Recipezaar: Welsh,Kid Pleaser recipes

Bubble and Squeak

Wed, 02 Jan 2002 14:32:40 -0500

The name of this dish is due to the sounds that are emitted during cooking, the cabbage bubbles as it is boiled and then squeaks in the frying pan. NOTE: This classic British dish originally contained beef along with the leftover cooked potatoes and cabbage, though today people don't generally bother with the meat. -- posted by Mille®

Selsig Morgannwg (Glamorgan Sausages - Welsh)

Sat, 19 Jan 2002 14:35:54 -0500

30 years ago or so, I had these in a pub in Wales and they were outstanding. Glad I finally found a recipe for them. -- posted by Mille®

Rumbledthumps

Sat, 19 Jan 2002 16:35:50 -0500

The name for this British dish means "mixed together" - rumbled, and "bashed together" - thumped. This is a meatless main course but can also be served as a vegetable dish along with meat. -- posted by Mille®

Royal Chicken

Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:28:02 -0500

This elegant recipe supposedly dates back to 1953, the year when Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England. Whether or not that is the case, it is an unusual recipe and tastes great. -- posted by Mille®

Fish and Chips

Wed, 30 Jan 2002 09:00:56 -0500

Fish and chips is one of Britain's favourite and most famous take-aways, often accompanied with Chip Shop Curry Sauce. Here is a simple recipe to have that unique melt-in-your-mouth fried fish at home. -- posted by Mille®

Piggy Pie

Sun, 03 Feb 2002 08:49:32 -0500

"Everywhere there's lots of piggies, Living piggy lives, You can see them out for dinner, With their piggy wives, Clutching forks and knives, To eat their bacon." -- posted by Mille®

Welsh Rarebit

Tue, 05 Feb 2002 08:56:30 -0500

An inexpensive but savoury dish. It may have originally been a French dish, as there are old French culinary references to "lapin gallois". When I was a child, our family had this as a bedtime snack a couple of times a week. Never tired of it. -- posted by Mille®

Caramel Squares

Sat, 09 Feb 2002 09:20:38 -0500

These are very popular all over Britain and can often be found in cafes, served with morning coffee or afternoon tea. -- posted by Mille®

British Style Steak Sauce

Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:18:01 -0500

This is a very decent substitute for HP Sauce or London Pub Sauce if you can't find them in stores. Makes a first-class barbecue sauce, also. -- posted by Mille®

Bread Sauce

Mon, 18 Feb 2002 09:24:31 -0500

A British sauce that is traditionally served with roast poultry or wild game. -- posted by Mille®

Fire Baked Potatoes

Mon, 18 Feb 2002 09:25:36 -0500

Definitely NOT your ordinary baked spuds! This is an English recipe and, in England, the end of the baking process would take place in the hot coals of an outdoor bonfire on Guy Fawkes' night (November 5th). -- posted by Mille®

Veal or Chicken Stew with Herbs & Barley

Thu, 21 Feb 2002 16:34:23 -0500

In 7th century England, herbs were one of the few flavourings available to cooks and were used heavily, as in this medieval recipe. The original recipe also allowed the cook to use rabbit or hare joints in place of the veal or chicken. -- posted by Mille®

Summer Fruit, Honey, and Hazelnut Crumble

Thu, 21 Feb 2002 16:34:35 -0500

In medieval times, a baked dessert like this would have been sunk in the embers of a log fire with a cauldron or pot upturned over it to form a lid. -- posted by Mille®

Wastels Yfarced (Toasted Stuffed Brown Rolls)

Thu, 21 Feb 2002 17:24:09 -0500

In medieval times, wastels were good quality loaves served to the gentry at a late feast. -- posted by Mille®

Potato, Leek and Onion Soup

Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:56:29 -0500

Another hearty Scottish soup -- posted by Mille®

Anglesey Eggs

Thu, 04 Apr 2002 17:05:24 -0500

Anglesey, separated from North Wales by the Menai Strait, is a large island extending into the Irish Sea. Anglesey eggs, a simple and tasty way of using up left over potatoes and heels of cheese, have been enjoyed for tea or supper by many Welsh and English vacationers here. -- posted by Mille®

Digestive Biscuits

Mon, 08 Apr 2002 21:23:37 -0400

These are one of the most popular biscuits sold commercially in Britain. They are very delicate and, therefore, extremely difficult to reproduce exactly but this recipe is fairly close. The ORIGINAL recipe is posted, verbatim, below. However, please note that I used Pillsbury plain whole wheat flour (which I sifted) and I used 4 ROUNDED, not level, tablespoons of wheat germ. These minor modifications were made as a result of the (always) invaluable advice and information I received from fellow chefs in a Recipezaar discussion forum. Biscuits will be 2 1/2 inch diameter x 1/8 inch thick. -- posted by Mille®

Baked Beans and Bacon

Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:14:50 -0400

Beans and bacon is an old British favourite. King George III dined on it al fresco with the workmen at Woolwich Arsenal and enjoyed beans and bacon so thoroughly that he instituted an annual beanfeast in honour of the occasion. The bacon fat permeates the beans to give them a delicious melting quality. -- posted by Mille®

Courting Cake

Mon, 29 Apr 2002 20:59:33 -0400

This is a real summer treat and a good way of using up slightly bruised or over-ripe strawberries or making just a few go further. It was originally made in the north of England by young girls for their betrotheds, hence the name. -- posted by Mille®

Shepherd's Pie

Tue, 07 May 2002 19:15:36 -0400

Meat and potatoes in a pan. Is there any better way to please a man? -- posted by Sue L

Cottage Pie VI

Wed, 29 May 2002 21:14:41 -0400

-- posted by Mille®

Creamy Crab of Cymry

Mon, 10 Jun 2002 18:38:31 -0400

A delicious hot Welsh starter course. Crabs used to be so plentiful around the coast of Wales that, in great houses and castles, several different ways of serving them were invented, in case family and guests should tire of them. Though the crabs are no longer in such great abundance, this dish remains one of the most popular. -- posted by Mille®

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Gogerychyrndrobwllllanty Siliogogogoch Corn

Mon, 24 Jun 2002 21:08:43 -0400

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll gogerychwyrndrobwllllanty siliogogogoch is the name (I'm not making this up!) of a town in Wales. In addition to its own Corned Beef Hash, it has its own web site. You won't find this delectable dish on the menu at your local town diner. -- posted by Mille®

Poor Man's Pot

Mon, 29 Jul 2002 19:45:05 -0400

I adapted this dish from a traditional Welsh recipe. -- posted by Mille®

Leek and Potato Pie

Tue, 21 Jan 2003 20:06:27 -0500

Mmmmmm...the smells of this baking will bring them running home!! Great with grilled meats and sausages. -- posted by Angela Sara

Cornish Pasties

Thu, 08 May 2003 20:06:21 -0400

We could buy these at a local bakery where I was growing up. I loved them and would often detour by the bakery after school to get one. -- posted by evelyn/athens

Welsh Rarebit Rolls

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:28:49 -0400

There doesn't seem to be any clear answer as to just why this dish has been so-named, and there are actually many different regional variations 'Irish Rarebit', 'Scottish Rarebit' etc... But Welsh Rarebit is certainly the best-known of the rarebits. This particular version uses multigrain bread rolls. Not traditional but it reflects our 2005 tastes, our C21st desire to make what we eat richer in fibre and healthier! I have posted my adaptation of this recipe, which I found in the Spring 2005 issue of the Australian magazine 'Recipes' for the 2005 Zaar World Tour. -- posted by bluemoon downunder

Magic Lemon Pudding

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:54:12 -0400

Light, luscious, magic lemon pudding. Very quick and easy to do. Delicious for adults and great fun for the kids to make. -- posted by Cheeki_lass

Cheese Rarebit Fondue

Mon, 29 May 2006 20:41:02 -0400

This is a combination of Welsh rarebit and French Fondue! Mmmmmm cheesy!! -- posted by Charmie777

Not-So-Welsh Rarebit / Rabbit

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:47:49 -0500

My mother used to make this all the time for my sister and I when we were kids. As it turns out, it's not all that accurate (I know this because I grew up to marry a Welshman), but I still make it this way. It may still be high in fat, but it's also high in flavour, and at least this way it's not completely devoid of any nutritional value. Hourray for veggies! -- posted by cooledskin

Chimney Stacks - Savoury Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms!

