Have you been bitten by the baking bug? Baking has become an extraordinarily popular pastime during these “safer-at-home” days. Stores have been running out of flour as fast as they can stock it, and Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are filled with pictures of homemade bread, cakes, cookies, and other tempting treats. In my last column, Finding Comfort in a Cup of Tea, I wrote … [Read more...] about Eating British in America: Stay-at-Home Baking for Anglophiles – Tips, Resources, and Share Your Bakes!
Brit Recipes
Eating British in America: Tina’s Traditional Brings English Teatime to Indiana
No discussion of British food would be complete without a mention of afternoon tea. Many Americans consider it to be the quintessential English meal, and although few Brits sit down to lavish Downton Abbey-style spreads on a regular basis, tea and teatime treats are still a big part of the national psyche. This month I’m featuring Tina’s Traditional Tea Room, with locations in … [Read more...] about Eating British in America: Tina’s Traditional Brings English Teatime to Indiana
Brit Books: National Trust Cookbook – Classic British Cooking by Sarah Edington
I adore cookbooks. I have several large shelves full of them. Some British but mostly they are American. I do have a few British ones that I go time and again. That being said, my library lacked a good comprehensive British cookbook with traditional recopies. For years Britain has gotten a bad reputation for food, but really that is not fair, things have improved immensely, … [Read more...] about Brit Books: National Trust Cookbook – Classic British Cooking by Sarah Edington
Brit Recipes: Potter’s Treacle Tart
A wonderfully classic British dessert of rich syrup and buttery pastry. Treacle Tart is added to the menu at Pie Society every Fall and is a decadent treat for when the weather turns colder. It is also famously Harry Potter’s favorite dessert and with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald set to be released this month, Treacle Tart would be a perfect addition to a … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Potter’s Treacle Tart
British Recipe: Chocolate Shortbread Petticoat Tails
Editor's Note: This is the first in an ongoing series of recipes submitted by The Pie Society, a British themed bakery in Savannah Georgia. Check out their website here. The mouth-watering smell of shortbread baking every morning at Pie Society is sure to bring in passers-by walking through Savannah’s City Market. This traditional Scottish biscuit is a perfect … [Read more...] about British Recipe: Chocolate Shortbread Petticoat Tails
British Food at Christmas: A Guide to Some British Christmas Fare
In Great Britain, families celebrate Christmas together around the Christmas tree and watch each other open gifts, much like in the US! We share many of the same traditions with Britain: trimming the tree, decorating the house with holly and mistletoe, and hanging outdoor lights. Brits usually eat the main Christmas meal at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas Day. It's … [Read more...] about British Food at Christmas: A Guide to Some British Christmas Fare
Brit Food: A Fun and Simple Guide To The Brits’ Weirdly Named Cakes
This is fun and making me hungry on a Friday afternoon! Banbury, Eccles, Jaffa, Dundee, there are so many great ones to discover. The British are revered for many things, but it's their cakes that are truly something to celebrate. For one, many of them highlight currants -- a fruit that doesn't get enough recognition in most other countries. Two, they have the best of names … [Read more...] about Brit Food: A Fun and Simple Guide To The Brits’ Weirdly Named Cakes
Brit Dessert: A Primer on Puddings – A Brief History of British Desserts With a Recipe For Your Own
What’s for pudding, Mum? This question is asked on a daily basis across the British Isles where they are exceedingly fond of a good pudding. But what exactly is pudding and where did it come from? Coming from America, pudding means a creamy, custard-like mixture; pudding in England can mean a multitude of things. The esteemed Oxford English Dictionary definition runs nearly a … [Read more...] about Brit Dessert: A Primer on Puddings – A Brief History of British Desserts With a Recipe For Your Own
Brit Language: Christmas Traditions and Customs Largely Unknown to Americans
Last year, we had our own British Christmas complete with crackers, wassail, and Christmas pudding. I was so excited! I schemed, planned, and surfed the net for the just the right combo of food and fun. But alas, the wassail was ho-hum, no one was interested in the games after too much turkey and pumpkin pie, and no matter how much brandy I threw on that cake, I couldn’t get it … [Read more...] about Brit Language: Christmas Traditions and Customs Largely Unknown to Americans
Brit Book Reviews: Challis of Uppham by J.A. Noble
Challiss of Uppham is a sweeping novel of the Challiss family, a Victorian upper-class family struggling with the economic downturn that occurred in the 1830s. Continuing the saga found in J.A. Noble’s book The Lime Walk, the Challiss family faces hardships and changes all while trying to maintain their proper place in Norfolk society. Family drama provides the main … [Read more...] about Brit Book Reviews: Challis of Uppham by J.A. Noble
Brit Recipes: British Christmas Fruitcake even the Yanks will love
Americans love to joke about that Christmas fruitcake that's been going around the world, or the one that holds up the door, or…well, you know. I know because I used to be one of those fruitcake-disdainers but, since I married a Brit, I've discovered that the problem is not fruitcake per se but the way we're used to seeing it in America: basically shiny, plasticcy, … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: British Christmas Fruitcake even the Yanks will love
Brit Recipes: Summery curried shrimp
I'm the first to admit that it is hard to find an English main course recipe that doesn't start with "take half a pound of lard..." Nothing wrong with that of course, but in summer, we all crave lighter fare, even this true-blue Brit! So let's turn to the exotic East, the lazy days of the Raj and a lovely Goan-inspired shrimp dish with coconut and cream (or yogurt). I know … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Summery curried shrimp
Brit Recipes: Tall and languid Pimms Cup
Here's the perfect English drink for the long hot summer in Washington! In fact, wherever you are, a Pimms Cup will help you endure the heat with more aplomb and less pique. It's tall, languid, mildly boozy, and quite refreshing. Pimm's Cup is madly English and quite the upper-crust tipple. Apparently the Queen sips a few Pimms at Royal Ascot, and I'm sure Somerset Maugham … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Tall and languid Pimms Cup
Brit Recipes: I’ll have some Madeira Cake, me dear!
