Tag: British cuisine
-
Sausage rolls
A sausage roll is a savoury pastry snack which is popular in Britain and in the Commonwealth nations. They’re commonly sold in retail outlets such as supermarkets and bakeries. The mini, or cocktail, versions are often served hot or cold as buffet or party food. A sausage roll consists of a tube of sausage meat…
-
Lamb’s wool
Lamb’s wool is a traditional English drink which was popular from the 16th to the 19th centuries. It consisted of beer, heated, sweetened and spiced. Then the soft, fluffy pulp of baked apples was mixed in – presumably leading to the drink being so-named. Samuel Pepys mentioned the drink in his diary on 9 November…
-
Maid of honour
Maids of honour are small almond-flavoured custard tarts, traditionally made with a lemon curd and cream cheese filling. It’s said that Anne Boleyn invented them whilst she was lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII liked them so much he named them maids of honour after the Queen’s unmarried attendants. Recipe Asda…
-
Marmite
The original use of the word marmite was for a French two-handled earthenware or metal cooking pot, used for makings soups and stews.
-
White meat and dark meat
Find out some fascinating historical facts about why we refer to white meat and dark. It’s not genteel to talk about breasts, legs and thighs.
-
Bakewell tart
A Bakewell tart is a confection originating from Bakewell, a town in Derbyshire, England. Historically, it was served at any holiday occasion. Nowadays one could eat them on any day, usually with a cup of tea. Commercial versions are easily available. The tart consists of a shortcrust pastry shell, topped with a layer of jam,…
-
Brussels sprouts
What are they? Brussels sprouts are like miniature cabbages which grow in multiple rows on a thick central stalk. The sprout is obviously a brassica, but it’s anybody’s guess when somebody mutated it from its original cabbage. I believe sprouts originated in Belgium, where they were sold in markets as early as the 13th century…
-
Beetroot
What is it? Beetroot is the taproot portion of the beet plant, often known as simply the beet. The leaves are also edible, often called beet greens. British beetroot is usually available from July to January, but some may linger on until February or March. Choose firm beetroot with fresh (unwilted) stalks. What to…