COOL!
My friend Teena is an American who married a Scot and lives in the Highlands now on a croft. She does a lot of cooking for her husband and inlaws, and has been telling me how Scots are very
particular about how potatoes are prepared!
I don't think she'll mind if i quote her here:
I've also noticed that the Scots (especially the farming men folk) are people of few words. They say what's necessary but they don't chit chat a lot and they don't give flowery speeches. They don't have the time or knowledge to play mind games so you don't have to wonder what they meant when they say something. They mean exactly what they say. You won't hear lots of praises nor lots of criticism. Both will be quite subtle but you learn to pick up if they are happy or not.
For example, cooking potatoes (tatties). Scots are very serious about their tatties. They have them at least once a day. You always have boiled tatties at night with your supper but you may have them during the day as well. When you are cooking the tatties there's a lot of pressure to get it right. If you think you put them in a pan of water and boil them till they are done and that's all....you are cooking them wrong!! I'll not give you a lesson on how to cook them in this email.
If you have done a perfect job cooking the tatties you will know it by them saying, "Ain't much wrong with these tatties." That is a huge compliment! It doesn't sound like much but believe me...they appreciate a properly cooked tattie.
If you haven't cooked the tatties long enough and they have a bit of a hard center, you will hear, "Tatties seem to have a bit of a bone yet." The tatties will all be eaten and nothing else will be said but you know you failed!
If you accidentally over cook the tatties and they have slightly dissolved, you will hear, "Oh! I didn't know we were having tattie soup." Again, the tatties will all be eaten and nothing else will be said but you, again, will know you failed!
If I say I'm not cooking tatties, that one of the guys can cook them then I am quickly reminded I am not a piece of art to be looked at with no other use. So, I guess that's me told! To be fair though the men folk do pitch in and cook sometimes. And yes, sometimes they even mess up the tatties but don't worry, I'm getting the hang of this Scottish stuff!
ME: "Ack, where's me soup plate? I just love tattie soup!"