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:24:33 -0500

This recipe was devised when I found that the mushroom stalks from some fairly hefty sized Portobello Mushrooms, would just not fit into the stuffing mixture, even though they were finely diced! So, I made "chimney stacks" from the offending stalks and served them as a starter at dinner for some friends, who LOVED them! They would also be wonderful as a light lunch, allow two per person with fresh bread & salad. Do not be tempted to add ANY liquid to the mushrooms before baking them - they make their own gorgeous juices whilst merrily cooking away in the oven! You must also be sure to get very HIGH quality sausages or sausagemeat, with no more than 10% fat preferably. -- posted by French Tart

Scarborough Fair - Savoury Bacon, Onion and Herb Bread Pudding

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:11:26 -0400

I named this dish after my home town, Scarborough, in the North of England - and yes, they really do have a "Scarborough Fayre" every year! And, this recipe does contain "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme"! This is a very old recipe for savoury bread pudding - often served before the meal, just as Yorkshire Pudding used to be, to take the edge of your appetite & stop you eating too much meat! I added the bacon, but normally it is just made with pounded stale bread mixed with herbs, chives or onions, eggs and any dripping that was available. A delicious savoury dish - serve it with lashings of onion gravy as a light supper, brunch or lunch dish, or as an appetiser, also with gravy. This makes a wonderful accompaniment to roast pork and roast chicken. I have also been known to eat slices of this cold & it's ideal for picnics. Don't throw your crusts away, but process them in a food mixer and freeze them in zip-lock bags.....voila, ready made bread crumbs! -- posted by French Tart

Welsh Rarebit With Rabbit

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:36:36 -0400

Truly, I add rabbit or chicken meat to my rarebit, to serve as a hearty (and savory) main dish, thus making my rarebit a TRUE rabbit!!! Plus my kids don't have to grow up being confused about the name: rarebit or rabbit. -- posted by Debber

Traditional Easter Marbled Pace Eggs

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:02:13 -0400

This is a very old British tradition & method of colouring and dying eggs to be boiled and eaten on Good Friday & throughout the Easter weekend. There are commercial dyes available nowadays, but I still prefer the traditional natural methods of colouring my Easter Pace Eggs onions skins (and also spinach & beetroot water). The name Pace is thought to derive from the French word for Easter, Pâquesand in some parts of Britain mainly Lancashire in the North West, these eggs are rolled down a hill, the winner being the owner of the egg which goes the furthest and has the least cracks or breaks in it! It is also traditional to give one of these eggs to each person who visits your home throughout the Easter period - what a wonderful alternative to the commercially over packaged chocolate eggs! -- posted by French Tart

Traditional Fruity and Spiced Hot Cross Buns: Bread-Maker

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:03:05 -0400

A wonderful old family recipe for HUGE and very light spiced Hot Cross Buns! I discovered that most of the hard work is taken out of making these, by proving & kneading them in the Bread Maker/Machine......unless you NEED to expel any frustrations, and then you MUST knead these yourself! You can make the crosses by either marking them before baking or, as I have done, by putting thinly rolled pastry crosses on top. An absolute "must" for the Spring and Easter Tea table! I also make these throughout the rest of the year - minus the crosses - for fruity, spiced English style teacakes! -- posted by French Tart

Chicken Rarebits

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:02:18 -0400

Made from only a few ingredients but smart enough for dinner party entertaining! From UK Mag Good Food. -- posted by English_Rose

The Great British Bacon Butty - Bacon Sandwich

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 23:11:36 -0400

The news is out - scientists at my old university, (Leeds University in West Yorkshire) have discovered the PERFECT way to make a "Bacon Butty", that quintessential British sandwich, and they have devised a mathematical formula for it!! The bacon butty is one of my FAVOURITE sandwiches of all times.......especially when doused in HP Sauce or Worcestershire Sauce! Here is my method - it's hardly a recipe, more of an idea and an assembly job! I have posted their mathematical formula at the end of the recipe - my formula is: Eat your bacon butty whilst its still hot and crispy!! Please increase the quantities as needed. I like to use smoked bacon, but any good quality dry cure bacon will be fine. -- posted by French Tart

English Toffee Apple Bread and Butter Pudding

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:03:09 -0400

Just in time for autumn and Halloween - this delicious pudding is a real winner, with the subtle taste of toffee and apples all cooked together in a bread and butter pudding! I found this recipe in a cookery leaflet promoting English apples, and it is now one of our favourite puddings for the cooler months. I have given a variety of breads/yeast cakes to use; although I have made this with all of the choices on offer, my favourite still remains the brioche - I am sure croissants would work very well too. -- posted by French Tart

Bubble and Squeak - Traditional British Fried Leftovers!

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:43:07 -0400

I make this so often, that I thought it was about time I posted the recipe! This amusingly named dish is basically traditional British fried leftovers, and probably enjoyed more than the original vegetables were I think! In fact, I have been known to cook the vegetables in order to make the Bubble and Squeak! The name is thought to originate from the noise it makes whilst cooking in the frying pan - bubbling and squeaking, whatver the reason, this simple dish is delicious and a wonderful way to "fry up" your leftover spuds and greens! I like to season mine with lots of freshly ground black pepper. This is a traditional post-Christmas breakfast dish - but don't wait until then to make this. Excellent if served as part of an English breakfast with bacon and eggs, or as a light supper dish. -- posted by French Tart

Rustic Flower Pot Bread Loaves or Bread Rolls

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:17:31 -0400

These Flower Pot bread loaves or bread rolls will certainly be a point of conversation and no doubt bring gasps of pleasure and admiration when you serve them! Moreover, they are so easy to make especially if you start your dough off in a bread machine. Bread was originally baked in terracotta or clay pots, so these are not so different from old fashioned bread made many years ago. You must make sure your flower pots are seasoned before you bake in them, but once they are seasoned they are ready to be used over and over again. I have added a list of suggested extras, and I always like to sprinkle mixed seeds on top of these - they almost look like seeds that have been sown in the flower pots! I have listed ingredients for basic white bread here, but you can add wholewheat, granary or rye flour if you would like a variation. I am sorry, but I have to say it, these flower pot loaves or rolls should turn out "Blooming Marvellous"! Had to be said! Have fun. NB: Strong white flour is the British culinary term for bread flour, flour that is used in breadmaking with a high gluten content. All purpose flour is NOT strong bread flour and will NOT give the desired results in this bread recipe. It NEVER crossed my mind that anyone would think that old flower pots are used in this recipe!! LOL! PLEASE use new plant pots and season them before baking the bread in them, as stated in the recipe..........I hope that helps those of you who may have been "lost in translation"!) -- posted by French Tart

7-Cup Steamed Christmas Pudding With Butterscotch Sauce

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:11:48 -0400

An easy and VERY light Christmas pudding - for those that dislike the heavy dark puddings. However, this still has all the traditional Christmas pudding ingredients, but it is served with a delicious butterscotch sauce for a decadent twist! Moreover, all the family can now have their pudding and eat it, as this appeals to all ages! Steaming a pudding is SO easy - you just pop it on to gently steam, whilst you prepare the rest of the festive meal. You only have to remember to keep topping up the water from time to time. Serve warm with the hot butterscotch sauce and maybe a jug of single cream or brandy custard to help it along! Merry Christmas! N.B. This recipe was taken from the Christmas 2003 edition of BBC Good Food magazine, I have amended it slightly to personal taste. I have made this pudding every year since I first saw the recipe, and I have given this recipe out countless times! -- posted by French Tart

