Scottish Country Dance of the Day

Dancing definitely works up an apetite and might make you feel justified in perusing the dessert table at the treat table after the dance. This lively reel (or jig) is truly "a piece of cake", that is, easy to teach and learn. Are you a fan of cheesecake? Are you a dancer who prefers the rich, creamy decadence of New York Style, the traditional charm of Pennsylvania Dutch Style, the tangy twist of Country Style (Buttermilk), or the nostalgic flavors of the mid-century modern Unbaked Cheesecake? Or though you may like to have your cake and eat it too, do you prefer your cheese separately? If so, you may be the exception as cheesecake has been adored since the days of ancient Rome with popularity surges throughout the centuries. In fact, even the term "cheesecake" has been used to describe a beautiful woman since as far back as 1660! In a verse published in 1662, after the death of Oliver Cromwell (who supposedly did not care for such desserts), the poem laments Cromwell driving certain ladies of questionable repute out of town: "But ah! It goes against our hearts, To lose our cheesecake and our tarts." 🤪 🧀 🍰 🧡

This dance was devised for the Erlanger SCD group by Alice Silverberg and Karl Rubin in August of 1994. They had been working here for a term as mathematicians at the university. Over 350 years ago, Pierre de Fermat (1601–1665) stated a mathematics conjecture, which became known as Fermat’s Last Theorem. Andrew Wiles (whose first PhD student was Karl) announced a proof of the conjecture in June of 1993. The dance was written in honor of Wiles’ announcement of a proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem. The bicycle motif that occurs in the dance (note the wheels and spokes) commemorates the fact that Erlangen is a very bicycle-friendly town!

Unlike apple pie (the first recipe of which hails from Chaucer-era England) , Key Lime Pie is a uniquely American dessert. This pie is considered the official pie of the Florida Key (although ironically, the majority of Key Lime trees introduced by the Spanish in the 1500s were wiped out during the hurricane of 1926 and replaced by Persian Limes)! At any rate, recipes for Key Lime Pie were not recorded until the 1930s. At this time, fresh milk, refrigeration, and ice where not available in the Keys until the arrival of tank trucks with the opening of the Overseas Highway in 1930. Because of this lack of milk, local cooks relied on canned sweetened condensed milk, a key ingredient which makes this pie so smooth and delicious. Recipe included: Key Lime Bars!

Don't fret, Julia, the days of obligatory fat-free desserts are blessedly over. Indulge in this luscious jig containing enough circles, wheels, and grand chains to froth up a virtual chocolate mousse for four couples. This most elegant of desserts was first described by Alexandre Viard, chef to Louis XVI and Napoleon, and later referred to as "mousse au chocolat" in the 1820 edition of his culinary encyclopedia, Le Cuisinier Royal. But the popularity of this tasty chocolate dessert really began to surge when the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), who was also known for his culinary skills, came up with a recipe he first named “mayonnaise au chocolat.” Hmmm ... At any rate, Peter Hastings' actual deliclious recipe included with the dance cribs for your delectation and post-dance swooning! 🍫 🍫 🍫

Fooled you! The classic puree of fruit and custard, the fruit fool (whether it be strawberry, gooseberry, raspberry, rhubarb, or blackberry) has nothing in particular to do with April Fool's Day! And although food historians do not agree on the origin of its name, fool/foole is first mentioned as a dessert in 1598 with recipes beginning to appear in cookery books by the mid 17th century. There are even two classic fruitless fools dating from the 17th and 18th centuries - the Norfolk Fool and the Westminster Fool (which have the addition of cake, similar to trifles, with and without the addition of sack sherry). Regardless of ingredients, these are fools to suffer gladly. Be a dancing fool today! Recipes included!

