Don't Ask, Just Eat It

Baguette topped with sliced apple
and black pudding, with brown
gravy for dipping.

I've recently discovered the most amazing little cafe in Cambridge which caters to the Scots-loving crowd: Rising Dough Scottish Bakery and Coffee Shop. I went on a bit of a spree, buying a haggis, four haggis pies, three packs of black pudding, and two Double Decker bars (all for under $50). I would highly recommend to anyone within driving distance to check them out. Other than my general love of haggis, there was a particular reason for this visit; the TV adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander had premiered, and what better way to celebrate than to whip up some Scottish goodies with some friends?
 
What is black pudding? "Essentially, black pudding is a mixture of suet, blood, barley and a special blend of spices stuffed in a length of protein casing." (Visit Scotland) In other words, it's a type of blood sausage... but you'll get more people to eat it if you just call it black pudding. It's relatively soft with an oaty texture, but is also very rich in flavour, and very filling. You can purchase it as sausage links, or already sliced into pucks for convenience.

Recipe for Black Puddings found in Cookery Reformed; or, The
Lady's Assistant, published in London in 1755.

I chose to fry some black pudding pucks in a pan with some butter (about 5 minutes each side), and then set it on top of baguette slices with apple. I made up some brown gravy in case anyone wanted to dip, and voila! All in all it only took a few minutes to prepare, and was absolutely delicious. I'm very selfishly planning to hoard the rest of my black puddings for breakfasts and snacks. 

Now, if you are the sort to want to spend more time (ie. a few days) in the kitchen, you are more than welcome to this recipe, taken from a 1755 publication, Cookery Reformed; or, The Lady's Assistant. The ingredients have not changed all that much over time - why mess with a good thing, right?

Sources

Visit Scotland, 2014, "Traditional Scottish Food"

Cambridge Now, 2014, "Rising Dough Scottish Bakery and Coffee Shop"

Internet Archive, 2001, Cookery Reformed; or, The Lady's Assistant

Further Reading

Showcase, 2014, "Outlander"

The English Breakfast Society, 2014, "Traditional Black Pudding"

Mini-Review: A History of Scotland

J.D. Mackie's A History of Scotland is exactly that - a comprehensive history of Scotland from 11th century to the 1970s. At only 380 pages, this book is packed with information, and has long been regarded as the book to reach for on the subject. Mackie  was Professor of Scottish History and Literature at the University of Glasgow from 1930 to 1957, and became Her Majesty's Historiographer in Scotland in 1958. He had published numerous books on various related topics until his death in 1978.

"For a generation, this book - intelligent, fair-minded and accurate - has been acclaimed as the definitive one-volume history of a great nation." (From the publisher)

A History of Scotland has been immeasurably helpful to me in three ways. First, it provided a detailed introduction to the places and people of Scotland's past which helped me to further appreciate everything I saw during my trip to Edinburgh and the Highlands this past March. Second, it gives an amazing historical background to any examination of Scottish settlement in Canada - knowing the push and pull factors of why settlers were compelled to leave their homes and start anew. And lastly, it has helped me to better understand the current political and social climate in Scotland with regards to the upcoming September referendum - seeing all sides of an argument and being able to put everything into context is strangely satisfying.

When reading this book, I strongly advise you to have a map of Scotland handy, and be prepared to look up names and terms. There is so much information in this book that at times it can feel as though you're simply reading lists of battles, treaties, and nobles. Don't be intimidated, however; when a person or event is of great significance, Mackie will spend a paragraph or two explaining why before moving on.

If the book has any shortcomings it's that it has no illustrations or images, and only five historical maps. For a region with such a stunning landscape and a wonderful visual culture, it was a bit disappointing. Additionally, many early kings share the same name, and it would've been nice to be able to "see" each individual. I found it helpful to pause between sections of the book to watch episodes of the BBC produced "A History of Scotland", hosted by Neil Oliver. Being able to visualise the personalities through the ages and have names repeated is one of the best ways (for me anyway) to memorise things.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Scotland and its peoples, or are interested in British history in general.* I've shared some links below where you can pick up your own copy.

Sources
J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland, Penguin Books, 1984 (Revised Edition)
BBC One, "A History of Scotland"

Further Reading
You can find your own copy of A History of Scotland on Amazon or Chapters
BBC News, 2014 "Scotland Decides"
Diana Gabaldon's Website
The Outlander series on Amazon and Chapters

* I will also mention (for those readers of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series) that this book provides a perfect background to the social, political, and religious undertones to the Jacobite rebellions and life in 1740s Scotland.