Orange and Almond Crumble Christmas Mince Pies

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:52:28 -0400

Delicious little pies that combine an orange short crust pastry base with mincemeat filling and an almond crumble topping. Serve these warm with whipped cream or brandy butter. This recipe can be made in to one large pie - but I still prefer the dainty individual mini pies! I have two mincemeat recipes posted that can be used in these pies, if you are unable to source good quality commercial mincemeat locally. Recipe #257241 or Recipe #184762. Don't forget to leave a couple out for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve! -- posted by French Tart

Celebration Spiced Baked Ham With Orange and Marmalade Glaze

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:46:27 -0400

A delectable sticky glazed ham cooked in spiced cider and with a tangy marmalade glaze! This is one of my most requested recipes from family and friends - I have been cooking and preparing this ham for about 20 years now; it is wonderful for celebrations and festive gatherings! You can increase the quantities and weight with ease, although I have given the minimum ham weight here. The "boil before baking" method gives you a moist and flavourful ham with a sticky glaze, and just a hint of spices. A couple of "musts", do use good quality high fruit ratio marmalade, and if the ham is smoked or heavily brined - do soak the ham joint overnight or for up to 24 hours, in cold water - it disperses the excess salt. This ham makes a wonderful centrepiece for any special meal; however, it is also a wonderful and very economical way of providing two more types of snacks or meals - ham sandwiches, plus the ham stock makes a delicious base for all types of soups, especially ham and pea soup! I have stated oranges for the decorative finish - but clementines or tangerines would work very well too. -- posted by French Tart

Country Style Smoked Sausage, Ham and Split Pea Soup

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:14:22 -0400

This is the soup I make after I have baked my Recipe #262247. This soup uses split peas, but you can just as easily use yellow or red split lentils instead (same weight and cooking instructions). Many old style recipes require that the split peas are soaked overnight before starting recipes but this is not normally necessary nowadays. However, be sure to read the packet instructions carefully. If the split peas are soaked overnight their cooking time can be reduced to around 40 minutes. This recipe does not require overnight soaking however. If you have made my Recipe #262247, you will not need to add the vegetables listed here - unless you want extra vegetables, as the stock will already contain them. The cooking time will then depend on the split peas or lentils only. This serves 4 hungry people in large, deep soup bowls as a main course soup dish. It is wonderful with crusty bread rolls or baguette. This also makes a fabulous soup to take on a picnic in the Autumn or Winter, just what the doctor ordered! -- posted by French Tart

Old England Traditional Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:09:14 -0500

Possibly the most famous of all English dishes, traditionally served for the "big" family meal of the week, Sunday Lunch. First a little about the Yorkshire Pudding. Different areas of England cook, serve and eat this in totally different ways. No single way is 'right' nor 'wrong'. It depends upon your family tradition and where you live. Originally the Yorkshire Pudding was eaten on its own as a first course with thick gravy. This was to fill your stomach with the cheap Yorkshire Pudding so that you would not eat so much of the more expensive meat in the next course. Now Yorkshire Puddings tend to be lighter and crispier and they are served and eaten with the meat course, with lashings of beef gravy with them! How to serve the roast beef: Some families carve the meat in the kitchen and bring it to the table on pre-warmed plates. Others carve the meat at the table so every one can see, that is how my Dad used to do it! Roast Beef is best served with roast potatoes, and a selection of freshly steamed seasonal vegetables, such as carrots, cabbage and broccoli. Have a gravy boat brimming full of gravy for diners to help themselves to. For special occasions consider making the gravy with a glass or two of wine! I have posted this recipe for 8 to 10 people; I always feel it's worth cooking more than you need, as you can have cold roast beef sandwiches for tea and of course make cottage pie the next day! The Yorkshire pudding listed below is already posted on Zaar - Recipe #203349, but I have added it here again, so you can cook them with the beef, following only one recipe for ease. My Mum's Yorkshire pudding recipe is simple, as long as all the ratio of measurements are equal, you can increase or decrease the amount of puddings you make! -- posted by French Tart

Traditional Gravy for Roast Beef, Lamb, Pork or Duck

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:11:27 -0500

A basic and yet delicious traditional gravy to serve with all your roast dinners! This gravy is also wonderful if served with sausages for "Bangers and Mash", as well as Yorkshire Puddings. It also makes an ideal base for Shepherd's pie or Cottage pie, and all manner of stews and casseroles. There are variations to the basic gravy listed at the end of the recipe, depending on what type of roast meat you are serving. This recipe has been taken from Delia Smith's How to Cook Book one. -- posted by French Tart

Perfect Roasties - Roast Potatoes for English Sunday Lunch

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:54:50 -0500

There can be nothing more comforting then a pile of golden, crispy, crunchy roast potatoes! Roasties, as we call them in Great Britain, are traditionally served with Sunday Lunch - but, DON'T wait until Sunday to serve them, they are great with just about everything! I remember going to our local pub in North Yorkshire, and if the visiting darts team was playing, half way through the evening the landlady would come around with trays upon trays of crunchy, piping hot roasties - sprinkled with salt--unbelievably sublime! The secret to making perfect roast potatoes is simple; par-boil them first and give them a really good shake in the pan before placing them into SIZZLING HOT fat and turning them over. Serve them piping hot and crisp from the oven with lashings of gravy and sea salt, and they are a meal in themselves. Ingredient quantities are not by weight, but by potatoes per head - and a VERY generous amount as well! Please adjust the quantities to your suit own requirements. -- posted by French Tart

Millionaires Shortbread - Chocolate, Ginger and Caramel Slices

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:48:49 -0500

My Mum used to make these for School fetes and Church bazaars - they are absolutely sinful and totally divine! They were everyone's favourite, so I used to zoom around beforehand, with my pocket money burning a hole in my pocket, to make sure I bought some before they all went!! A fun name with delicious layers of shortbread, caramel and a chocolate topping. This recipe has the added surprise of adding stem ginger pieces, which was not usual in my Mum's orginal recipe. These do keep for up to a week in an airtight tin or container.....I have never known them last more then 24 hours however - you WILL have to HIDE them!!! They a great for packed lunches and picnics, as well as with afternoon coffee. -- posted by French Tart

Christmas Morning Jewelled Muffin Mix in a Jar

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:14:31 -0500

Delightful festive spiced muffins, studded with jewel coloured fruit and nuts - just the thing for Christmas morning! I love all types of "mixes" in a jar! Soups, biscuits, spices, cookies and cake mixes etc! However, this muffin mix is my favourite - it makes a wonderful gift, or I make it for us, as it looks so pretty & festive sitting in the kitchen waiting to be baked! Try to use really colourful dried fruits with a good mix of tastes and textures. For those of you who cannot source Mixed Spice, an essential ingredient, I have a recipe posted on Zaar: Recipe #266688. This muffin mix is always popular as a gift, and I do try to find unusual shaped jars and hand-made paper or card for the baking instructions. A wooden spoon tied around the neck of the jar is another winning idea - and don't forget the Holly sprig! -- posted by French Tart

Little Jack Horner's Christmas Chicken, Fruit and Stuffing Pie!

