Duncan MacPhail
Weekday Evenings
For some reason, here at the station, for close to 20 years now, I’ve been known as the “Mayor of Transcona!?” Now personally, even though I’ve been a proud “Transconian” all my life, I still haven’t come to the conclusion if the “Mayor of Transcona handle” is a complement, or a put-down? Do ya know what I mean??
I began here at 92 CITI FM in 1990.
“What a Long Strange Trip it’s Been.” G. Dead
To be honest, I’m not a huge Grateful Dead fan. I just figure the above album title says a lot about the experiences I’ve had so far & the lifestyle I’ve been able to lead. This is much thanks to the broadcast industry I chose of course, but more specifically “92 CITI FM!” Whether you realize it or not, CITI is one of the most predominant stations in Canadian rock radio. Sure, what comes out of the speakers means everything. It’s definitely all about the music! The music is why we’re all here, you included! But, being associated with the 92 CITI FM alumni, along with the present “talent” (both on and off the air) that currently drains the bank-roll,…now that’s the real honour!!
OK, now that all the “fluff” is taken care of, let’s get down to what I really wanted to do on this page. For you…my favourite Haggis recipe:
Here's a recipe for the beloved Haggis of Scotland. In addition to the other naughty (read 'delectable') bits, the lungs are traditionally included in Scotland, but are omitted in some countries. Some people think that liver shouldn't be used as well. But, whatever!
• 1 sheep's lung
• 1 sheep's stomach
• 1 sheep heart
• 1 sheep liver
• 1/2 lb fresh suet (kidney leaf fat is preferred)
• 3/4 cup oatmeal (the ground type, NOT the Quaker Oats type!)
• 3 onions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 cup stock
Wash lungs and stomach well, rub with salt and rinse. Remove membranes and excess fat. Soak in cold salted water for several hours. Turn stomach inside out for stuffing.
Cover heart and liver with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Chop heart and coarsely grate liver. Toast oatmeal in a skillet on top of the stove, stirring frequently, until golden. Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Loosely pack mixture into stomach, about two-thirds full. Remember, oatmeal expands in cooking.
Press any air out of stomach and truss securely. Put into boiling water to cover. Simmer for 3 hours, uncovered, adding more water as needed to maintain water level. Prick stomach several times with a sharp needle when it begins to swell; this keeps the bag from bursting. Place on a hot platter, removing trussing strings. Serve with a spoon. The dish ‘s ceremoniously served with "neeps, tatties and nips" -- mashed turnips, mashed potatoes, and lots of scotch-whiskey.
Hey, you’re welcome!
Thanks for listening.
Dunc
