Ne'erday is one of a few days in the year that I really feel my Scottishness. The day after Hogmanay. These days they all lump together under the banner of "New Years" but the Scots celebration has more nuance. It's a time to reflect on the year past and toast to absent friends. In fact the chorus of Auld Lang Syn, which we're all guilty of drunkenly mumbling through, ends with "we'll take a cut of kindness yet, for auld lang syn", meaning let's toast to the days gone by.
But the Daft Days don't end there because the first day of the new year is a celebration too.
Good food, a tipple or two and gifts of coal and silver await.
A neighbour gifted us a load of sourdough bread which was perfect to mop up the garlicky mess of Cilbir. Poached eggs resting expectantly in a nest of yoghurt. To be honest, we were just looking for an excuse to use the jar of homemade greek style yoghurt I made yesterday.
The garlic, chilli powder and lemon made for a fresh but comfy start to a grey rainy day. I don't think I'll be heading out today.
It's rainy and it's windy and it's cold. Neither of us really want to leave the house and we're still running on Christmas fare. Luckily, or unfortunately depending on your view, I prepped some brussels sprout kimchi about a month or two ago. I don't know why. I think it started as a joke in a way. A lol at giving guests some turkey sandwiches with fermented sprouts. But actually it turned out amazingly well. The bitter cabbagey-ness of sprouts with lots of garlic, ginger, chilli and a few spring onions.
Combined with boujie christmas cheese and some of the aforementioned bread it makes for a great little toasted item.
The day has been mostly couched. Leeds drew. A friend visited. A cat hung around for a while (some other neighbours are away and we are the designated biscuit dispensers).
Paired with a crisp cold lager to shake the sleepiness of a late night, the salty spicy bitch was delightful.
A lazy end to a lazy day, the cosiness continued with a delivery from Dishoom. Black daal and chicken curry with the last of the festive fizz. Real life starts tomorrow.
A project of love and passion Made by Sheppard.