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:22:51 -0500

This beautiful layered pie combines all my favourite Christmas flavours - chestnuts, cranberries, dried apricots, chicken, pork sausagemeat and bacon - all encased in a crispy and crumbly pastry case; it is a firm favourite in our house EVERY year! Not only that, but this pie is actually better if made ahead of time - it can be eaten warm or cold and is excellent for buffets and light suppers. It also freezes very well, once cooked. The filling is very similar to an English Pork Pie, a fruity stuffing mixture layered with chicken fillets. Although it is essentially a pie for the winter festive season - I see no reason why it cannot be made all year around - I often make it to take on picnics in the spring and summer. You can adjust the filling to suit your own tastes and requirements, but I think that the chicken, bacon, apricots, cranberries and chestnuts are essential for the delicious and unique flavour this pie has! N.B. Please try to use high meat content sausages or sausagemeat - it makes all the difference to the taste, plus cheaper sausages have lots of fat and bread added! Where the name came from - an old Nursery Rhyme: "Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating his Christmas Pie - he put in his thumb and pulled out a plumb, and said what a good boy am I"!!! I JUST had to name it after him, even though there are NO plumbs in this pie! (The original recipe was in a 2005 BBC Good Food magazine; this is my much amended version of that original recipe.) -- posted by French Tart

A Winter's Walk Beef and Carrot Stew With Herb Crusted Dumplings

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:37:24 -0500

I named this A Winter's Walk Beef Stew, as it is JUST the kind of hearty and welcoming meal to come back to after a cold and energetic winter's walk! The dumplings are baked for the last 20 minutes on top of the stew and are deliciously crisp and golden, but still fluffy and light underneath. This can be made with minced beef/ground beef as well as braising/stewing steak or chuck steak. I have allowed 2 dumplings per person here - please adapt the quantities to suit, but we always find 2 dumplings each very satisfying! There is no need to serve much else with this filling comforting stew, maybe some steamed cabbage, baby potatoes or greens would be nice.....or a few extra carrots. This serves 4 people with very generous helpings. You may need a walk AFTERWARDS!! A nice glass of robust red wine or a pint of ale would be great accompaniments! This can be made in a crockpot - up to the dumpling stage and then the stew can be put into an ovenproof dish and baked with the dumplings. Likewise, if you are going for a pre-dinner walk - make the stew right up to the dumpling stage, and then finish off when you get home. -- posted by French Tart

Gilded Saffron and Butter Basted Roast Turkey With Herb Garland

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:16:46 -0500

Gilding is a 15th Century novelty - originally gold leaf was applied to decorate meat and poultry that was served at Christmas, as well as other feasts and festivals! This is a wonderful way of serving your traditional roast turkey - and with a saffron and butter basted gilded effect, NOT using gold leaf I hasten to add - but still achieving a deep golden gilded finish. If you cannot get any saffron, you could use just a little turmeric instead - but be careful as it has a very pervasive flavour! Bring this 15th century art back to your modern dining table this Christmas - and enjoy a wonderful moist butter basted roast turkey at the same time. Please try to source an organic, free-range or home-reared turkey such as a Bronze or Heritage turkey; you will be doing your bit to support a traditional and more humanitarian way of rearing these lovely birds, as well as gaining a much better taste and flavour! NB: If you can get hold of edible gold dusting powder, you can sprinkle some of that on to the turkey before serving, for an extra sparkle! Joyeuses Fetes Merry Christmas! -- posted by French Tart

Pigs in Blankets-Bacon and Sausage Rolls for Christmas Trimmings

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:54:25 -0500

These quirkily named "Pigs in Blankets" are the traditional British accompaniment to the Christmas roast turkey dinner - we call them "Trimmings". You will often see pubs, restaurants and hotels advertising Christmas Dinner with ALL the trimmings - these will be part of those trimmings that they mention! We can eat these with NO roast turkey - they are what everyone grabs whilst no one else is looking in the Post Christmas Dinner kitchen! (I have known my husband to secrete a couple in his pocket when he was nearly caught!!) They are VERY easy to prepare and need very little oven time, either cook them before or add them to the oven for the last 25 to 30 minutes of the turkey or roast potato cooking time. These also make great appetisers, skewer them with a cocktail stick and serve them with cranberry or sweet chilli sauce as a dip. -- posted by French Tart

The Full Monty - F E B - Full English Breakfast

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:12:19 -0500

A fine British tradition - and a meal to set you up for the day; there is a saying in the UK that goes like this: "breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen and have supper like a pauper"! So, what does a typical full English breakfast consist of? One recipe in an Edwardian Cookbook listed a plethora of ingredients that would have graced the table of many a stately home at the turn of the century, to include 7 courses! A modern day FEB is likely to consist of the following: two sausages, two or three rashers of bacon, fried eggs, fried bread, tomato and lashings of mushrooms with black pudding and brown HP sauce to taste. In finer establishments you can even expect additional courses such as cereal, porridge, kippers, toast and jam or marmalade, kedgeree, or devilled kidneys. Rumour has it that the term 'The Full Monty' is used to refer to these type of breakfasts because Field Marshal Montgomery was rather partial to them. Here is my basic recipe for an FEB, with optional extras! Grill or fry your FEB - and make sure you have acres of hot buttered toast and gallons of English Breakfast Tea! I am NOT suggesting this is what you should eat every morning - but it is a wonderful treat for the weekends, holidays and just when you feel like it. -- posted by French Tart

Oat Cuisine! Savoury Cheese, Nut and Oat Flapjacks

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:07:40 -0500

Not really Oat Cuisine - Haute Cuisine - but I could not resist the title! These cheesy and nutty oat flapjacks are very tasty and easy to make; a savoury take on the usual sweet flapjack recipe which normally contains syrup, honey, sugar and fruit. Great for lunch box snacks as well as picnics or as an accompaniment to soups, stews and chili. Try to use a good quality mature Cheddar cheese for that essential "cheesy" zing! I have stated porridge oats, however these flapjacks are also wonderful when made with jumbo oats - which are a bit more expensive. To achieve a "full" flavour, it is essential to use both type of nuts; the peanuts give the flapjacks the savoury and almost salty flavour, whilst the pecans or walnuts give a subtle taste, texture and nutty "bite" to these little cheese, nut and oat bars! If you like your food with a bit of a kick, you can add some cayenne pepper, as I often do! -- posted by French Tart

Jane Austen's Regency Toasted Cheese - Welsh or Scotch Rarebit

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:55:17 -0500

Lots of you who know me very well on Recipezaar will know of my love and research into Historical recipes, traditions, culture and food; this Toasted Cheese recipe is the first in a series of Regency recipes that I will be posting! I always like to make any recipe that I post at least twice, and this one is a real cracker in my humble opinion! Jane Austen is known to have said.... "We were greatly surprised by Edward Bridge's company...It is impossible to do justice to the hospitatlity of his attentions towards me; he made a point of ordering toasted cheese for supper, entirely on my account." --Jane Austen-- 27 August, 1805. This is a classic regency dish - often served AFTER a heavy meal and before the dessert! It was more often than not called Toasted Cheese, but is also known as Scotch or Welsh Rarebit. The original recipe was written like this: "Toasted Cheese - Grate the cheese and add it to one egg, a teaspoonful of mustard, and a little butter. Send it up on toast, or in paper trays". I have amended the orginal recipe for today's quantities, ingredients and cooking methods!! NB: In 1747, a cookery book gave a recipe for "Scots Rabbit" or Rare Bit as bread toasted on both sides and a slice of cheese, the same size as the bread, also toasted on both sides and laid on the buttered bread. The same book had "Welsh Rabbit" made in the same way but with mustard rubbed on the cheese. "English Rabbit" on the other hand had a glass of red wine poured over the toast before the cheese was added. Take your pick! -- posted by French Tart

Old Fashioned English Apple Pie With a Kiss and a Squeeze!

