I've jist gotten a bran' new cooker, or stove, as fowk ca' it here. It's got fower gas burners an' an electric, self-cleaning oven, an' I'm richt enjoyin' cookin' on't. Richard thinks he's bidin' in a restaurant wi' a' the gran' things I mak.

I've aye liket tae cook an tae try different things, bit there wisna muckle opportunity tae dee that in the Catbow. "Plain food," said Dad, "I dinna like ony o' that fancy grub." I mine aince, ae Setterday, fan he came hame fae the West Coast, 1 made a mushroom omelette for his tae. "Gyads! Are ye trying tae pusion me, ma quine?" wis his appreciation. "Fit's wrang wi' a biled egg an' a saftie?"

Bit tho' Dad hid a conservative palate an' wisna' interested in experimentin', he wis an affy gweed cook hisel', an' wis cook on the Westward.

Afore I cam' tae California, I asked Dad tae gie me his recipes. He niver used a cookery book, an' so I jist wrote doon fit he telt me. I've keepit them a' this time an' I'm pleased tae share them noo wi' a' the readers o' the Heritage newsletter. Thinkin' o' Dad in the gailey, wi his pots o' broth or fish soup, lashed on tae the stove, in a howlin' gale, maks me appreciate my new cooker an' my Dad a' the mair.

Steep the peas an' barley ower nicht, Pit the beef intil the pot wi' the steepit peas an' barley, the water an' a' the vegetables. Trottle for twa oo'rs. Pit in a hannie fae o' baith saut an' spice, an' the parsley. Tak oot the beef, cut up a bittie o't sma' tae pit back intil the broth an' serve the rest for yer main course. Noo awa' an' dish up.

Pit the tatties an' the ingin' intil the pot an' cover ower wi' water an' add a hannie o' saut. Trottle for ten tae fifteen meenits, syne pit in the fish, pit doon the gas a bittie, and trottle for anither fifteen meenits. Syne strain aff the watter, and pit in a pint o' milk, or a suppie mair an' a bittie butter. Neist, add a suppie mair spice an' saut, trottle a few meenties mair. Tak' the fish oot on tae a plate, wi' some o' the tatties, an' mash the rest o' the tatties in the pan wi' the milk. Dish up. Oatcakes ging weeL wi't. The fish, tatties an' ingin' kin be served aifter.

Bon Apetit tae a' the readers, or as Dad wid say "Ate up noo, afore it gings caul!"

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