Saturday, November 15, 2014

Scottish recipes - Potted Hough

Potted Hough

Scottish potted hough or potted meat

Oh my goodness

Potted hough

Potted what? you say

Well to put it simply it's potted meat

Hough us actually the meat and bone from the shin or leg of a cow, boiled in water until it reduces and becomes tender, with oodles of black pepper added, then it's left to cool to make a potted meat and jelly which is served cold

Delicious

It is usually served over Christmas and New year in Scotland

Hough is a food that I remember fondly from my childhood like so many of the recipes on here

My gran used to make it, she was the queen of making hough but she didn't think so, she though her mother was the expert. Then my own mum took over the hough making role and she always felt my gran made it better.... Now it's my turn to make it here in Texas - with my mum only a phone call away if I have questions (Hi mum )

I remember going into my Gran's kitchen at new year and seeing all the different bowls and containers and dishes with the potted meat sitting cooling and setting, it was a sight to see

It would be spread cold on toast or oat cakes or crackers - with even more pepper added on top if you liked it that way

The first hurdle here in Texas was to find a beef hock or shin or leg meat, most supermarkets have done away with proper butcher counters so I needed a market or a store with a butcher present

I found Beef shank steaks with the bone in at one of my local supermarkets here in Texas. HEB had them, I was excited !

Beef shank

I took them home and immediately called my mum to show her

So here is what I did to make the Potted Hough

You will need

2-3lbs of Beef Shank with the bone (or just ask your butcher for a hough bone if you live in Scotland)
Salt
Pepper (oodles and oodles of pepper)
water



  • First remove the meat from the bone and cut into cubes or chunks
beef shank

  • Place meat, bones and tons of pepper into a large pot and cover with water (you can never add too much pepper - the pepperier the better)  
beef shank and bones

beef and bones

  • Bring to boil and keep simmering for 3 hours 

  • Keep an eye on the meat and water mixture, keep topping up with boiled water as needed, making sure you keep the meat and bones covered with water
beef

  • Once the meat is tender and soft, check the liquid mixture to see if it will set. (It will set and turn to jelly later if the mixture is a little sticky when manipulated between you thumb and fore finger)

  • Once ready, break up the meat with a fork, while still on the liquid, pour into containers or ramekins 
potted meat
potted hough

potted hough

  • Place in the fridge to chill and set for around 2 hours

Enjoy


Serve by spreading cold on oatcakes, crackers or warm toast

Potted hough cannot be placed in the freezer for later, so you and your guests will need to eat the whole batch, it will keep fresh in the fridge for around 5 days

Potted Hough

Scottish potted hough



For me, this truly is a childhood dish filled with great memories of great people

The taste and texture just takes me back to Scotland and New Year like many things on this blog

So get organised and make this for Christmas or New Year this year and make great memories or keep a great tradition alive







Sunday, September 14, 2014

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk37)

Hey, hey fellow followers of Scottish cuisine

How are you all this week?

Can you believe it's less than a week before the Scottish referendum where the people of Scotland can vote for Independence from the UK.

Unfortunately I cannot vote as I am a Scot living abroad here in Texas but I have been watching this whole thing unfold like the rest of the world, whatever your views I hope you support Scotland in whatever lies ahead for this great country and it's wonderful people (Hi mum and dad)

So, this week I have been busy again with many things and not cooking as much .... more recipes coming soon but in the meantime enjoy this weeks "From Where I Stand" photos

Day 250/365 - Enjoying a cider on this Sunday evening - it's been a while since I had cider, it was refreshing



Day 251/365 - Abs routine in Jazzercise - Hello Big blue balls



Day 252/365 - My boy joined Cub Scouts this evening at a rally at his school, he is so excited



Day 253/365 - Houston Texans curb in my neighbourhood, I still don't understand the game of Football but this expat is trying - Go Texans



Day 254/365 - It really does appear to be mushroom season around here, here are some on my neighbours lawn



Day 255/365 - Tomato and basil soup for lunch, thank you pinterest



Day 256/365 - Decorating for my favourtie season.... I love changing my decor with the changing seasons









Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

TheBoyandMe's 365 Linky

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk36)

Hey fellow Tartan tasters, how are you all doing this week?

I have been getting back into my groove since school started last week for Sir Scoff's-A-lot

It has been a busy mix of getting things done and taking time to enjoy the moments, that's what its all about after all, right?

Here is my weekly round up of "From Where I Stand" - one photo a day

Enjoy


 Day 243/365 - my little artist and his life sized chalk drawing of himself on the driveway



 Day 244/365 - Pomegranates from our tree in the fruit garden out back



Day 245/365 - Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner tonight - this beauty is the Cowboy



 Day 246/365 - Our box turtle friend is back, he was making a quick pace across the lawn this afternoon, he hid when I walked up to him for the photo



Day 247/365 - This mushroom on our lawn is out of control, eww !



Day 248/365 - Making lunch and this face is watching my every move



Day 249/365 - Dinner on the grill tonight Texas style









Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

TheBoyandMe's 365 Linky

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk35)

Woah, what a week, my boy started 2nd grade and we had a small emergency with Mr TT, but all is well with him and we are thankful for our minds being at ease

here is my week in feet.....

Day 236/365 - my sleeping boy the night before school



Day 237/365 - first day of school, and the house is quiet again



Day 238/365 - Day 2 of school for my boy, he is getting big



Day 239/365 - an unexpected visit to the hospital



Day 240/365 - Starbucks makes everything better



Day 241/365 - a road to somewhere? the map rug in my boy's room



Day 242/365 - me and my boy feeding Rhino the hamster some Hamster sized pizza, do you like the paper knife and fork ?


Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

TheBoyandMe's 365 Linky

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk34)


Hi week 34 already. phew

Where have me feet taken me, take a look.....

Day 229/365 - Sunday morning at the driving range



Day 230/365 - Hubby at the gym, here is my exercise for the evening, lift and repeat



Day 231/365 - My boy made this cute heart on the rug this morning



Day 232/365 - apparently this is me, do you see the long flowy locks and the red lips lol



Day 233/365 - Walkies with Buster, its way too hot in Texas for the long walks, we are keeping these short for now



Day 234/365 - a family game of Jenga



Day 235/365 - Pedicures with friends, nothing better










Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

TheBoyandMe's 365 Linky

Monday, August 18, 2014

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk33)


Hi Lovely's

Here is my Week of places I have stood and found myself here in Texas

Yes i am back into the swing of things here in Texas and this week has been a busy week, what with back to School shopping, birthday shopping for my soon to be 40 year old Sister (shhh don't tell her I told you) and an anniversary for Mr Tartan tastes and myself (21 years married this week, surely that deserves a large Margarita and some fabulous Tex Mex, yes that's how celebrated and it was good)

So without further Ado, here is this weeks installment of "From Where I Stand" my week in feet photos

 Day 222/365 - A bucket of balls, we had a family trip to the golf range this morning




Day 223/365 - Fresh Pineapple, Chicken and jalapeno for dinner (yum)



Day 224/365 - the pretty floor in my Doctors office today - check up time



Day 225/365 - a trip to Tiffany & Co to do some special birthday shopping for someone special



Day 226/365 - Happy anniversary to Mr Tartan Tastes - 21 years married today



Day 227/365 - School is still out, so what is better than a relaxing morning, playing and watching TV (my little multitasker)



Day 228/365 - a much need fresh pedicure










Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

TheBoyandMe's 365 Linky
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