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:39:09 -0500

In the UK, we have a famous old rhyme and ditty that goes like this...."Apple pie without cheese, is like a kiss without a squeeze"!! This is my traditional English double crust apple pie WITH a kiss that HAS a squeeze - the CHEESE! Don't worry if you are not a cheese lover, (is there anyone out there who is NOT a cheese lover???) as this pie has the cheese on the SIDE - so you can have your apple pie with cheese or without, it's up to you! This is a tried and tested old family recipe and is based on the pastry and pie recipes in the Be-Ro cookbook. It is wonderful eaten hot with cream, custard or ice cream, as well as with the cheese; and it is an absolute must for lunch boxes and picnics! An interesting historical note - English Apple Pie in one form or another, goes right back to the time of Chaucer in the 12th century. Apple pie should have meltingly crisp and VERY short pastry with layers of spiced apples, preferably Bramley apples, in the middle. If you have a pie funnel, such as a black bird pie funnel - use that for a really traditional touch, as well as directing the steam out of the pie! I have a mixed spice mixture posted on zaar, Recipe #266688. I also have a spiced apple pie sugar posted, Recipe #219453. Replace this for the cup of sugar and the mixed spice listed in this recipe, and omit the lemon rind. -- posted by French Tart

Regency Queen Cakes for Jane Austen's Afternoon Tea Party

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:18:43 -0500

A wonderful and very well known Regency recipe for individual cakes studded with fruit and flavoured with rosewater and almonds; I am sure Jane Austen would have served these for afternoon tea on dainty plates with her bone china cups and saucers! I remember making these with my Mum when I was little, and of course licking the wooden spoon and scraping out the mixing bowl! They are easy to make and are delicious with an afternoon cuppa or for a lunch box treat. I have not found out the true meaning behind their name yet - but maybe they were aptly named as they were "fit for a Queen" to eat! The use of rosewater and almonds is a lingering memory left over from our Medieval cooking days and was still very much in evidence throughout the Regency period. This recipe makes about 24 to 30 Queen cakes - depending on the size of your tins, but the quantities can be cut back with ease. However, they DO freeze very well, so maybe making a full batch is a good idea - as long as they make it to the freezer! -- posted by French Tart

Mrs Beeton's Victorian Seed Cake - a Very Good Seed Cake

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:34:27 -0500

Yes, this IS a very good seed cake, but that's not my title, but how this recipe is listed in Mrs Beeton's cookbook of Household Management! I love seed cake, the aniseed flavours of the caraway seeds marry so well with the light sponge and subtle spices. You can also add optional chopped candied peel as my grandmother used to - it makes the cake moister. For your interest, I have posted the recipe as it orginally appeared, at the end of the modern adaptation. Seed cake was very popular during the Victorian era, it was often taken as a "Digestive" after a heavy meal or before retiring to bed, as caraway seeds are known for their soothing and digestive qualities. You can omit the brandy if you wish, and add milk in its place. -- posted by French Tart

Baked Herb Yorkshire Pudding from English Fields and Hedgerows

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:26:06 -0500

This is a delightful pudding, normally eaten at supper time, and it is suitable for vegetarians. It has its origins in Northallerton (North of England) and would have been made from wild herbs, gathered from the hedgerows and fields, and eaten with 'mushy' peas. I found this recipe in a small English regional cookery book - Yorkshire Recipes, and have made it regularly as an alternative to Yorkshire Pudding. Preparation time includes the standing time for the batter. -- posted by French Tart

Original Be-Ro Melting Moments-Afternoon Tea Biscuits or Cookies

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:42:55 -0500

These are great little "light as a feather" and meltingly crisp English style biscuits, or cookies. This recipe is the slightly adapted recipe from the Be-Ro Flour cookbook - they suggest lard, but I don't "do" lard! Melting Moments ALWAYS made an appearance on my grandmother and mum's afternoon tea table, and we also had them popped into our lunch boxes for school. The recipe is SO easy to rustle up and they stay crisp and fresh for up to 5 days in an airtight tin. You can roll them in coconut or oats, I prefer coconut - but I am sure they would be just as nice with oats, which is a suggested alternative. Children and "big children" love these, and they really are melting moments, great with a cuppa English tea! -- posted by French Tart

Mrs Miggin's Pie Shoppe - Old English Bacon and Egg Pie!

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:52:34 -0500

This is such an easy and simple recipe to make, and yet the result is full of flavour, tasty and a real British classic. You will find this pie on the menu in Britain for lunch, afternoon tea, supper, as a snack, for a picnic, in a lunch box and I am also suggesting this recipe would be great for Brunch as well! This is another slightly adapted classic recipe from my trusty Be-Ro Flour cookbook. This can be made ahead and freezes beautifully - defrost overnight, on a cooling rack so the pastry does not get soggy! Please note, this has no spices in it - although I have suggested optional dried herbs. It is a classic, simple British recipe, where good free range eggs and dry cure bacon are the leading lights, along with crisp, shortcrust pastry! Who is Mrs Miggins? She runs that famous Olde English Pie Shoppe in Black Adder - I love that programme! NB: I note that one reviewer had never seen an Egg and Bacon Pie in any cafe or restaurant since living in the UK! By menu, I was also including the family's "home" menu; where I come from in England, it is very poplular on ALL cafe and tea room menus...........I understand food is very regional, even in a small country like the UK, and although it may not feature much in Manchester, it is a common and exceedingly popular every-day meal in most parts of the rest of the country. Great for a mid-week meal for all the family, cheap and cheerful! -- posted by French Tart

Enid Blyton and the Famous Five's Lashings of Ginger Beer!

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:52:01 -0500

By far the most successful of all of Enid Blyton's books, were the twenty-one adventure stories of The Famous Five, who were Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy the dog. The Famous Five characters usually meet up when their respective schools break up for holidays, as the boys go to different boarding schools to the girls. Holidays for the Five consist of either going off on a cycling tour, maybe camping or even visiting strange houses ( castles lighthouses etc etc ). But one thing is for sure, when the Five are about, there is usually an adventure just around the corner! The children's favourite drink was Ginger Beer. It is often quoted that the children drank lashings and lashings of ginger beer. We all know this was never quoted in any of the books but it still seems fitting however, hence my recipe name! Alongside the lashings of ginger beer, The Famous Five consumed vast amounts of sandwiches whilst on their exciting travels! A wonderful old-fashioned ginger beer recipe, worthy of any exciting adventure, discovery or literary picnic! -- posted by French Tart

Delia Smith's Traditional Scotch Eggs With Fresh Herbs

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:32:43 -0400

Scotch eggs are marvelous for travelers or picnickers! Take some spring onions to go with them and, if you've got plates, some chutney (see my recipe #379361 or recipe #145401 or recipe #118249). This recipe is taken from Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course. -- posted by BecR

British Breakfast in Bed - Boiled Eggs and Marmite Soldiers

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:56:15 -0400

The quintessential British breakfast, and perfect for breakfast in bed - Boiled Eggs and Marmite Soldiers are a British culinary institution! The following instructions give you a perfect soft-boiled egg, suitable for "dipping" with your "soldiers"! You either love marmite or hate it, don't use it if you cannot find it locally or just don't like it!! You must still cut your toast into "soldiers" however!! -- posted by French Tart

Old English Posh Picnic Raised Chicken and Ham Pie

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:25:27 -0400

I will not pretend that this pie is easy or quick to make, however, if you want to impress your friends or family with a sensational "posh" English raised pie then this is the recipe for you! Tender chunks of chicken with pork sausage meat and ham are encased in crisp hot water crust pastry, liberally seasoned with spices and herbs; this pie makes a simply stunning centrepiece for any Glyndebourne style picnic event or for a special celebratory cold buffet, such as weddings, christenings or anniversaries. The pastry used in this pie recipe is hot water crust pastry, which is a direct descendant of "coffer" paste that was used to encase and protect meat whilst it cooked centuries ago the pies then being called coffyns! The pastry is shaped by hand whilst it is still warm, and is excellent for using with intricate pie moulds - the technique is known as "hand raised" and pies made this way are called "raised pies". The pastry is easy to make, but MUST be kept warm whilst you are using it - I keep mine warm over a pan of simmering water. This pastry is excellent for all types of traditional raised pies, such as Game pies, Pork pies and Veal and Ham pies. (Preparation time includes the one day needed for the pie to cool down and then for jellied stock to be added, and then allowing for the jellied stock to set.) -- posted by French Tart

Love It or Hate It - Marmite and Cheese Straws With a Twist!