We all know that it's best to avoid listening to gossip about fellow members of the Scottish Dance Community. However, if you find yourself enjoying a nice cream tea, there might just be some intriguing tidbits to hear. Cream Tea, the quintessentially British refreshment, was 'invented' by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, who started the tradition to combat her mid-afternoon 'sinking feeling.' Initially a private ritual, she soon began inviting friends to join her for tea and to chat about the latest scandals. The practice quickly caught on among the fashionable upper classes of London society. The term "gossip" has evolved over time. Originally from the Old English "godsibb," meaning a child's godparent or sponsor at a baptism, it gradually came to signify a good friend, typically a woman. By the 1500s, gossip referred to idle chatter and rumor, and by the mid-1800s, it was used both as a noun and a verb to mean idle chatter and rumor. In Scotland, the term "blether" is more akin to simply having a chat. Words like "clatter" or "clattern" (to gossip or chatter on) and "clishmaclaver" (for an idle chat) also refer to gossip and can enliven any teatime. These terms are certainly preferable to "quidnunc," a gossip-themed term meaning a person who engages in idle chatter, often with outdated news. This jig has plenty of figures to allow for a passing comment to partners or corners, or a knowing wink! 🍵 🍰 🍓

Hickory nuts, Chestnuts, Walnuts, Nutting parties! A classic autumn harvest activity, Nutting parties were a much anticipated outdoor event for young people in Victorian times for socializing and fall picnics. Baskets and blankets would be collected and a search mounted for the groves with the best nut trees. Shaken branches would yield a shower of nuts which could be eaten on the spot or brought back for an indoor party. Nut gatherers made sure to save some nuts for the month of October, when nuts tossed in the fire could be used for fortune telling or romantic divination, especially near or on Hallowe'en's Nutcrack Night! 🌰

Afternoon tea, a delightful three-course affair, begins with tea sandwiches and savories, followed by scones with clotted cream and jam, and concludes with sweet pastries. It's a heartier version of the traditional Cream Tea, which features just tea and scones. Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840. The Duchess often felt hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon, as dinner in her household was served fashionably late at eight, leaving a long gap between lunch and dinner. If you'd like to travel back in time for your tea, visit The Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. Recently restored to its original 1903 glory, it is the only surviving tea room designed entirely by Art Deco artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh. They meticulously designed everything from exteriors and interiors to furniture, cutlery, and even the waitresses' uniforms! This "tea for three" couple strathspey dance includes leisurely figures and other essential tea-themed movements, such as "teapots" and a "snake pass," which should be aptly renamed the "tea stirrer" in this elegant context. Reward the set with a Cream Tea after mastering this dance. 🫖 🍰 🧈

As Shakespeare reminds us with his famous phrase, "cakes and ale," life’s pleasures are meant to be celebrated—and what better day to do so than Cake Day with a tribute cake dance! Whether you fancy rich, chocolatey decadence to light, fruity sponge cakes, or from classics like Victoria sponge or the traditional charm of Eccles Cakes, there’s a treat for every taste. Eccles Cakes, originating in the town of Eccles in Greater Manchester, England, are small, flaky pastries filled with currants, sugar, and spices, first sold commercially by James Birch in the late 18th century. This cake-named jig was devised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Eccles and District Scottish Society and begins with a sprightly Espagnole! But beware, not of the dance, but of the innocent Eccles cakes which have recently gained notoriety for a fiery twist! Their Demerara sugar topping has been reported to spark flames in microwaves under certain conditions. So, enjoy your cakes, but keep the drama in the Shakespearean plays and on the dance floor, rather than in your kitchen! 💛 🍰 🍰 🍰

Devised for a wedding couple who reside in Portobello, a seaside suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, this dance indirectly references beloved children's story character Paddington Bear's fondness for marmalade sandwiches through author Michael Bond's residence, near Portobello Road in Notting HIll, London. The author infused the hustle and bustle of this famous area in his beloved Paddington Bear stories, through Paddington's penchant for visiting antique shops and outdoor markets.

A staple of a British breakfast, English and Scottish migrants took marmalade with them to Canada with them, where it remains popular to this day. Americans, on the other hand, are less enthused by it perhaps because sweet oranges, rather than the more bitter Sevilles, are readily available.

This delightful 48 bar reel contains sandwich-like or marmalade spreading figures created by chases on both the men's and ladies' side, swirly turns and birls, all to the tune of the devisor's favourite tune, "The Black Bear"! 🐻 🍞 🍊 🍊 🍊 🍞

Shortbread was an expensive luxury in times past and for ordinary people, usually reserved for special occasions such as weddings, Christmas and New Year celebrations. In Shetland it was traditional to break a decorated shortbread cake over the head of a new bride on the threshold of her new home! Although shortbread fingers and petticoat tails are the most common baking shapes, Walker's Shortbread, one of the most easily recognizable brands, sometimes creates special edition shapes, such as camels!

