what would you tie with.....?

[EdD]

Donald, at the risk of hijacking this thread, why don't you submit the recipe for cockaleekie soup for inclusion in the recipe section of FAOL?

Ed

[Donald Nicolson]

I had a quick Google and this is what I found,

Mrs Beetons Soups Revisited
Commonly called Cock-a-Leekie

1 Capon or Large Fowl (sometimes an old cock, from which the recipe takes its name, is used), trussed for boiling
5.7lt (10 pints) Medium Stock
2-3 Bunches Leeks
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Wash the leeks (and if old, scald them in boiling water for a few minutes), remove the roots and part of the heads and cut them into lengths of about 2.5cm (1 inch).
Put the fowl into the stock, with half of the leeks and allow to simmer gently.
After 30 minutes add the remaining leeks.
Simmer for 3 or 4 hours longer.
It should be carefully skimmed and can be seasoned to taste.
In serving, take out the fowl and carve it neatly, placing the pieces in a tureen and pouring over them the soup, which should be very thick of leeks (a pur?e of leeks the French would call it).

Time: 4 hours.
Sufficient for 10 persons.
Seasonable in winter.

Note: Without the fowl, the above, which would then be merely called leek soup, is very good and also economical.
Cock-a-leekie was largely consumed at the Burns Centenary Festival at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, in 1859.

It is ridiculous the recipe has been bowdlerised.
Here is the unaltered version -
http://thefoody.com/mrsbsoups/cockaleekie.html

Check the pints, probably British, go by the litres.

[EdD]

Thank you, Donald.

That might be a good recipe for a crock pot. Of course, we aren't quite as rich in leeks as the British Isles, but we can find them.

Ed

[Falkirk Fisherman]

And now Donald you will be remembering the Pea and Ham made out of chicken advert. Moira was a braw wee hen.
Good drop of stuff that cock a leekie by the way at the start of the season out in a boat.

[Gardenfish]

How about a Matuka streamer? With that green sheen the fly would be gorgeous.

[Donald Nicolson]

I remember it well Fa'kirk. Pea and Ham is no' sae bad either.
Well folks, now you've got two of us using these funny words.