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:35:17 -0400

Another one of my daughter's recipes - she always makes these for us when she is home. Cheesy, crispy and flaky pastry straws with a lick of marmite - great for pre-dinner drinks, picnics, lunch boxes or snacks. The Marmite company has a very clever advert that announces that you either LOVE Marmite or HATE it! I love it, that's why it has been added to these delicious Cheese Straws........however, if you HATE it - I have suggested alternatives. My daughter only ever uses Marmite in her cheese straws - but then she is also a Marmite lover! Serve these in a tall glass for tasty appetiser nibbles - if you are using the other flavours, you can lable the glasses so Marmite haters can be pre-warned! Have fun! (For all my Aussie friends - PLEASE use Vegemite if you REALLY have to!!!) -- posted by French Tart

Traditional Devon Cream Tea Strawberry Jam - Strawberry Conserve

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:25:31 -0400

A fabulous recipe for a soft set strawberry jam, or rather a strawberry conserve, where most of the fruit remains whole and is suspended in a delicious strawberry flavoured jammy syrup! This conserve reminds me of the traditional Cream Teas you get in the West country of England - especially Devon and Cornwall; a pot of tea served with fluffy fresh scones, butter, thick cream and this strawberry conserve. (Preparation time includes the 2 days allowed for the fruit to stand in the sugar.) This type of jam recipe is also very French, they tend to have a softer set jam here in France - it is lovely to see WHOLE pieces of fruit on your toast or scones! I also use this for steamed puddings - absolutely divine! -- posted by French Tart

Cool As a Cucumber! Cheese, Cucumber and Chive Sandwich Spread

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:33:39 -0400

A must for cool people - or those who like cucumbers! This is a very versatile sandwich spread or dip, which is so easy to whip up at the last minute; it makes VERY elegant sandwiches and is a wonderful accompaniment for smoked salmon, prawns (shrimp) or tuna. I have also used it to spread on savoury scones and crackers. If you plan to make this a day before you need to use it, you might like to salt the cucumbers first - as they do release water into the spread. -- posted by French Tart

The British Bulldog! Traditional Layered Beef Steak Suet Pudding

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:37:23 -0400

A traditional British steamed savoury pudding - fluffy dumping style suet pastry layered with tender and succulent braised beef steak - pure comfort food. Once you have prepared this, just let it steam quietly away in the background, whilst you get on with other things. Unmould this pudding at the table and serve it immediately with extra gravy, steamed seasonal greens and mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes. There is an urban myth in the UK, that men ask woman who can cook this delicious savoury pudding to marry them........be warned.......be careful! Preparation time includes the cooking of the beef steak before the pudding is made and steamed. (This recipe comes from my family's recipe collection - it was cooked regularly by my grandmother and my mum; the original recipe is written in pencil on a scrap of paper.........it was like finding real treasure!) -- posted by French Tart

Cheddar Gorgeous! Cheese and Onion Bread and Butter Pudding

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:35:41 -0400

I have always prefered savoury food to sweet food, and this is a recipe I made up for a savoury version of one of my favourite sweet puddings, Bread and Butter Pudding. This savoury dish is easy to rustle up and makes a tasty supper, breakfast, brunch or lunch dish. Do try to use mature farmhouse Cheddar cheese, a little goes a long way as the flavour is so pronounced. This can be made the night before you need it, for breakfast or brunch, and then baked next morning - a great make ahead meal! -- posted by French Tart

Traditional Cottage Loaf - Old Fashioned Rustic English Bread

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:07:43 -0400

Just the shape of this traditional loaf of bread is reminiscent of ploughman's lunches and warm cottage kitchens! A delightfully shaped loaf of bread, which represents all that is rustic and rural in Britain, but especially England. This bread keeps well and makes lovely, if odd shaped sandwiches! Cut the loaf into wedges and serve with freshly churned butter and a hunk of mature Cheddar cheese, maybe with a pickled onion or two. Quintessential British bread at its best. This reminds me of baking days in my grandmothers old cottage, sitting in her warm and cosy kitchen; she would have baked this in her wood burning Aga stove, as I sometimes do in the winter when my Godin wood burning stove is working. I often leave the first batch of dough to prove and rise overnight - leave it in a cool but NOT cold place, and then continue shaping and proving it next morning. We used to call this wooden spoon bread when we were little, as you push a wooden spoon down through the two loaves to stick them together before baking! Preparation time includes the proving of the dough - but NOT the overnight method! -- posted by French Tart

Absolutely Sinful! Sticky Toffee Pudding With Pecan Toffee Sauce

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:39:14 -0400

This is as wicked as it sounds. A truly delectable combination of flavours and textures that are light and melt in the mouth. I would choose this as a Christmas or New Year dinner party dessert, as the puddings freeze well and are no trouble to re-heat. A modern British classic - sticky toffee pudding was thought to have originated from the Sharrow Bay Hotel in Ullswater in the Lake District of Northern England There is also a school of thought that John Tovey at Miller Howe in Windermere was the first to make this. Either way, the pudding is as iconic today as it was when it was first baked and devoured by the lucky diners of either one of those hotels! My recipe is based on the recipe that Delia Smith published in her Christmas cookbook, but I have made several changes that I feel work better for me, the main change is to increase the pecan toffee sauce quantities, as I have had grown people - mainly males - fighting over who gets the last dribble of this delectable sauce!! I hope you find the step-by-step photos useful when you make this for the first time. (This was featured in the September 2008 Cooking School Topic of the Month on Zaar - a wonderful event where lots of talented chefs on Zaar showed off their culinary skills through photographic tutorials!) Prep time includes the time needed for soaking the dates. -- posted by French Tart

Twit Twooo, Hooting Halloween Owls - Halloween Cupcakes/Muffins

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:29:06 -0400

These are GREAT fun! Bake some chocolate fairy cakes, muffins or cupcakes, decorate them and then turn them into Hooting Halloween Owls! I made these last year for a children's Halloween party, and they all loved them. The recipe is based on our British fairy cake or angel cake recipe, where the top of the baked cake or muffin is cut off to create the "wings". I have stated some sweets (candy) that are British - please use your own local sweets to decorate the owls. This is a wonderful recipe idea that I have changed and adapted from Tana Ramsay, the wife of the famous Gordon Ramsay.....she has some great family recipes, of which this is one. (Preparation time includes the time to decorate and ice them after they have been baked.) My Recipe #328085 would also be great Halloween companions for these hooting owls! -- posted by French Tart

Harvest Festival - English Baked Stuffed Autumn Marrow/Zucchini

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:30:42 -0400

Harvest Home! A heart warming and traditional English recipe, which is a wonderful way to deal with those large marrows (zucchini) from the autumn garden! The marrow is stuffed with a savoury beef and onion mixture and is then baked in foil. This is an old family recipe, which always pleases and is regularly requested when these giant marrows are in season it is hearty and full of flavour and is wonderful when served with a hot tomato sauce, steamed fresh seasonal vegetables and piles of fluffy mashed potatoes. The preparation is a little time-consuming, but the stuffed marrow is then baked slowly in the oven, leaving you free to follow other pursuits. I have posted a full set of step-by-step photos with this recipe, it shows how easy it is to prepare and cook, as well as showing how delicious it looks when served piping hot at your dinner table! The title of this recipe was taken from memories of all the Harvest Festivals we had every year, that were held at school or the local parish church - marrows (LARGE zucchini) were always a BIG feature of the harvest display! -- posted by French Tart

