Texans admire Robert Burns too

Just to get you in the mood for this blog post, I hope you will listen to Dougie MacLean singing "Auld Lang Syne". My husband Wayne and I did just that when we held our own private celebration of Burns' Night this year.

The lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne" were written by Robert Burns, 18th century Scots poet,

whose birthday is commemorated each year on January 25th.  Burns' Night celebrations, held worldwide, are often formal dinners with attendees sporting tartans and taking part in rituals, speeches, music, and dancing.  We decided to celebrate at home by preparing a special Scottish dish, listening to Scottish music, and exchanging memories of trips to Scotland.

The dish was called "Roasted Root Vegetables," from A Year in a Scots Kitchen by Catherine Brown. My version of the recipe is included at the end of this post, and I promise you it is tastier than the name may imply!

We couldn't let Burns' Night pass without a wee nip of a ten year old single malt whisky, Glenmorangie, from a very small souvenir bottle.  We left enough in the  bottle for several more years of celebrations.

As I was writing this post, I began to wonder if celebrating Burns' Night might appear as an affectation to our fellow Texans and South Westerners.  So I researched Scots heritage in our region and found some amazing facts and connections.

First, some statistics.  Forty per cent of Stephen F. Austin's colonists were of Scottish ancestry. Four Scots and 26 men of Scots descent fought at the Battle of the Alamo, including Piper John MacGregor.  Ten men from Scotland financed the building of the Texas state capitol and were awarded 150,000 acres, which became the XIT Ranch (Ten in Texas).  Over half of Texas counties are named for persons of Scottish ancestry.

And you may be familiar with these names, especially if you are a native Texan:  Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Jim Bowie, Daniel Boone, Big Foot Wallace, and J. Frank Dobie - all are of Scottish heritage.

Here are three little know facts that caught my eye.  The word "spread" used in Texas for "ranch" is said to derive from the Gaelic "spreid" (flock of sheep) and "spreidith," cattle or livestock.  "Y'all," much beloved in Texas, often used as a plural form of "you," but even as a singular form sometimes, may derive from the Gaelic "sibh vile," which translates to "you all."  And did you know that the official state tartan for Texas is the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan?

 I didn't, but I am now looking for a source for this cloth to decorate our Scottish-themed guest room.

Why didn't I learn about the Scots and their influence on the Southwest in my high school Texas History class, I wonder?

Here's the recipe I promised.

Roasted Root Vegetables (serves four)

Buy:

one small turnip

four small parsnips

four small carrots

four medium potatoes

four small onions

one bulb fennel

You will also need one-third cup extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, two sprigs fresh rosemary, one bulb garlic and one tablespoon sesame seeds.

Heat oil in a roasting pan in a 450F oven for five minutes.  Cut all vegetables into large chunks of similar size.  Place vegetables in pan, coating with oil. Add garlic bulb with top cut off, salt and rosemary. Cook for 40-45 minutes, basting with oil halfway through.  Press the cloves out of the bulb and mix garlic with vegetables. Add sesame seeds.asty