Of marmalade and men. No more mice.
The World’s Original Marmalade Awards are happening RIGHT NOW in Cumbria, northern England. Among other contests, 20 clans, including my own, Macdonald (Clan Ranald of Macdonald to be unnecessarily precise), are competing in the Stirring of the Clans. It just does not get better than this.
I bet it is about as raw and cold up there on the Irish Sea as it is in the wild Northeast this February. Here in our winter wonderland (aka bitter tundra that droves are escaping for warmer climes) we’ve been busy at work on a true Scots marmalade. Timely announcement given current events in Cumbria: we are getting close. Maybe are even there.
This gorgeous suspension of Seville orange rinds in the thickened juice simmered from pulp and seeds is dare I say improved only by the addition of Islay Scotch. Islay, the peatiest of all scotch whiskies, like sipping your local island peat smoke straight from a tumbler…the magic it makes when combined with bitter Seville rind, well, seems special to me. Will await more feedback.
But what is not to love, these beautiful and delicious bits of rind suspended like tropical creatures in a sunny liquid? 
Yes, perhaps I too have had enough winter….
Meantime, another way to enjoy that Islay for those bored of sipping it neat, is this quite amazing cocktail that got us through Christmas Eve: the American 25. Yikes it is good.
Stay warm out there. And get your vitamin C with some good Scottish marmalade xo