wrote: »
    @Piglet most butchers sell slices of haggis, which is probably better for one, whether for Balmoral (or immoral) chicken or for just having as haggis.

    We have an excellent local butcher not too far off - worth a look, I think.
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    At the risk of being shot down in flames - is haggis not just stuffing with another name?

    🧐🙂
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Shipmate
    I’d make two meals for 1 out of this https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/261290326 - but I am greedy. @Boogie its more sausage than stuffing really I think.
  • I’d make two meals for 1 out of this https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/261290326 - but I am greedy. @Boogie its more sausage than stuffing really I think.

    I think this is what I saw in Tess Coe. It's not exactly Silly Money, so I might give it a try. If I only use half of it at one go, can I keep the other half in the fridge for a few days, or does it have to be frozen? The fridge on the Ark has only a small freezer compartment, which is usually full of Sweet Potato Fries or ordinary Chips...
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Shipmate
    edited May 8
    Well, I don’t know, I’d eat it hot one day and cold the next - so the question storing longer has never arisen. (It’s quite morish.)
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    I had haggis 35 years ago in a lovely hotel in Oban. I remember it being delicious but I don’t remember the flavour.

    We went there for our last week as a couple as we were expecting Boogielet One. We were right to do it, no more peace for the next 21 years!
  • Well, I don’t know, I’d eat it hot one day and cold the next - so the question storing longer has never arisen. (It’s quite morish.)

    O well - there's the answer! HOT one day, and COLD the next - sounds good to me... :grin:
  • MarthaMartha Shipmate
    Martha wrote: »
    To depart from the fish theme, we had cowboy pie last night - sausages and baked beans with mashed potato on top. Good comfort food.
    We used to have that as the "Scouts' Supper" at one of my churches.

    Question though: did you stick the sausages into the mash in true "Dandy" style? https://tinyurl.com/42r65896

    I'm afraid not - that image did flit through my head as I was assembling it though!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Boogie wrote: »
    I had haggis 35 years ago in a lovely hotel in Oban. I remember it being delicious ...
    ... but not quite delicious enough to repeat the experience for another 35 years? ;)

    Thanks for the haggis tips, everyone - next time I'm in Tessie's I'll have a shufti. Seeing the name Grant's and the tartan tin reminded me of A & B Roll, which was an occasional supper dish when I was growing up. Rather like Boogie and her haggis, I remember liking it, but I can't for the life of me remember the taste. I have a vague idea it may have been served with something equally enjoyable, like baked beans or spaghetti hoops ... :blush:
  • LandlubberLandlubber Shipmate
    Boogie wrote: »
    Haggis comes in tins?

    I didn’t know. 🙂
    I know only too well. I set an alarm off in the scanner at Glasgow airport with a tin I had bought in one of the airport shops!
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Shipmate
    Well, I don’t know, I’d eat it hot one day and cold the next - so the question storing longer has never arisen. (It’s quite morish.)

    O well - there's the answer! HOT one day, and COLD the next - sounds good to me... :grin:

    You can fry up cold haggis as a hash with onions and other bits, perhaps with a SOSSIDGE on the side :)
  • Well, I don’t know, I’d eat it hot one day and cold the next - so the question storing longer has never arisen. (It’s quite morish.)

    O well - there's the answer! HOT one day, and COLD the next - sounds good to me... :grin:

    You can fry up cold haggis as a hash with onions and other bits, perhaps with a SOSSIDGE on the side :)

    Ooh...so I could!
    :yum:

    I'm nearly out of SOSSIDGES at the moment, but an Expotition on Monday may well see the purchase of a fresh supply, along with Onions, and, of course, Haggis.
    :yum:
  • Boogie wrote: »
    I had haggis 35 years ago in a lovely hotel in Oban.
    My wife and I celebrated our engagement with haggis in a cafe in Oban while on a day trip there (1979).

  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    edited May 8
    I nearly bought a haggis in Tess Coe the other day, but it looked to be a bit large for one small Finger to cope with.

    Is it available in one-person portions, whether tinned or otherwise?

    Freeze half in a placcy bag. If you microwave them you don't need the inner bag/sheep's stomach
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I intend de-boning chicken thighs and stuffing them with haggis. Any leftovers will do very nicely as a filling for baked (ie microwaved) potato.

