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Haggis. It's What's For Dinner. Celebrating Poet Robert Burns Birthday

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage South

 

Haggis. It's What's For Dinner.

Celebrating Poet Robert Burns Birthday

 

Wordle: Burns Supper

 

NOT HERE!  The United States food safety department prohibits the import of Haggis into this country.  Haggis is a type of sausage, made with sheep's "pluck" (that's the heart, liver and lungs) cooked up with other stuff.....onion, suet, oatmeal, spices and a little stock.  The reason it is banned is because the U.S. does not allow sheep's lung in food.  The outbreak of mad cow disease in 1989 didn't help either.

 

These days most commercial haggis is prepared in a casing, but the traditional method is to simmer the ingredients for hours in the animal's stomach.  One review I found described it as frightening!  Take a look at this photo of haggis and see if you agree.  I've heard that if you can get past the idea of it, haggis is really tasty. 

 

Scotland's beloved poet, Robert Burns, wrote a poem titled "Address To A Haggis", which pretty much secured it's claim as the national dish of Scotland.  Scots and other admirers of Burns celebrate his birthday (which is today, January 25th) with a Burns Supper or "Burns Nicht"....a meal of haggis, "neeps" and "tatties", along with a "dram"....which translates to turnips, potatoes and some good Scotch whisky. 

 

So how can you have a Burns Supper in the U.S?  The Scots are trying to get the ban removed, but until then you might want to try this Alton Brown recipe for haggis that does not use sheep lung.

 

 

 

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Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Ann,

I am thinking that Robert Burns can have all of the Haggis he wants, even my share.  :-))

Jan 25, 2011 08:58 AM
John Basila
A Denver Home - Littleton, CO

Pluck? - Yuck !!!! :-)

Jan 25, 2011 09:03 AM
Judith Parker
ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC
CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Hi Ann. I would need more then strong whiskey to eat Haggis..I love going to the Scottish festivals.  They have a great one each year over in the Highlands near Asheville, NC.  Glad they don't have Haggis.

Jan 25, 2011 09:08 AM
Karen Burket
Bank of Oregon a division of Willamette Valley Bank - Medford, OR
Valley Mortgage Grou, Conventional, FHA, VA, mortgages

That's really interesting, Ann!  But gotta say...The Scottish have really never been known for their culinary perfections.  lol

And I can say that as I'm part Scottish!  lol   Like Judith...love a good Scottish festival however, and bagpipes.  :-)

 

Thanks for sharing that one!

Karen 

Jan 25, 2011 09:18 AM
Denise Roberts
New Colony Properties, LLC - Pinehurst, NC
e-PRO, REALTOR - Specializing in Pinehurst, NC Area

Ann - I have some Scottish blood in me, but absolutely no desire to ever try Haggis.  I go to the Highland Games in Blowing Rock, NC every year and it is GREAT fun...without the Haggis (LOL).  As the old Scottish song goes..."I'll stick with":

Potatoes, Potatoes;
Potatoes Boiled & Fried.

Potatoes, Potatoes;
With Whiskey On The Side!

Jan 25, 2011 09:38 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Very interesting...

Jan 25, 2011 11:33 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Don, how kind of you to share! Give, Give, Give!

John, it sure looks yucky!

Judith, the festivals must be lots of fun!

Karen, I have a little Scot in me too.  Besides that, my son-in-law is half Scottish and when he and my daughter married the men wore kilts.....I'll have to post photos sometime.  It was very cool!  We didn't serve any haggis at the reception.  I'm sure everyone was disappointed! LOL!

Denise, I'll try most types of food....and if I get the chance I'm pretty sure I'll try this too, even tho I admit it looks gross.  Blowing Rock?  We have friends with an amazing home there.  It's a beautiful place.

Joshua, yep.....very interesting!

 

Jan 25, 2011 01:12 PM
Elizabeth Cooper-Golden
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL
Huntsville AL MLS

Ann, Oh ugh!  I will not be having any haggis any time in the near future...while I'm sober anyway, LOL.  

Jan 25, 2011 02:58 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I actually tasted it once.  Not bad.  If I remember it tastes like sausage.

Jan 26, 2011 06:35 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Ann,

That was a nice tribute. Wouldn't look for haggis is any restaurants. :)

Steve

Jan 26, 2011 10:42 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Ann,

Congratulations. This post is now featured on "Observances and Celebrations." :)

Steve

Jan 27, 2011 04:32 AM