What would you like for dinner?

"Something tasty!" is the glib answer in our household.

Does the world need another food blog? Probably not. This is really an extension of our family site, TartanShamrock, and an attempt to digitise the little black book that indexes and contains recipes we've tried and tested over the last few years.

Increasingly I am finding the Internet is a more convenient source for locating new and interesting recipes rather than standing on the chair in our kitchen to select a cookbook or tatty article from the library arrayed along the top of the wall units. While enjoying the hours spent atop that chair, perusing old favourites and fruitlessly searching for new recipes that may combine that day's Ready Steady Cook selection of ingredients, I recognise the benefits of using technology to assist in compiling the weekly menu. It's less dangerous for a start.

So, are there any governing principles to this food blog? No, not really. It's not exclusively about Scottish and Irish food because we aren't particularly traditional in that regard. I must get Sharon to write down her Irish Stew recipe, however. If we can find any ingredients locally, we'll try them. This blog will likely reference all manner of world cuisines without claiming to be an authority on any of them. If we cook something, possibly amending it to suit our locale or capability or taste, then the main requirement is that it is something tasty.

There are some constraints imposed upon us. Restricted diet is one. Location is another. I can't eat gluten so I'm principally interested in gluten-free recipes or recipes that can be adapted to use gluten-free products. Increasingly we favour locally sourced ingredients over air-freighted organic ingredients. This can be a challenge in Scotland, which frequently exports some of its best produce. We also believe in cheaper cuts of meat, slow-cooked, and seafood that hasn't been fished to the point of extinction.

The other constraint is that we have three young children and we believe in trying to sit down to eat the same meal as a family. Many of the recipes likely to feature in this blog will be for the nights when Mum and Dad eat after the boys are in bed, but we will also report on successes with our junior taste testers.