    I find it mildly weird that anyone finds difficulty in integrating haggis into everyday fare.
  • PuzzlerPuzzler Shipmate
    Yesterday I ventured into the city for the first time since March 2020 and treated myself to a ring, to celebrate the new found freedoms of being vaccinated and the fact that I haven’t spent any money on anything unnecessary for ages.
    Today was mostly taken up with housework then I messed about online, quite forgetting I meant to do an online choir ( I can catch up).
    Church choir tomorrow, Addington Service and an anthem. Singing for a wedding in two weeks’ time. Life must be getting back to some sort of normal.
  • Haggis also makes a great addition to scrambled eggs and is a fine garnish for nachos. I suggest buying a MacSween's, slicing it up raw and freezing, then you can retrieve a slice or two at leisure. I find it's quite rich and you don't need a vast amount of it.
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    edited May 8
    I love haggis, you can get MacSween’s in Waitrose most of the year - I even like the veggie version.
    I went to a posh pub a few years ago and had a haggis Scotch egg for starters.
  • I went to a posh pub a few years ago and had a haggis Scotch egg for starters.
    That gives a whole new meaning to "a double Scotch"!

  • Ethne AlbaEthne Alba Shipmate
    I could possibly eat haggis every day and not get bored. My other half? Has other ideas.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    I quite like vegetarian haggis, but not something I'd seek out.
    It's my birthday tomorrow, but I opened presents today as son was heading home after he'd helped us get stuff out of the loft ahead of our move. I got a ring that I knew about and a stained glass teapot ornament. The latter was a sort of 'surprise', but I'd been lusting after it for years in the stained glass window shop down our road and I noticed it had disappeared on Friday night. Husband's reaction when I pointed that out made me guess I was getting it as a present.
    As for the move, we still haven't exchanged so I have very little hope we'll actually be moving on the 18th. It'll be a pain getting everything back in the loft if the chain does collapse.
  • Curiosity killedCuriosity killed Shipmate
    edited May 9
    What a pain about your move, @Sarasa - maybe we'll get a walk in yet? Although I'm still avoiding public transport until my daughter is at least vaccinated the first time. Happy birthday for tomorrow.

    This morning's walk was in glorious sunshine after yesterday's persistent rain and enlivened by clouds of mayflies. We had a similar couple of days with mayflies last year too. And one of the fields on the town development plan had hordes of metal detectorists, walking along on predetermined lines, like a police search pattern. All with headphones on, detectors to the ground and spades over their shoulders, insulated enough from the world that I couldn't ask them why.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I'm having a very lazy day so far; I've even just woken from a snoozette. I had a message earlier from my sister to ask if I wanted to go through to hers, as quite a few of the rest of the family were going to be there, finishing assembling her summer-house.

    I'd have loved to go, but the chuffing trains are on strike, and the bus would have taken at least an hour just to get into Edinburgh, with another half-an-hour to get out to Balerno, and I didn't really relish doing that and then repeating the performance in reverse to get home.

    As it looks (at least temporarily) quite nice out, I think I'll have a little amble to Tessie's and check out their haggis.
  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    Just had the best time....Little Beaky and his family are staying in the New Forest courtesy of a charity which provides holidays for families with children with disabilities.
    So we drove over and met them outside for lunch.
    It was quite chilly and I'm still not quite warm but my heart is full- Little Beaky recognised our voices after all these months and his little brother played happily with us too.
    We had a great catch up with daughter and son-in-law as well.
  • PigwidgeonPigwidgeon Shipmate
    MrsBeaky, today is Mother's Day here in the States. Even though that's not what you were celebrating, it sounds as if you had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day! I'm so happy for you!
    :smile:
  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    Pigwidgeon wrote: »
    MrsBeaky, today is Mother's Day here in the States. Even though that's not what you were celebrating, it sounds as if you had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day! I'm so happy for you!
    :smile:

    Thank you
    I knew it was Mother's Day in the USA (dual heritage) but hadn't put the two together...
    You're right I did have a wonderful day!
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    That’s wonderful @MrsBeaky. So very special that he remembers you. 💕
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Excellent stuff, Mrs. B - so pleased you had a lovely day!
    Haggis update: Tessie's had little packs with two slices of MacSween's haggis, so I bought one - no excuse now not to try it out for tomorrow's supper! I thought about getting a small bottle of WHISKY, sauce for the manufacture of, but their selection of half- and quarter-bottles was a bit woeful. I know it's only for cooking, but I'd be ashamed to be seen buying something that most self-respecting Scots would use to clean their headlamps.