Fond of chocolate? Of the many chocolate and confectionery dances, this one is dedicated to particular gentlemen in a dance class who always bring back delicious chocolate from their travels to share with the dancers. This smooth as milk chocolate strathspey even has a recommended sweet music pairing "Un Baiser de Chocolate". Switzerland is particularly renowned for its chocolate, especially their milk chocolate. In 1875, Swiss confectioner Daniel Peter developed the first solid milk chocolate using condensed milk, invented by his neighbor Henri Nestlé in Vevey. A few years later, in 1879, Rodolphe Lindt perfected the conching machine—a special device that polishes, mixes, and agitates chocolate to improve its quality, texture, and flavor. This breakthrough allegedly happened by accident when Lindt left one of his mixing machines on overnight, resulting in a smooth, flavorful mixture. This innovation allowed chocolate to be used in confectionery rather than just as a gritty hot beverage flavoring, transforming its popularity and delighting chocolate lovers ever since! ❤️ 🍫 🍫 🍫 🇨🇭

Yum! It's not only the English who love marmalade! This week marks the competitions for marmalade makers is the Dalemain Marmalade Awards! This annual event is held at Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens near Penrith in Cumbria, England, but it attracts entries from all over Scotland and worldwide! The Scots make a special claim to this bittersweet concoction. Orange marmalade, with its vibrant, bittersweet zing, has graced breakfast tables for centuries. Originating in the 15th century, legend suggest it was the Scots, who refined the marmalade process in the 18th century. According to lore, the cargo of a Spanish ship, carrying Seville oranges, was salvaged by a storm-struck Dundee harbormaster. His resourceful wife, aiming to not waste the bitter fruit, added sugar and transformed them into the marmalade we cherish today. This concoction was not only a way to preserve the tangy goodness of Seville oranges—renowned for their uniquely tart, aromatic zest—but also became a symbol of resourcefulness and warmth. English and Scottish migrants took marmalade with them to Canada with them, where it remains popular to this day. Americans, on the other hand, have been generally less enthused perhaps because sweet oranges, rather than the more bitter Sevilles, have been more readily available. This square set strathspey contains enough complex figures and meanwhiles to take the marmalade prize for dancing! Spread it on thick! 🍊 🍊 🍊

Hickory nuts, Chestnuts, Walnuts, Nutting parties! This 32 bar reel which is very similar to "The Gordon Highlanders" was inspired by the walnut orchards near Grenoble, northwards up to Chambery and southwards down to Valence, all along the lsere valley. A classic autumn harvest time activity, nutting parties were a much anticipated outdoor event for young people in Victorian times for socializing and fall picnics. Baskets and blankets would be collected and a search mounted for the groves with the best nut trees. Shaken branches would yield a shower of nuts which could be eaten on the spot or brought back for an indoor party. Nut gatherers made sure to save some nuts for the month of October, when nuts tossed in the fire could be used for fortune telling or romantic divination, especially near or on Hallowe'en's Nutcrack Night! 🤎 🌳 🌰 🌰 🌰

Dunk, roll and reel, doughnuts! Do you confess to doughnut dunking? Whether you prefer old-fashioned cake or glazed doughnuts, or if you've sampled the newest trends such as sourdough doughnuts, Earl Grey liqueur toppings, and "dinky doughnuts" tiny bite-sized "doughnut dots", there's something for everyone! Keeping up with these delicious trends can be exhausting, so preserve your energy for this doughnut-shaped reel! Doughnuts have a rich and disputed history, with several countries claiming to be their originator. One of the earliest known mentions of doughnuts in literature dates back to American author Washington Irving's 1809 "History of New York," where he described "balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog's fat, and called doughnuts, or olykoeks," a traditional Dutch treat. A hundred years later, at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, doughnuts—with their now characteristic hole—were hailed as the "Hit Food of the Century of Progress" because they were fresh and could be quickly made by automated machines, making them an easily obtained food during the Depression. Include doughnuts in your next tea dance, cake-walk or doughnut-walk! 🍩 💗 🍩 💛 🍩 💙

Yum! Yum! Whether you prefer your shortbread in fingers, petticoat tails, rounds, decoratively molded or just rustically sliced, eat some (or for the calorie-conscious) and dance this shortbread dance today! This dance was devised by the lucky recipients of gifts shortbread by a generous baker, Helen! The devisor writes, "The Otto family has five members. For many years, Helen has honored us on each of our birthdays with a batch of her marvelous shortbread. In addition, at Christmas, Helen’s shortbread is prominent among the many other baked goodies she includes in our family gift package. Yum. Several year ago, we gave Helen a circular wooden shortbread mold, and ever since her shortbread gifts are circular.”

