Members' Corner

Tartan Day, 1-Apr-2012

You could not have asked for a prettier day than we had for our Tartan Day Ceilidh this year! Warm, sunny weather, with a modest breeze to keep things cool...and to power sailboats on the lake. A sincere thank you goes out to all of the members who turned out to help... Without you, the event could not possibly have taken place. We look forward to seeing you all next year on Sunday, April 7th... same time; same place.

The K3 Sisters band performing on stage at the 2012 Tartan Day Ceilidh. The family belongs to our Society and the girls are also members of the Dallas Highland Dancers - pictured near the bottom of our "homepage."   (Foto by Farrar.)

Attendees at the 2012 Tartan Day Ceilidh avail themselves of the wonderful weather and enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds around Winfrey Point House.   (Foto by Farrar.)

Over the years, member Ebby Darden has assembled an educational display that helps to explain why the United States, as well as other countries, observes National Tartan Day in the first place. (Officially: April 6th of each year.)   (Foto by Farrar.)

Member Margaret Anne Khoury, winner of the 2012 Tartan Day raffle basket, poses with her husband. Congratulations Margaret!   (Foto by Fischer.)

Members volunteer at Irish Fest, 2012

We had an excellent turn out at the 2012 Irish Fest, held March 2, 3, & 4, down at Fair Park. We talked to lots and lots of festival "goers" and had lots of members turn out to help staff our 10' x 20' booth space. We were even busy for a good two-plus hours on Friday night, which was a first. Another "first" this year, was our location. After 7 or 8 years in the Centenial Building, the Scottish Village moved over to the Automotive (or Transportation) Building. We -- all of the village participants -- were at first somewhat apprehensive about the new location but in the end it was deemed by all to be an excellent spot. We look forward to returning to that corner of the auto building in future years.

A sincere thank you goes out to all of you helped us in the booth. Below are some pictures from that weekend.

Member Larry Duncan speaks with visitors to our booth.   (Foto by Fischer.)

Max Maxwell looks up a particular tartan for Irish Fest attendees.   (Foto by Fischer.)

John loves hats! I believe his granddaughter found this one for him.   (Foto by Fischer.)

A grandson of one of our members, who was in our booth on Sunday, tries John's new hat on for size!   (Foto by Fischer.)

Member Merideth Dodd, winner of the 2012 Irish Fest raffle basket, poses at the March meeting with her children and Society president Scott Fischer.   (Photo by newsletter editor, Christa Davis.)

Cooking with Mike -- the 2011 Edition!

Note: Mike is slated to cook again for us in May, 2012. "Variations On A Pie" -- Shepards Pie that is, is the proposed theme, according to the chef. Don't miss it!

At our April 2011, meeting member Mike Elliott presented what your webmasters believe to be the third in his "series" of cooking demonstrations... all of which have been well recieved, even if there are those members who are not overly fond of haggis! The 2011 demonstration featured that famous Scottish delicacy, sometimes referred to as "Scottish Soul Food", in ravioli and "stacks." With the able assistance of Ebby Darden and Rebecca Hopkins, Mike showed members how to go about making the two dishes... And, in the tradition of all of the various food hosts on TV, Mike prepared and completed two of the stacks beforehand, so that we did not have to wait to sample the results.

Mike Elliot, and his assistants Ebby Darden and Rebecca Hopkins, preparing haggis ravioli at the April, 2011 meeting.   (Foto by Fischer.)

Members Ebby Darden and Rebecca Hopkins, place a dallop of haggis on the ravioli pasta squares and apply a "butter wash".   (Foto by Fischer.)

The finshed haggis "stacks" were comprised of potatoes, haggis, turnips, and thinly sliced potato "chips" on top. The "forms" for the stacks were made from appropriately sized food cans that had been cleaned up and had had both their top and bottom panels removed. Before attempting to remove the stack from the form, a knife is "run around" the perimeter, as illustrated above, separating the stack from the can.   (Foto by Fischer.)

Ahh! A taste at last! Members queue up to sample the haggis dishes that Mike prepared.   (Foto by Fischer.)

Thanks Mike for another fine presentation!