    I'm also a bit of a wimp when it comes to igniting things in the kitchen: I don't want to set the place on fire ... :flushed:

    I might try a creamy mushroom sauce, and just put some WINE in it.
    It's a lovely afternoon here: 16° - I really didn't need a coat.
  • Cold, grey and damp here .... Not going-out weather!
  • JapesJapes Shipmate
    So pleased you've been able to see Little Beaky and the rest of his family @MrsBeaky

    I took advantage of the sunny interlude after church to fill my garden bin ready for tomorrow's collection. That can count as my exercise for today! I was going to stay out for longer but concluded some laziness in the day was called for as well.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Sounds wonderful @MrsBeaky !

    We had friends over this morning for coffee on our patio, with the most amazing coconut cake made by one of said friends, and it was really quite warm: I took my jacket off! :flushed: This afternoon I was in a garden with some other friends and it was windy and started to rain so we ended up in the conservatory for the last 15 minutes or so. As the conservatory door was open it was still windy - though dry - and cold. Despite it being so much milder today I got thoroughly chilled and the only way to get warm on my return home has been to have a hot shower and don a winter track suit.

    I've eaten haggis twice in my life and I wouldn't be in a hurry to make it thrice.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    edited May 9
    So glad you had a meet up with Little Beaky and his family @MrsBeaky . We went for a walk this afternoon and discovered that a private garden that we've been wanting to see for a while was having open house. We hadn't booked, but they let us in anyway and it was all rather lovely. So pleased as we'd been debating which of our local walks to do and nearly did another one instead.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    The poor man's Balmoral Chicken (cheaper cut than breast, tinned haggis, creme fraiche instead of cream, cheap bourbon instead of whisky) was actually rather good. The surplus haggis has been frozen in individual helpings. (A strategy I've also adopted for coconut milk).
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I happen to have a chicken breast in the freezer: I'd bought a couple as an experiment instead of salmon baked with veggies (it was OK, but no better than that), so I'll give it a go. I generally prefer thigh joints anyway - I think they've got better flavour.

    As the oven's going to be on, I'll do potatoes and carrots in along with it - I haven't got any mashable spuds at the moment, just little new ones.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    Today is my birthday, though we did the celebrating with our son at the weekend. Today we went to local house of interest for a change. The house isn't open yet, but the grounds were. There weren't anything amazing but we had a nice chat about gardening with one of the staff while admiring their community garden patch. It's given us some ideas for when (if) we move and have a much bigger garden than we've ever had before.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    A day alternating between bursts of sunshine and violent downpours. Did a little light gardening, then set up the watercolours in the summerhouse and did a painting of green alkanet and dandelions. It was actually very restful with the rain drumming on the roof.
  • Firenze wrote: »
    ...and did a painting of green alkanet and dandelions. It was actually very restful with the rain drumming on the roof.
    Sounds like you are looking at my garden!
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    Happy birthday @Sarasa - you chose the right time for celebrating!

    🍰 🎂 🧁 🎁
  • Firenze wrote: »
    A day alternating between bursts of sunshine and violent downpours.
    Yes. I started putting out the washing, but my wife said: "Just look at that dirty cloud coming along". I had hardly begun when the rain came. I hate it when she's proved right!!!

  • SandemaniacSandemaniac Shipmate
    Firenze wrote: »
    ...and did a painting of green alkanet and dandelions. It was actually very restful with the rain drumming on the roof.
    Sounds like you are looking at my garden!

    And mine! Well, except for the geranium... Eventually there will be stuff I have sown but until then I'm leaving the bubblegum-pink geranium for the critters to sup on.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Happy birthday @Sarasa , glad you're having a good day.

    I held my real life book group on my patio this afternoon. It's months since we met actually in real life. There are only five of us and two members are unreliable, both for not reading the books and for ducking out of the meetings at the last minute. That happened today, so there were only three of us, but we had a great discussion and the weather kept fine if breezy! We're going to have one more meeting sometime in June and see what happens with the others. It gets a bit trying when you power through a book that you wouldn't necessarily have chosen, and aren't particularly enjoying, for the sake of the group - only to find other people can't be bothered.

    Stir fry for tea; there's some red wine left too. :smiley:
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