Regardless of shape, Scottish shortbread starts with just four ingredients: butter, salt, sugar, and flour. Intrepid bakers and top chefs have added modern touches such as browning the butter; toasting the sugar; adding cornstarch; and coating the baking pan with a generous layer of Demerara sugar to give the shortbread a nice granular topping. But for traditional and regional shortbread variations, check out the dance description and the included recipes for Pitcaithly Bannock (made with almonds, caraway seeds, and crystallized orange) or Yetholm Bannock (which includes chopped ginger)! Oh, and you might need to wipe those buttery hands before dancing this lively reel which has buttery hand claps for Helen's shortbread! Thank you, Helen! 🤪 ❤️ 👩‍🍳

Double, double, truffle, truffle! If one chocolate truffle is delightful, two are simply irresistible! While it remains a mystery whether this smooth strathspey was inspired by the making or the indulgence of mint truffles (or perhaps both), the lively reels and promenades are sure to guide you straight to the refreshment table—where a delectable namesake treat may be waiting!

The classic chocolate truffle first emerged in France in the late 19th century, its name derived from its resemblance to the prized, dark, and craggy mushrooms found at the roots of oak and hazel trees. Traditionally crafted from velvety chocolate ganache, truffles are often infused with liqueurs, fruits, nuts, spices, or mint, then dusted with cocoa for the perfect bite-sized indulgence.

Today, truffles vary across regions, each boasting its own signature style. The refined French truffle remains a classic, while Swiss versions often feature creamy milk chocolate. Italian truffles showcase the rich flavor of hazelnut paste or crushed nuts, while Belgian truffles are revered for their silky ganache centers. Across the Atlantic, American truffles take on a playful twist, incorporating flavors like peanut butter, caramel, and fruit. No matter the variety, one thing is certain—truffles are a dance of flavors worth savoring! 🤎 💚 🤎 🍫 🌱

Regardless of shape, Scottish shortbread starts with just four ingredients: butter, salt, sugar, and flour. Intrepid bakers and top chefs have added modern touches such as browning the butter; toasting the sugar; adding cornstarch; and coating the baking pan with a generous layer of Demerara sugar to give the shortbread a nice granular topping. But for traditional and regional shortbread variations, try a recipe for Pitcaithly Bannock (made with almonds, caraway seeds, and crystallized orange) or Yetholm Bannock (which includes chopped ginger)! Yum!

Fancy a cuppa? How times have changed! While a tea break is now considered an essential pick-me-up for morning or afternoon refreshment or a genteel ceremony with delicate sandwiches and pastries as accompaniments, in early 19th century Britain and Ireland, poor women who drank tea were considered as irresponsible and morally debased as whisky or gin drinkers! Women who drank tea, it was said, wasted their time and money, drawing them away from their duty to care for their husbands and home. Good heavens!
Pamphlets were even distributed to working and middle-class households lambasting tea drinking as a luxury poor women could not afford with dire warnings about possible addiction, illicit longings and even revolutionary sympathies! Throw caution to the wind, ladies! It's tea time! 🍵

Fancy a muffin and too far from Drury Lane? There is sure to be a fabulous muffin baker in your dancing acquaintanceship, similar to the generous lady who inspired this reel by supplying her dancing class with delicious muffins. Inspire your own sets by including this dance on a food-based program. Interestingly, the first documented version of the well-known nursery rhyme from 1820 has the titular baker living on ‘Blueberry Lane’, rather than 'Drury Lane'. And there is also an actual Blueberry Lane just outside of London though muffin status here is unknown. In the United States muffins are similar to cupcakes and are available in sweet and savoury varieties, while in the UK, a muffin (referred to as an English muffin elsewhere) is a type of yeast-leavened bread and is cooked on a griddle and flipped, resulting in its distinctive flattened shape. Other muffin-like variations are crumpets (griddle cooked on one side from a simple batter but with no yeast) are equally delicious. So beloved are these tea-time treats, they figure prominently as terms of endearment or even cheeky admiration! Pass the butter! 🍰 🫐 👨‍🍳 👩‍🍳 🧈