Category: American History

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, on the 21st of January for the Friday’s Fare from Historic New Bridge Landing the Bergen County Historical Society showcased Rumbledethumps. Rumbledethumps is a whimsical name for a traditional dish from the Scottish Boarders. “Rumble” is a old culinary term for pounding or mashing vegetables together, then they are “thumped” into a pan for cooking. A Scottish mainstay using what could be grown locally, easy and cheap to make, but also healthy. Was it Sir Frances Drake, or Sir Walter Raleigh, or Sir Thomas Harriott; there are conflicting reports on just who is responsible, in the late 16th century for introducing the potato to the British Isles. Another source says it came by way of Spanish traders. But before the spud, the Scots’ main source of carbohydrates was bread made from oats or barley. Now, cabbage was considered a medical cure-all health food dating back to ancient Rome, and possibly they brought it as they moved north into the British Isles. Rumbledethumps is made of cooked potatoes [tatties], cabbage [cal], and chives [syboes], then baked with butter, cream, and a good Scottish cheddar. Scotland’s National Bard Robbie Burns’ birthday, 01.25.1759, is a major celebration, with reading of his poetry, feasting, dancing, and drinking in this northern nation [but not independent of the UK]. A contemporary of Alexander Hamilton, Burns is known for penning “Auld Lang Syne”, “Tam o” Shanter”, and “The Selkirk Grace”. A fair number of Scots settled here in Bergen County, as well as Dutch, French, Irish, English, etc. So raise a pint, and enjoy a Burn’s Supper of rumbledethumps with a a couple slices of gammon on Burn’s Night, January 25. Oidhche Bhlas Burns from BergenCountyHistory.org

Continue reading Bergen County Historical Society : Burn’s Night, January 25th