Soup Recipe. Food! Cock-a-Leekie. Don't be Cheeky (Like Coq au Vin only Scottish!)

Some Farmers who keep poultry often have the sad task of having to replace their cock with a younger and more virile specimen. This is one thing that you can do to use your old cock, the proverbial old boiler. Frugal Scottish farmers' wives have devised this dish to make use of the tough old bird. He is placed in a pot on a bed of leeks, garnished with prunes, decorated by a bouquet garni and boiled in chicken stock for at least two hours. The prunes or dried plums add flavor as does the bundle of fresh herbs; thyme,parsley, marjoram and sage, known as the bouquet garni.

This wholesome soup is ideal for a mid day meal with hearty bread ( or scones in Scottish tradition)

Ingredients for Cock a Leekie Soup

1 Old Cock 2 large Leeks half lb Prunes Salt and Pepper to taste

Chicken Stock to cover Bouquet garni Butter to brown the chicken joints

Tablespoon of Barley to thicken

Joint the chicken. The bird may be cooked whole if preferred Fry in the butter in a heavy pan to brown Wash the leeks very carefully by slitting them in half almost to the base of the white part and washing under a fast running tap to get rid of all grit. Chop into rings about half an inch wide. Place them on the bottom of a large stew pot, add the browned jointed bird. Pour in chicken stock or water to cover well. Season with salt and pepper,add the prunes and the barley and finally float the bouquet garni on top. Bring to the boil, place lid on top and simmer for at least two hours. When cooked, remove chicken joints and take out bones, remove bouquet garni and return the meat to the broth. Serve in heated soup dishes with hearty bread or traditional scones.

This fine Scottish dish is traditionally served on Burns Night 24th January, the birthday of this famous Scottish poet. It is usualy served to accompany the Haggis piped to the banquet by a piper n full Scottish regalia. A fine tradition. Robbie Burns (25January 1759 - 21 July 1796) is probably best known for writing the world famous New Year song, ""Auld Lang Syne" sung everywhere to bring in the New Year or Hogmanay as it is known in Scotland. He also wrote many poems and the famous song, "A Red Red Rose"