Humes Outfitters Guide to Burns Night at Home

In true Scots spirit, we are determined that not even lockdown will stop us celebrating this Burns Night. Read on to discover how to celebrate Burns Night at home.

Online Burn’s Night Celebrations

While you might not be able to see some family and friends in the flesh, there is nothing to stop you having a smashing time with an online Burn’s Supper. Have a peek at our staying connected blog that talks about the range of video chat platforms you can use. Alternatively, you can also attend a range of online events that will be taking place, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) are attempting to host the ‘World’s Biggest Burns’ with comedians and performers looking to provide some braw entertainment for the evening.

Dressing for the Occasion

Despite being in our homes, we should still honour the tradition by getting our glad rags on. Whether we decide to go all out in kilt or tartan trews at the dining table, or even attempt a more casual homage by wearing a tartan shirt and jeans while reciting poetry from the comfort of our couch. For more inspiration on Burns Night Style, read our style guide here.

A Burn’s Supper: Dine-in Burns Night Menu ideas

We can do our best to recreate the experience of a Burns Night Supper by creating our own full course Burns Night Menu. Starters can be your favourite soup whether that be lentil, vegetable, scotch broth or even some traditional cock-a-leekie soup. Traditional main course of haggis, neeps and tatties so you can still have an address to the haggis, before finishing off with a Scottish dessert like a spiced clootie dumpling, sweet sherry trifle or a creamy cranachan.

Here is one of our favourite ways to quickly whip up an extra special Cranachan:

Honey Granola and Raspberry Cranachan

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups Fresh Raspberries
• 4 Tbsp. Raspberry Jam
• Pint Double Cream
• ¾ Cup of Honey
• 1 Tbsp. Whisky
• 2 Cups Rolled Oats
• 1 Cup Flaked Almonds
• ½ Cup olive oil

Method:

Step 1

Pre-heat the oven at 170°C. Combine your rolled oats, almonds, ½ cup of honey and your oil in a mixing bowl.

Step 2

Spread your mixture onto a large, rimmed baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir the mixture before baking for a further 15 minutes or until your mixture is turning golden brown.

Step 3

While leaving the mixture to cool take 2 cups of the raspberries and blend them (or mash them) until they are a chunky sauce. Put the mixture in a bowl and stir in the raspberry jam.

Step 4

In another bowl combine your double cream, whisky and remaining honey until the mixture is a thick cream.

Step 5

In each of your serving bowls, put in a helping of your toasted oat and nut pieces and fold in some of your cream and raspberry mixture. Use the remaining raspberries to generously decorate on top.

Reading Poetry and Singing Songs

While we will still be reciting some of our favourite Burns poems and singing Auld Lang Syne, we can also use the opportunity to celebrate other Scottish poems and songs with our loved ones. With modern Scottish poets such as our national poet Jackie Kay, folk songs we adore like The Dark Island or Flower of Scotland, we will be spoilt for choice when celebrating the long creative heritage of Scotland.

Finishing Off with a Tipple or Dram

With no designated driver required, we can finish off the evening with a toast to Rabbie Burns. You can even crack out one of the good bottles and enjoy the perks of house measures.