Today in Scotland...

Apparently, on this date people believed that the waters of Scotland's Loch-mo-Naire became charged with miraculous magickal powers to heal anyone who drank it or bathed in it. For many years it was a custom for those who visited Loch-mo-Naire to toss in a coin of silver as an offering to the benevolent spirits that dwelled within the lake.

So in honor of Loch-mo-Naire, let's share a good Scottish recipe today and one that uses one of my favorite foods: Rhubarb Oatmeal Crumble courtesy of RampantScotland.com. You could use blackberries but I'm a rhubarb gal.

1 lb rhubarb
2 oz sugar
3 or 4 tbs water
squeeze of lemon
2 oz flour
1 oz coarse oatmeal (the fresher the better)
2 oz brown sugar
2 oz butter or margarine

Cook the fruit with 2oz sugar, water and lemon juice until soft but not mushy. Place in a deep pie dish.

Mix together the ingredients for the crumble in the order given above (flour, oatmeal, brown sugar). Warm the butter or margarine until it is soft (but not oily) before adding in.

Once the crumble has been well mixed, sprinkle evenly over the fruit. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 400F/200C/gas mark 6 for 20 minutes in the hottest part of the oven (near the top) or until the crumble is brown and crunchy.