(This one's by Prodigal Wife, the baker in our household) Before I met the old Prodigal Tourist, I assumed, as other Americans probably do, that Madeira Cake had Madeira in the batter, or perhaps that the sweet wine might be "fed" to the cake after it is baked, much like one adds brandy to a traditional fruitcake. In fact, this dessert is really a very rich pound cake that was … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: I’ll have some Madeira Cake, me dear!
Brit Recipes: Luscious Stuffed Mushrooms
Another really simple dish, but I made these stuffed mushrooms last weekend and everyone loved them, so here they are. You will need a bag of spinach, half pound box of medium to large size mushrooms, three or four rashers of bacon, breadcrumbs mixed with a spoonful of parmesan (parmesan optional for Brit purists), a spring onion or two, a few tablespoons of cream, a few drops … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Luscious Stuffed Mushrooms
Brit Recipes: Glorious Eton Mess
The weather turned unusually warm last week and my thoughts turned to languid summers and strawberries and cream and... Eton Mess! The dish was invented by the boys attending Eton College-that bastion of privilege in the lovely village of the same name-and usually served up on parents day or at prize-giving ceremonies. Why, you may ask, is a former secondary modern school kid … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Glorious Eton Mess
Brit Recipes: Stuffed pears with an English twist
Here's a refreshing, very simple starter to add to your repertoire. The Stilton cheese make this a very proper English dish. This recipe is enough for at least four servings, with a half a pear per guest. Of course, you might like this so much you'll need a whole pear! You need two ounces of Stilton and the same amount of cream cheese. Two ripe pears, salad fixings, a lemon, … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Stuffed pears with an English twist
Brit Recipes: Post-Paddy Bubble & Squeak
Stuck with leftover St. Patrick's Day cabbage and spud? Here's my home version of another cornerstone of English cuisine: Bubble and Squeak. So easy, not a real recipe really. I cook up some bacon and fry up the chopped, leftover spuds and greens in the rendered fat. I let everything brown for a few minutes without touching, then stir up and brown the other sides. That's it! It … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Post-Paddy Bubble & Squeak
Brit Recipes: Two Pigs in a Poke and Wessex Stew
Two pigs...or two recipes using the same cut of meat--pork loin, one of my favorites. Surprisingly, while raiding the prodigal larder I discover we had some leftover mincemeat we made last Christmas; not enough for a batch of tarts but just enough for this....a stuffing for pork loin. And it worked rather well. By the way, both recipes ensure the pork loin, a lovely lean cut … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Two Pigs in a Poke and Wessex Stew
Brit Recipes: Shepherd’s Pie, Prodigal Style
Shepherd's Pie is basically minced (ground) meat covered and sealed with a potato lid that keeps it hot. That's probably why this dish is a perennial favorite in British pubs: it can be made in advance and kept warm for hours, and it's quite cheap and easy to make. Mind you, Shepherd's Pie in pubs is often horrid, with gummy mash and a thin undercoating of mystery meat. But … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Shepherd’s Pie, Prodigal Style
Brit Recipes: A Brit Breakfast for Brunch – Guide to British Breakfast
I know, I know, it's not healthiest way to start your day, but my oh my, English breakfast is delicious. Also, the feeling of well being a complete English breakfast permeates is something to behold. And, really, if you just had this feast every few months or so, I don't think you'll come to much harm. Now, if you're going to do it, go for it! The works. You'll be pleased you … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: A Brit Breakfast for Brunch – Guide to British Breakfast
Brit Recipes: Heart-warming Toad in the Hole
This delicious dish, as you can imagine, has nothing to do with greenish amphibians. Toad in the Hole is a classic of English cookery, in which banger-like sausages are set and baked within a large Yorkshire pudding (see recipe a few posts back). Kate and I like our Toad with baked beans. If you're feeling healthy have yours with a salad. So let's begin. First you need to make … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Heart-warming Toad in the Hole
Brit Recipes: A Traditional English Christmas Pudding
Yes, I made a turkey this week, complete with stuffing, gravy, mash, and about a dozen side dishes. But I also made the Prodigal Christmas pudding-and you should make yours now too. It gets better and better until it's perfect for the big day! A few things to bear in mind when attempting to make this fabulous confection. One: a homemade pud is ALWAYS better than … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: A Traditional English Christmas Pudding
Denis Lipman from A Prodigal Tourist Reads the First Chapter of his New Book
Our lovely British Recipe and food blogger - Denis Lipman - has his book coming out in the next few weeks. To mark it - he's made a lovely youtube video of himself reading the first chapter in his book - A Yank Back To England. After watching this - I can safely say that I can't wait to read his book! Back to Dagenham, England … [Read more...] about Denis Lipman from A Prodigal Tourist Reads the First Chapter of his New Book
Brit Recipes: Light and lovely Yorkshire Puddings
Apparently, Yorkshire puddings first came about, not surprisingly, in Yorkshire, in Victorian times when meat was scarce and people were poor. Puds were served as a first course to fill people up. Today, things are a little better. And nothing is better than a slice of rare beef with a Yorkshire pud. Yum, yum! What a combination. Here's a surefire way to bake the perfect … [Read more...] about Brit Recipes: Light and lovely Yorkshire Puddings
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
