Scots Tablet
Do you have a sweet tooth? Are you sure? If so then Scots tablet might be for you. Be warned - even by Scottish standards tablet is sweet.What Is Tablet?
Tablet is a traditional Scottish sweet (candy) that goes back at least to the 18th century. It may have originated as a way of getting a quick burst of energy in the middle of a cold Scottish winter.Tablet is probably described as a bit like crumbly fudge but even sweeter. The texture varies depending on who has made it. Sometimes it's very light, crumbly and melts in the mouth, sometimes it's more crunchy.
Like all recipes there are many variations on the basic theme, however the core recipe contrains just three ingredients: sugar, condensed milk and butter (before the easy availability of condensed milk it was made with just sugar and butter). A common variation is to include a little vanilla flavouring, some people also like to add golden syrup - a form of light treacle popular in the UK. I told you tablet was sweet!
The method for making tablet is quite simple in principle. The condensed milk, butter and sugar are mixed and heated then removed from the heat and beaten well. The mixture is then poured into a shallow tray and allowed to cool. It's usually cut into small squares before it's fully set.
Buying Tablet
In Scotland tablet is easily available to buy in most towns, especially those frequented by tourists. If you'd like to relive the taste of Scotland once you've returned home then you'll probably have to order it from an online supplier. It's difficult to buy elsewhere.Making Tablet
If you're planning to make Scottish tablet at home yourself then take care: sugar gets very hot, boils at a higher temperature than water and can catch fire easily. Use a sugar thermometer and be careful to avoid getting the hot mixture on the skin. Make sure there are no kids or animals around whilst you're cooking. You may also to avoid using your best pan in case just in case - I've destroyed more than one saucepan in my time by overheating sugar!