Outlander Kitchen

Historical and Character-Inspired Food from the fictional world of Diana Gabaldon.

Archive for the category “Beyond the Books”

13 Dec 2012
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Handmade for the Holidays – Outlander Kitchen’s 2nd Annual Christmas Wish List

Catholic as many of them were — and nominally christian as they all were – Highland Scots regarded Christmas primarily as a religious observance, rather than a major festive occasion.  Lacking priest or minister, the day was spent much like a Sunday, though with a particularly lavish meal to mark the occasion, and the exchange of small gifts.  My own gift from Jamie had been the wooden ladle I was presently using, its handle carved with the image of a mint leaf; I had given him a new shirt with a ruffle at the throat for ceremonial occasions, his old one having worn quite away at the seams.

Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross (Chapter 34 – Charms)

late 18th C gentleman's shirt


picture from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Posted in Beyond the Books, The Fiery Cross and tagged , , , , , ,
30 Nov 2012
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Old Pulteney 12 YO – The Weekend Whisky Write-up

There was a lessening of the tension over the hall, and almost an audible sigh of relief in the gallery as Colum drank from the quaich and offered it to Jamie.  The young man accepted it with a smile.  Instead of the customary ceremonial sip, however, he carefully raised the nearly full vessel, tilted it and drank.  And kept on drinking.  There was a gasp of mingled respect and amusement from the spectators, as the powerful throat muscles kept moving.  Surely he’d have to breathe soon, I thought, but no.  He drained the heavy cup to the last drop, lowered it with an explosive gasp for air, and handed it back to Colum.

“The honor is mine,” he said, a little hoarsely, “to be allied with a clan whose taste in whisky is so fine.”

Diana Gabaldon, Outlander (Chapter 10 – The Oath Taking)

quaich

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Posted in Beyond the Books, Outlander and tagged , , , , , , ,
20 Nov 2012
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Outlander Thanksgiving – A Recipe Twist and Ideas for Your Holiday Table

My thoughts of luxuriant wallowing were interrupted by the emergence from the woods of Ian and Myers, the latter with a brace of squirrels hung from his belt.  Ian proudly presented me with an enormous black object, which on closer inspection proved to be a turkey, fat from gorging on the autumn grains.

“Boy’s got a nice eye, Mrs. Claire,” said Myers, nodding approvingly.  “Those be wily birds, turkeys.  Even the Indians don’t take ‘em easy.”

It was early for Thanksgiving, but I was delighted with the bird, which would be the first substantial item in our larder.  So was Jamie, though his pleasure lay more in the thing’s tail feathers, which would provide him with a good supply of quills.

Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn (Chapter 19 – Hearth Blessing)

yam soup with oat breadsticks

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Posted in Beyond the Books, Drums of Autumn and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
16 Nov 2012
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Fonseca Terra Prima Reserve Port – Weekend Whisky Write-Up

“You can treat rum like that,” Jared observed, watching the ungainly progress of the enormous barrel through the obstructions of the warehouse, “but not port.  I always fetch that up myself, along with the bottled wines.  In fact, I was just setting off to see a new shipment of Belle Rouge port.  Would you perhaps be interested in accompanying me?”

Diana Gabaldon, Dragonfly in Amber (Chapter 6 – Making Waves)

Fonseca-Terra-Prima

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Posted in Beyond the Books, Dragonfly in Amber and tagged , , , , , ,
13 Nov 2012
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My Outlandish October & The Winner!

Jamie closed his eyes for an instant, then opened them, looking toward Brianna, who stood with Lizzie and Marsali, Jemmy in her arms.  The rawness and strength of his features stood out by contrast with the round-faced innocence of the children, the gentleness of the young mothers — though even in their delicacy, I thought, the firelight showed the seams of Scottish granite in their bones.

“We pay tribute to our women,” he said, lifting the cup in turn to Brianna, to Marsali, and then turning to me.  A brief smile touched his lips.  “For they are our strength.  And our revenge upon our enemies will be at the last the revenge of the cradle.  Slàinte!”

(Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross (Chapter 15 – The Flames of Declaration)Niagara Falls Read more…

Posted in Beyond the Books and tagged , , , , , ,

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