BURNS NIGHT BAKED HIGHLAND HAGGIS WITH WHISKY CUMBERLAND SAUCE

First you must catch your haggis! These little creatures are very shy and EXTREMELY wiley - so you must proceed with caution and patience! I find the best place to find them is behind or under Highland heather bushes, although I have been known to catch a couple lurking near thistles! Having caught your haggis - you must treat it with GREAT respect and cook it well for the Burns Night Tribute Supper! That is why my haggis is baked instead of boiled - and it is served with Lindseylcw's special Cumberland sauce with lashings of good Scotch whisky! Other traditional accompaniments are: clapshot, bashed neeps and tatties, rumbledethumps, buttered leeks, skirlie mash, champit tatties and buttered cabbage. Don't forget the "correct" format for a Burns Night Supper: Chairperson's opening address. A few welcoming words start the evening and the meal commences with the Selkirk Grace. The company are asked to stand to receive the haggis. A piper then leads the chef, carrying the haggis to the top table, while the guests accompany them with a slow handclap. The chairman or invited guest then recites Burns' famous poem To A Haggis, with great enthusiasm. When he reaches the line 'an cut you up wi' ready slight', he cuts open the haggis with a sharp knife. It's customary for the company to applaud the speaker then stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whisky. The Immortal Memory: One of the central features of the evening; an invited guest is asked to give a short speech on Burns. There are many different types of Immortal Memory speeches, from light-hearted to literary, but the aim is the same - to outline the greatness and relevance of the poet today. Toast To The Lasses: The main speech is followed by a more light-hearted address to the women in the audience. Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the 'lasses' in Burns' life. The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a concilliatory note. Response: The turn of the lasses to detail men's foibles. Again, should be humorous but not insulting. Poem and Songs: Once the speeches are complete the evening continues with songs and poems. These should be a good variety to fully show the different moods of Burns muse. Favourites for recitations are Tam O' Shanter, Address to the Unco Guid, To A Mouse and Holy Willie's Prayer. The evening will culminate with the company standing, linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne to conclude the programme.

Provided by French Tart

Categories     Sauces

Time 1h40m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

• Ingredients

Nutrition Facts : Calories 253.1, Fat 0.1, Sodium 114, Carbohydrate 41.9, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 30.5, Protein 0.3