Homemade Soup Day
Feb 4
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"A soup so thick you could shake its hand and stroll with it before dinner."
~ Scotch Broth, Robert Crawford, 1996
A traditional hearty and warming farmhouse soup, Scotch Broth gained extra notoriety in the early phases of the Pop Art movement though American artist Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup can series, highlighting mid-century modern classic canned soups of which Scotch Broth was a popular and recognizable flavour. Scotch Broth is featured in his second portfolio of soup can prints from 1968-69. Warhol rendered each label by hand, including all the lettering, aiming to mimic the everyday commercial item as closely as possible! Interesting, in 2016, thieves stole some of the soup can art prints from the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri where the set has resided since 1985. According to art insurers, 'Tomato Soup' is the most expensive and sought-after" with 'Chicken Noodle' is the second-most-desirable work. According to the FBI, the stolen prints include the prints of the beef, vegetable, tomato, onion, green pea, chicken noodle and black bean cans. Pepper pot, cream of mushroom and consommé (beef), were left behind. Fortunately, Scotch Broth was not in this set. Lamb, barley, and root vegetables .... ‘Mmm, mmm, good!’ Recipe included! 🍲
Sandy's Scotch Broth
Scotch broth, originating in Scotland but now a popular soup recipe worldwide, is usually made with barley, stewing or braising cuts of lamb, mutton or beef, root vegetables (such as carrots, swedes, or sometimes turnips), and dried pulses (most often split peas and red lentils). Cabbage and leeks are often added shortly before serving.
Although no record of "Sandy's Scotch Broth" could be located, should you be in the mood for a good soup, click here.
This traditional dish was immortalized as one of the Campbell's condensed soup standards, introduced in 1937, and then by Andy Warhol in his famous 1962 "Campbell Soup Cans" paintings.
Click the can of soup for more on this famous collection of soup art, and on the early print ad for a modern wonderful recipe for Scotch Broth.
Click the video below for a performance of this dance by Scottish Flowers, at the Highland Gathering in Peine, Germany, 2015.
