Samhain among the ancient oaks

Welcome.

Right this way, if you please:

There are many ways to spend the day that is synonymous with spirits and other worlds: trick or treating, donning costumes, consuming candy, or just lighting the candles and watching the heavy moon sail through the black sky.

For weeks I have been hoping for good weather for Samhain because I wanted to visit the old oak forest in Dalkeith, not far from Edinburgh. This time of year the clouds often roll in by 11am, so I got up early in order to be there while the sun was still blazing through the branches.

What is left of the ancient forest of Caledon is like a whisper compared to what used to be, but each tree is now like a gem. Some of these trees are more than 700 years old, their trunks twisting like spines stuck in yoga postures. All of the trees are numbered. My favourite from today is 721, the trunk of which is like a coil of bulbous growths. I also loved the many fallen trees, some of which have deep slits down their middles. Even some of the oldest, collapsed specimens still have branches that bear leaves. The cycle continues, their deaths the longest, softest sigh.

I was too late for acorns. The fallen leaves have created a thick blanket on the ground and the squirrels rush through the branches, gathering anything that may have been left behind. It is the leaves themselves which are now the best part of the show. They range from still slightly green to deep yellow, to dark brown and curling at the edges. Every gust of wind brought down a shower of them and at times I would hear a hissing sound on the trail behind me and turn to where I expected to see a cyclist or an animal, only to watch a small wave of leaves being pushed along the ground.

At first I pointed my camera frantically around, desperate to catch the pageantry of death that was the falling leaves. But after just a few clicks I laughed at myself and fell silent, content to just watch them and to breathe in the damp scent of decay blossoming underfoot. I saw a tiny spider climbing onto a dying leaf, not a safe bet for the start of a new web.

If you are ever in Edinburgh and have had enough of cobbled streets and old buildings, and you want to see something that will truly work a spell on you, visit this place. It is magic.

Wishing you a happy, spirit-filled Samhain.

Build your own Cranachan, take 2

Once again I take to the kitchen in an effort to create this most traditional Scottish dessert. I attempted this once before, but somehow it all went wrong.

If you have oats, cream, and raspberries, you can make Cranachan in some form. Some will say that the recipe is nothing without a shot of whisky in the cream, but the recipe I have specifies either vanilla or rum for flavouring the cream. It’s the first Maw Broon’s Cookbook, which I assume packs a respectable amount of time-honoured culinary weight.

You will find Cranachan on many dessert menus around the country, and all seem to have their own way of doing it. Some stack it high, others make Cranachan-inspired ice cream or tarts. That’s the beauty of it - it’s just so tasty and comforting whatever you do.

Step 1. You will need some oats. Luckily, my recent obsession with oats has left me with a glutton of them. You will then need to bring out a slightly nutty flavour in said oats by lightly toasting them, either in the oven or in a dry frying pan. I speak from experience when I advise you to watch them closely, lest they burn and fill your home with smoke.

Step 2. Go to the farmers’ market, allow yourself to be overcome with greed and buy far too many raspberries. Forgive yourself.

Step 3. Whip up some cream with a bit of caster sugar and a drop of whatever you fancy for flavouring. I had no vanilla and so far have not developed a love of whisky, so rum it was. (*hic*)

Step 4. Add some of your toasted oats into the cream, making sure the cream stays the dominant force in the mix.

I have not included any measurements because I didn’t use any. And it doesn’t matter anyway -this isn’t that kind of dessert. It’s this kind of dessert:

Happy Scotland-loving weekend.

Big Skye Love

Autumn treat winners

Welcome to Saturday in the middle of October. Thank you for your many enthusiasms regarding porridge and hauntings. I have dug my hand through the hats and can now reveal that Chris from Life on the Hill has won the charming beechwood spurtle and Deb Salisbury will be learning about Scotland's haunted places.

Next month the true purpose of my treat giving will become clear, as I will be asking a big favour...