Well people, it is finally here. My dream, my joy, my very first book, Scotland: Celebrations & Soul Food. This is my around the calendar, around the country tour of Scotland’s unique celebrations, complete with history, photographs and of course recipes to give you the full flavour of each event. For those of you who […]
Feb 15, 2015 | 0 comments | View Post
To continue on the theme of “My Fabulously Talented Neighbours”, I am pleased to introduce you to the lovely Vicky Gangel of The Glass Angel jewelry and home accessories. A busy mum and local artisan, Vicky creates a wide variety of glass objects from fusing her work in a kiln from home. Although she had […]
Sep 30, 2011 | 3 comments | View Post
Suffice to say that my heart has run the gamut of Olympic level emotion this past week. I had the incredible honour of attending my niece Allie and her new husband Calvin’s wedding in Vermont. I love all weddings but this one, in particular, was extra fun as almost half of our immense family was […]
The part of the Finland that we visited was in Kaaresuvanto, which is in a narrow northern arm of the country that borders both Sweden and the coast of Norway. In fact the ‘town’ spans a river into Sweden where it name changes to Karesuando (famed for knives apparently). Any way you slice it, it’s […]
Well people, it is finally here. My dream, my joy, my very first book, Scotland: Celebrations & Soul Food. This is my around the calendar, around the country tour of Scotland’s unique celebrations, complete with history, photographs and of course recipes to give you the full flavour of each event. For those of you who […]
Feb 15, 2015 | 0 comments | View Post
Apologies to all for the lateness of this post, but there have been big doings here in Jeantopia of which explanations will follow soon. Additionally, a very important bit of information in viewing these images is that I have very wonky ankles. May seem random information I know, but it does have relevance I promise. […]
Synchronicity is an amazing thing. Like most people, these past few months have had their fair share of ups and downs, but one of the most unexpected positive developments has been that we have been learning Norwegian. Competitively. Against each other…like you do. LOCKDOWN It all started when we noticed my daughter was losing interest […]
Sep 04, 2020 | 2 comments | View Post
The part of the Finland that we visited was in Kaaresuvanto, which is in a narrow northern arm of the country that borders both Sweden and the coast of Norway. In fact the ‘town’ spans a river into Sweden where it name changes to Karesuando (famed for knives apparently). Any way you slice it, it’s […]
Synchronicity is an amazing thing. Like most people, these past few months have had their fair share of ups and downs, but one of the most unexpected positive developments has been that we have been learning Norwegian. Competitively. Against each other…like you do. LOCKDOWN It all started when we noticed my daughter was losing interest […]
Sep 04, 2020 | 2 comments | View Post
Today, my heart is so heavy I am tempted to hide away and let the horror of this past week’s events wash over me. But as I lay in bed scrolling through the recent headlines, I have my young son snuggled up next to me and I know that isn’t an option. Not for me, not […]
Oct 28, 2018 | 0 comments | View Post
Many thanks to our new contributor Colin Muir for this first hand account of his visit to St. Kilda. Colin works as a Stone Conservator at Historic Scotland and also specialises in close range 3D scanning of many of Scotland’s treasures. Smarty-pants extraordinaire, smok’n babe and my hubby, and you can read more about some of […]
Dec 20, 2011 | 2 comments | View Post
I have a confession, I am having a food affair. And it is all the fault of this woman; my friend Linn from Sweden. While I am indeed totally committed to exploring and sharing Scottish ingredients and food with you, Linn’s cooking and even more so her baking is just too distractingly good – so I […]
Dec 12, 2011 | 29 comments | View Post
My husband has been travelling quite a bit as of late which usually gives me a chance to catch up on some reading. However, while putting fresh sheets on my bed today the most recent pile of books got knocked off their various perches on and around my bedside table. The ensuing mess made for […]
“Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.” Tonight is Guy Fawkes Night, more widely known as Bonfire Night, where people up and down Britain gather in the frosty blackness of a November night to celebrate the joyous relief of an event that never […]
Nov 05, 2011 | 2 comments | View Post
There is something about this blustery weather that is putting me in the mind of tailgates (will explain in a sec), outdoor continental markets and the boldness of the Autumn cook-out party. In the more northerly of the US States cold, rainy or snowy weather is no reason why you should not stand outside (often around a keg of […]
Oct 29, 2011 | 3 comments | View Post
Prompted by the autumn newsletter from this next Farm Shop, I thought it was about time to introduce you to my secret mecca of Scottish gourmet treats. And what, you may ask would that entail? Well, come with me for a wee shopping trip to the newly opened Farm Shop of Hopetoun House. Now, before […]
Oct 28, 2011 | 3 comments | View Post
I had every intention of firing off a cheery piece to enhance my excitement of our upcoming two weeks break from school known as the October Holidays. Whilst some folk (my husband) still refers to this time of year as the “Tattie Howking”, (‘Tattie’ being potato and ‘Howking’ being to dig up from the ground…i.e. Potato Harvest) and […]
Oct 07, 2011 | 4 comments | View Post
As we most definitely turn to autumnal gales, I wanted to share this one last shining moment of summertime dining that I first discovered just a few weeks ago. That is the delicious, crunchy, salty and all around weird delicacy – SAMPHIRE! According to Wikipedia this edible sea grass (pronounced sam-fyre), was originally known as “sampiere” in […]
Oct 06, 2011 | 6 comments | View Post
Hooray it is a sunny and warmish day, so pull that cover off the BBQ ’cause the outdoor cooking season isn’t over just yet! Even though most people will have been firing up the BBQ for hot dogs, burgers and chicken for months now, I would encourage you to give this dish a try. Not only […]
Sep 25, 2011 | 7 comments | View Post
Before I proceed in posting a flurry of cooking entries, I thought I would take a moment to address the old Imperial vs Metric issue. As you can see from the picture below, I employ a wide variety of tools to concoct and/or reinterpret other’s recipes from as many countries as I can get my […]
Sep 03, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post
Hello again after an unscheduled month-long break! Back in July I encountered what turned out to be a perfect storm of; a few technical challenges I wanted to conquer, the school summer holidays and the not unexpected but unexpectedly debilitating evaporation of any and all childcare. As I enter a new autumn schedule I pledge to hopefully […]
Aug 25, 2011 | 5 comments | View Post
I was afraid that this was a bit of gimmick but I am here to tell you that cooking salmon (or any fish) on a plank is delicious. This has become a bit of a craze in the States over the past few years and I was inspired to give it a try as a center piece for a Beltane BBQ. […]
What to do when you are a post doc in Cognitive Science and your fixed term contract is coming to end? Why, switch gears and open an artisan bakery of course! Happily for us that is just what Matthew Roberts and his wife Zillah Scott did when they started The Steamie Bakehouse. The Steamie Bakehouse Selection Focusing on […]
In honour of T in the Park (which is taking place just up the road from me) I decided to finally tackle the legendary Beer Can Chicken. Beer Can Chicken Although it may appear a bit comical or obscene depending on your view, shoving a beer can in a chicken for cooking actually renders a very […]
Jul 10, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post
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