Yorkshire Parkin - Sticky Oatmeal Gingerbread for Bonfire Night

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:39:04 -0400

A wonderful tradition from Northern England, in particular from the county of Yorkshire; this wonderful gingerbread is traditionally eaten on the 5th November which is Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes night or Fireworks Night. There are many ways to make ginger parkin; this is my recipe for this deliciously, sticky and dark gingerbread with oats. This recipe is an egg free parkin, and I was always told that Parkin should NEVER contain eggs in it, whether that is true or not, I'm not sure! Try to plan ahead when you make this recipe, it is MUCH better when kept for 2 to 3 days before eating, as it become stickier and more intense in flavour. This keeps for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container and freezes well, if there is any left! I use jumbo porridge oats in my parkin, for a nice chewy texture - but any porridge oats or oatmeal will be suitable. Please note, if you make this with the suggested alternatives of corn syrup and molasses, it will not be quite the same flavour, but it should still be sticky! -- posted by French Tart

Magical Christmas Fairy Cakes - Christmas Fairy Cupcakes

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:43:49 -0500

Some recipe classics never go out of fashion and fairy cakes top the list They are the stuff of childhood memories: just one nibble can transport you back in time and even today, no self-respecting children's birthday party would be without them. That said, why should the kids have all the fun? With just a little tweaking, fairy cakes can be turned into grown-up fare as well, perfect for a mid-morning coffee break, tea in the afternoon, packed lunch treats, OR for the Christmas tea table. The basic recipe is oh-so-simple so you can keep it plain or indulge yourself with extravagant toppings; for Christmas, I have used fondant icing snowflakes and edible sparkles/cake glitter. Some die-hard purists may omit the vanilla extract but I think fairy cakes are better with it added. Prep time includes the time it takes to decorate the fairy cakes. The edible cake sparkles and glitter is available from most good cake decorating or sugar craft shops. -- posted by French Tart

The Queen of Hearts - Valentine's Jam Tarts

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:41:53 -0500

Jam tarts are a quintessential British teatime treat - little crispy short crust pastry rounds filled with assorted fruit jams, such as strawberry, raspberry, apricot, blackcurrant and lemon curd. They were the first things my mum taught me to bake when I was little, and in turn, I taught my daughter how to make them when she was very small. Here I have suggested that as a Valentine's Day treat, you top the jam tarts with a little pastry heart........after all, the way to a loved one's heart is through their stomach! Jam Tarts normally do NOT have any pastry topping however, so for the rest of the year, just make them as posted with no pastry lid, or use other suitable shapes appropriate for a special event. I have posted homemade short crust pastry, it is so easy to make and is far superior to ready-made, although I DO use ready-made when I am short of time! Try to use good quality or homemade jams and jellies, the higher the fruit content, the less the jam or jelly will bubble out of the pastry case. These are essential for any English Tea Party, especially if Alice in Wonderland has been invited............along with the white rabbit! Have fun! -- posted by French Tart

Cheese on Toast - Cheap and Cheerful British Toasted Cheese

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:27:25 -0500

Call it what you will, traditional British cheese on toast is a national institution, an iconic snack enjoyed by all, regardless of class or background! What can be simpler and tastier, hunks of homemade or crusty farmhouse style bread topped with mature Cheddar cheese, a smidge of mustard and Worcestershire sauce for those who desire an extra kick! This is NOT really a recipe; it is a basic method for making a super tasty and nutritious fast food dish. There is even a Cheese on Toast Day celebrated in the UK - mark your calendars now, the last Thursday in April has been set aside for this comforting supper treat. I lived on cheese on toast whilst I was a student, as I am sure most students do nowadays! You can use other British cheeses, but I find the best cheese without a doubt, is a good mature farmhouse cheddar. Make sure your bread is thickly sliced and you have your plates ready and waiting to receive the molten cheesy snack - pull up a chair by the fireside in the winter and enjoy your 5-minute culinary efforts! (This is an all year around snack I hasten to add.) An interesting historical note; toasted cheese was served as the final course to male diners during Edwardian times, in Gentleman's Clubs........the cheese was melted and served in a pot with the toast set around the edges - a sort of Gentleman's Club fondue! -- posted by French Tart

Victoria Sandwich - Classic English Sponge Cake for Tea Time

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:02:38 -0500

The Victoria Sandwich is the quintessential English cake, conjuring up images of old England and afternoon tea. It's always been a favourite in cake baking competitions and is even used by manufacturers to test new cookers.This is one of the recipes that I use when I make my Victoria Sandwich sponge cake - the other method is posted at the end of the recipe; the ingredients are the same but the weight ratio is slightly different. This method is the original and more traditional way of weighing your ingredients, bearing in mind that the recipe is Victorian! A true Victoria Sandwich would only contain jam, usually raspberry, but as the cake became more popular and cooks became more affluent, cream was added as a delicious addition. I was always taught that caster sugar was sprinkled on top - again, icing sugar is often used nowadays. This recipe adaptation was taken from the WI website, a wonderful organisation in Great Britain for woman of all ages, backgrounds, race or creed - remember The Calendar Girls? They were all WI members! Historical note: Anna, the Duchess of Bedford (1788-1861), one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, is credited as the creator of tea time. She invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at five o'clock in her rooms. The menu centred around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and, of course, tea.The practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon was quickly picked up by other social hostesses. Queen Victoria adopted the new craze for afternoon tea time. By 1855, the Queen and her ladies were in formal dress for the Victorian tea time parties. This simple cake was one of the queen's favourites and was named in honour of the Queen as a mark of the cake's most devoted followers! (I used home made lemon curd for the cake in my photos, a tangy change from raspberry jam!) -- posted by French Tart

Dainty Egg and Chive Tea Sandwiches for Tea-Time

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:51:01 -0500

I am compiling a sandwiches cookbook, or sarnies as we call them in the UK, and here is my first recipe! Sandwiches come in many guises, from simple and elegant to hearty and robust; in my cookbook I aim to have them ALL in there! Sandwiches tick all the boxes for so many meals and events: the obvious high teatime table, cricket teas, picnics, packed lunches and quick snacks. These sandwiches are dainty and elegant and would be ideal for the teatime table. The use of fresh chives gives them a bit of a lift and you must try to use the salad cream as well as the mayonnaise; salad cream has a pronounced vinegary flavour which cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and eggs. -- posted by French Tart

Classic English Salad Cream - Oil Free Salad Dressing

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:46:32 -0500

The salad cream that most of us in the UK know, love and use was invented by Heinz in 1914 and was very popular with working classes; a truly socialist salad dressing if you will. However, its popularity waned in the latter part of the century, with the arrival of the decadent mayonnaise, flaunting its Continental French and Spanish roots and pushing the humble salad cream to one side. However, like any good socialist, salad cream would not go away and still remains a firm favourite in the UK with people who have refused to climb that social ladder to mayonnaise!! My recipe for homemade salad cream comes from Mrs Beeton's cookbook originally, but I have made some modifications. Mrs Beeton uses quite a lot of vinegar in my humble opinion, but the recipe is flexible so add more if you wish. I prefer salad cream when I am trying to cut back on fat - plus I rather like it's tangy flavour, and it is truly wonderful when spooned over hard boiled eggs or fresh lettuce leaves. Or, try it in sandwiches and dips, for a lighter taste to mayonnaise. -- posted by French Tart

