Caledonia Heritage

Ingredients

2 ounces old-fashioned oatmeal
10 ounces fresh double cream
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons good Scotch whiskey
12 ounces fresh raspberries (or other fresh soft fruit)

Directions

Toast the oatmeal under a broiler, turning occasionally with a spoon or spatula, until it is golden brown.
Allow the oatmeal to cool.
Whip the cream until it is very stiff and then mix in the honey, whisky and oatmeal.
Layer the raspberries with the cream mixture in four tall glasses, cover with Kling or Saran wrap and refrigerate.
Allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving and then decorate with a few raspberries.

Kirkoswald Old Church dates back to 1244 when the monks of Crossraguel Abbey built a stone church to replace the shrine commemorating the great battle fought by St Oswald in 634 AD against the Welsh king, Cadwallon at Heavenfield, near Hexham. The word “kirk” means “church”. It is also possible that Robert the Bruce was baptised here.

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Since Ayrshire is Burns country and I’ve just returned from there, I thought I’d add more to the Burns theme by introducing you to the cottage of Souter Johnnie in Kirkoswald, Ayrshire. Souter Johnnie was a character from the famous Tam O’Shanter poem which Burns wrote in 1790 and is based on one of his drinking buddies, John Davidson (1728-1808), who lived in the cottage from 1786. (Souter means cobbler.)

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Glamis Castle is the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, but is perhaps more famous for being the birthplace of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother.

Glamis Castle

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Discover My Past is a new genealogy and reference magazine solely dedicated to Scotland and its people. The magazine is available online or can be downloaded as a PDF file to be read offline.

The magazine shows you how to trace your Scots ancestry, as well as giving you a valuable insight into how your ancestors would have lived and worked.

Not to be missed!

Homecoming 2009 has been officially kicked off by First Minister, Alex Salmond, this weekend and thousands are expected to take part in Burns Suppers all around the world. Images from Burns’s poems have been projected on to the City Chambers of Glasgow to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Rabbie Burns. The First Minister attended a special Burns Supper in Alloway last night, as well as a series of recitals and performances at the various locations associated with Burns. Today, over 10,000 people are expected to attend the Burns Light, a lantern procession, through Dumfries, featuring children from 42 schools.

Want to know more about Burns Suppers? Head over to the Burns Interactive site and meet Rabbie himself.

Over 300 events have been planned over the coming months and more than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend.