Good
News - over the Burns season we drew attention to the fact that the future
of our National Bard's birthplace at Alloway was endangered but are now
delighted to inform you that the position is now much brighter. The National
Trust for Scotland has been successful in its plans to be the lynchpin in
overseeing the rescue and development of the historic Alloway site. The
Trust will carry out a survey of the Burns' Cottage and other parts of the
Burns National Heritage Park and put together a business plan in order to
seek Scottish Executive and National Lottery funding. Large sums will be
needed to ensure the success of the venture but they should be made
available - Robert Burns is far too important to all aspects of Scottish Life for
any other option. We should all wish The National Trust for Scotland well in
their forward looking action. It is intended that the thatched cottage,
built by the poet's father, will be the central feature of a single-ticket
Burns tour which will be linked to other buildings important to his life.
These include his house in Dumfries, the Bachelor Club in Tarbolton and
Souter Johnnie's Cottage in Kirkoswald. By the time we reach the 250th
anniversary of Burns' birth in 2009, the Burns experience should be one that
all Scots can be proud of and the day that his cottage was under threat
removed forever.
It would take a lot of Sales of Work to raise the necessary money to cover
the Burns venture but these are still essential fundraising events for all
sorts of organisations. The home-baked cake stall is always a favourite at
such events and this week's recipe for Date and Walnut Cake from the late
Gladys Wright, mother of The Flag's Peter, was in popular demand at Dulnain
Bridge Kirk events.
Date and Walnut Cake
Line a 9" x 12" tin with foil.
Pour a cup of boiling water over 4oz chopped dates, add 1 tsp bicarbonate of
soda and let stand.
Mix together:
|
6oz sugar |
2oz butter |
|
6oz plain flour |
2 oz chopped walnuts |
|
1 beaten egg |
1 tsp baking powder |
|
1/2 tsp salt |
|
Once mixed, add date mixture, stirring well. Bake for 35 minutes in a
moderate oven.
Topping:
5 tblsp light brown sugar
2 tblsp butter
2 tblsp single cream
Mix these ingredients together and boil for 3 minutes. Spread over
cake.
