The Pipes, the Pipes are callin'

The mountains Highlands are swathed in mist, The long-weekend stretches out before us lazily. Mr is lighting the fire and Cath...is in a mega-Scots cooking frenzy:-) My mind is full of gorgeous things, mountains and heather, crofter's cottages, heros and poets, tatties and leeks, barley and oats, love and survival, chill wind and warm woollen wraps, log fires and great books, lovingly made quilts and soft beds, candlelight and a pair of strong arms.

On a day like today hearts and tummies call out for thick hearty soups and grainy breads warm from the oven. So after a thrifty and pleasing trip to the grower's market this morning, I am armed. Bubbling on the stove is a fabulous pot of Winter vegetable Chowder.

There is something very pleasing about a big pot of soup. A cauldron of steaming wholesomeness. A marriage of flavours and a smell that wafts through the cottage saying 'Home', 'Safe' and 'Comfort'. Combine this with the smell of baking bread and you will remain happy and peaceful all afternoon.

This is a simple soup but I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a good dose of home.

CROFTER'S CHOWDER

2 medium white potatoes

1 parsnip

1/2 a sweet potato

1/3 head of cauliflower

1 brown onion

1/2 a leek

1 clove garlic, crushed

2L massel chicken stock

2 tsp ground cumin

2 ears of corn kernels

30g Nuttelex

1 tsp mixed spice

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Brown onions and leeks in Nuttelex, add garlic and spices

Add all vegetables (chopped into 1cm cubes or thereabouts)

Add stock and a bay leaf and boil on a slow roll for 1 hr.

Allow soup to cool then whizz in food processor until smooth and creamy.

If you like a creamier soup, add 1 cup soy milk at the end and bring back to heat slowly.

Serve with crusty grained bread straight from the oven.

Robert Burns

O Mary, at thy window be!

It is the wish'd the trysted hour.

Those smiles and glances let me see,

That makes the miser's treasure poor.