Scottish Cheddar Cheese and Spring Onion Tea-Time Scones

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:34:36 -0400

Another one of my Scottish grandmother's recipes! I have several cheese scone recipes posted on Zaar, but this one is one of my favourites. Spring onions are also called green onions or scallions. My mum still makes these regularly and serves them filled with cream cheese (Boursin is great!) and cooked ham, a tea-time scone sandwich! Try to use a mature Scottish cheddar - my favourite comes from the Isle of Mull, but any mature farmhouse cheddar cheese will work. Another idea is to make mini versions of these scones for delightful appetisers, spread them with a filling of your choice - very welcome with a chilled wine or sherry! -- posted by French Tart

Victorian Spring Posy Cake for Easter or Mother's Day

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:11:13 -0400

One of my recent cake inventions - a standard Victoria Sandwich Sponge with a few delicious additions! Fresh oranges and lemons, lemon curd, crystallised violets and mascarpone cheese make this basic sponge cake moist and special enough for the Easter Sunday tea-time table, or for Mum on Mother's Day! I used lemon curd for the icing, but orange curd would also work if you wanted a mellow flavour. I have a recipe for crystallised violets on Zaar, Recipe #216296, and if you don't have any fresh violets, use any sugar paste flowers or cake decorations that work for you - the object is to make a Posy of flowers! This makes a big cake with one layer, you can cut the cakes again and make a three layer gateau if you wish. This cake disappeared quite quickly, but if you have any left, it keeps EXTREMELY well in a tin for up to one week. The sponge cakes can be frozen before icing, cutting back on time if you are going to be busy for the special event. -- posted by French Tart

British Fig Rolls - Almost Better Than Shop Bought!

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:47:22 -0400

This is a recipe I found many years ago for authentic Fig Rolls, and they are almost better than the shop bought variety, much though I love the commercial ones! Try to roll out the pastry as thinly as possible, other than that, this recipe is a breeze to make. Fig rolls are a much-loved "biscuit" from my childhood days and I make them whenever I can as I now live in France, as we cannot get them here. Fig rolls are great for a mid-morning snack with a cuppa as well as being ideal for school lunchboxes, picnics, gifts and afternoon tea. (I have posted this recipe on Zaar especially for Lalaloula, who asked about a fig roll recipe in the British forum.) -- posted by French Tart

Old-Fashioned Baked Egg Custard Tart With Nutmeg

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:12:41 -0400

A taste of my childhood, my grandmother made the most amazing Egg Custard, as we used to call it! In the absence of lard, or if you are vegetarian, use a white vegetable cooking fat, but NOT margarine, as the white fat gives the pastry its crispness. Serve this tart at room temperature with cream or just "naked"! You can buy these delectable little tarts in most British bakeries, but they always taste better when they have been made at home. This old-fashioned custard tart needs a thick, wobbly filling, so I've used a round tin with sloping sides and a rim, which gives a good depth. The nutmeg is very important to the flavour, so always use it freshly grated and grate it on to a piece of foil, which helps when you have to sprinkle it on quickly when it goes into the oven. -- posted by French Tart

Queen Victoria's Brown Windsor Soup

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:19:28 -0400

The very soup reputed to have built the British Empire and one that was oh-so-fashionable in Victorian and Edwardian times! This soup was served daily, until recently, in the dining cars of British Rail. This classic hearty soup was also very popular at the castle (Windsor) in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Queen Victoria was particularly fond of it, and it regularly appeared on state banquet menus. However, this recipe has not had very good press over recent years - drab tinned brands and indifferent, greasy soups served in some lower end restaurants have given it a bad culinary name! I hope to redress that with this authentic recipe from Windsor in Berkshire, England - home to the Royal Windsor Castle. A rich and hearty soup, this makes a meal in itself when served with crusty bread, scones or bread rolls. -- posted by French Tart

Coconut Ice - Old-Fashioned Sweet Shop Coconut Candy

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:49:09 -0500

A trip down Memory Lane! This is my mum's recipe for Coconut Ice, little coconut squares which are coloured pink and white, and used to be popular in old-fashioned British sweet (candy) shops. My mum used to make trays and trays of these for our Church fêtes, as well as for Christmas and for gifts. These lovely little coconut morsels are very popular in Scotland where I think my mum's recipe originated either from my Scottish grandmother or an auntie. These are great fun to make with the children, as they are easy as well as being "no-cook". If you plan to make them for gifts or to sell, pack them into attractive cellophane bags, glass jars or boxes and add a pretty ribbon as well as a label of ingredients and storage details. This recipe is part of my Old Fashioned Sweet Shop collection of recipes, sweets, candies, fudges, sugar plums and chocolates! -- posted by French Tart

Scrumptious Shepherd's Pie

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:54:27 -0500

Many attempts at Shepherd's Pie have been forced down by my willing gastronomical guinea pigs. Some of these attempts didn't even make it that far. Finally, I cracked the code to a delicious, rustic, and authentic (if you use lamb) Shep... that is nothing short of amazing simplicity. -- posted by AlmightyMooX

Leftover Turkey and Leek Pot Pie With Instant Gravy

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:03:53 -0500

This is MY much adapted version of Jamie Oliver's Turkey and Sweet Leek Pie! I made this with left over Christmas turkey this year, and it was so delicious and went down a bomb with my family and friends! A new Jamie Oliver recipe that he showed on his Family Christmas show this year and one that is so clever, as this pie makes its own gravy! I have left out adding the chestnuts and sage to the pastry as he suggests, I will try it sometime in the future though, as it sounds a brilliant idea; I have added this option at the end of the recipe however, for those who want to try it that way. Serve this with mashed potatoes and the extra gravy in a gravy boat on the side. Here is what Jamie says about this pie: "This is dead simple, completely versatile and absolutely gorgeous. Its not a pretty-boy pie; its a proper, old-school pie that everyone will be over the moon to see on the table. Im putting leftover white turkey meat to good use here, but you could also mix brown meat in there too." I agree, all of my family and friends were over the moon to see this on the post Christmas table, I bet it tastes great with chicken and ham too. NB: he original recipe makes enough for 6 to 8 people, mine is perfect for 4 very hungry people! -- posted by French Tart

Fortnum and Masons Authentic Scotch Eggs With Sausage and Herbs

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:06:45 -0500

Freshly boiled eggs are encased in a herb flavoured sausage jacket and are then deep-fried until golden and crisp, delicious! Contrary to popular belief, Scotch eggs are not Scottish, and they were actually invented by the famous London department store Fortnum & Mason in 1738, where they are still available today. The word "Scotch" is an old English word meaning to chop or mince, and obviously, the eggs are covered with chopped or minced pork sausage meat, hence the name Scotch Eggs. They are traditional British picnic food but I also like to serve them as a light lunch or snack, and they make a wonderful addition to the buffet table. These tasty traditional English specialities have had bad press over the years; mainly down to commercial mass production, but if you make them at home with fresh, free-range eggs and the best quality sausage meat, they will taste divine, and they will always be the stars of the picnic hamper or family lunch table! PLEASE use high quality sausage meat or sausages, with at least 70% meat content.Historical Note: Founded in 1707, Fortnum & Mason (F&M) stocks "food fit for a queen". The 300-year-old British department store, famous for its jams, teas, and sauces, provides the Queen with her annual supply of Christmas puddings and holds the "Royal Warrant. -- posted by French Tart

Victorian Watercress Tea Sandwiches for High Tea and Picnics

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:20:30 -0500

During Victorian times, children used to take watercress sandwiches to school in place of meat ones. I love them, especially when cut into small trianges and served with a cuppa (cup of tea!). Use the freshest bread - I like to use wholemeal, and a fresh salted farmhouse butter. I have inlcluded a soup idea at the end of the recipe, to be made with the excess stalks! So a soup and sandwich recipe then! -- posted by French Tart