10/11/04 Greetings , The best book that I have ever seen on life in 19th cent. Orkney is " Reminiscences of an Orkney Parish" by John Firth (b.1838) . Originally published in 1920 and republished in 1974 . [Sigurd will know of its present availability - or lack thereof ] "For supper, kail or turnips boiled with pared potatoes were mashed together , and well savored with salt and pepper , eaten with bere bannocks . This vegetarian dish bore the curious name of 'clapshot' ". (pg 98) Today this is often served with mince ( hamburger ) at church suppers etc . I will often make some and serve with hot dogs . [ I live alone and do not like to spend too much time cooking ! There are also directions for the preparation of malt and ale and bere bannocks . You will notice that there is no mention of spices or other additions to the above , but times were not good and you could throw in whatever leftovers that were on hand . The 1946 edition of the SWRI Cookery Book does not mention stovies but my late wife and her mother made them ( in Orkney , Canada, and the U S ) ; consisted of potatoes and onion only . Sigurd : when did onions first become common in Orkney ? Bob O , mid coast Maine .

-----Original Message----- From: robert m. osyer [mailto:saltire@midcoast.com] >"For supper, kail or turnips boiled with pared potatoes were >mashed together , and well savored with salt and pepper , eaten >with bere bannocks. This vegetarian dish bore the curious name >of 'clapshot' ". I'd be interested in others' views on the "turnips" in this recipe. My father liked what he called clapshot and, indeed it was sometimes made with kale but, when not available, he would use turnip tops (turnip greens) rather than swede turnip or white turnip roots - are turnip greens used in Orkney? Ian Holliday

On 12 October 2004 00:55, robert m. osyer wrote: > Sigurd : when did onions first become common in Orkney ? Not until the early eighteenth century, although prior to that it is noted they were "being grown <in gardens> but not used" -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk