Macsween’s Haggis Bible proves a haggis is for life, not just for Burns Night

Not a haggis.

As the uber-Scot Sir Sean Connery once asked whilst playing an immortal Spaniard, who was actually an ancient Egyptian, in the film Highlander, ‘What is a haggis?’

 

Well, first here’s what it’s not. It is not a small animal indigenous to the Highlands of Scotland and, therefore, does not have legs of any length. It has not been hunted to extinction in the wild and is not, as a result, the subject of an intensive WWF-funded breeding programme at a safari park just outside Auchtermuchty. And it is not – WE REPEAT, NOT – only to be eaten on Burns Night. 

Mmmmmmacsween!

What haggis is is delicious, easy to cook, i.e. microwavable, fantastically adaptable and vegetarian-friendly (for 25 years and counting). Just ask Jo Macsween! Scion of the legendary haggis makers, Macsween of Edinburgh, Jo is a food lover and blogger and a passionate and enthusiastic ambassador for haggis. Never afraid to mix it up, she’s always on the look out for new ways to cook with it. Hence a brand new book on the ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race’ - The Macsween Haggis Bible.  

If you want the lowdown on the perfect traditional Burns Night fare, then look no further, but there’s more to haggis than tatties and neeps and tartan. If you’re having a fancy bash how about SOS canapés? Or stir things up at dinner with veggie crumb cake with crème fraîche or haggis bobotie. It’s an everyday ingredient that you can dress up as haggis Benedict, dress down as haggis nachos or see if they even notice with something as innocent as haggis lasagne. Head over to our website for a free recipe. 

Vote Bob Servant! Star of Delete this at Your Peril Transfers to Small Screen

If, as Napoleon once observed, “in politics stupidity is not a handicap”, then meet the next Honourable Member for Broughty Ferry – Bob Servant. Star of three bestselling books and a BBC radio series, Bob has now been reborn on the small screen by Hollywood legend Brian Cox in the six-part BBC comedy series, ‘Bob Servant, Independent’.

When the sitting MP for Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, dies suddenly it sparks a by-election that could change the political map of the UK. Bob – former burger van magnate and entrepreneur – swings into action to take advantage of a level of attention he’s been waiting for his whole life. He’s going to sell himself to the good people of Broughty Ferry …whether they like it or not.

The series, written by Neil Forsyth who also wrote the three Bob Servant books (Delete This at Your Peril, Bob Servant:Hero of Dundee and Why Me?), charts Bob’s bid for electoral success against slick professional politician Nick Edwards (Rufus Jones) and Nick’s no-nonsense campaign manager and wife, Philippa (Pollyanna McIntosh). Managing Bob’s campaign for glory is his long-suffering friend and neighbour Frank (“The Dean to my Torvill” – Bob) played by Jonathan Watson, who seems completely unfazed by the fact that Bob has absolutely no understanding of the political process whatsoever. To the hustings!

Bob Servant, Independent starts on 23^rd January at 10.00 p.m. on BBC Four for six weeks, repeated on Fridays at 10.00 p.m. on BBC2 Scotland (Sky Channel 970), and here's a sneak peak of the man in action ...