Downton Abbey and Thanksgiving “Makeovers”

26 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Breakfast, Brunch, Season 1, Season 2, Season 3

Tags

Colcannon, Colcannon cakes, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey DVD, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey recipes, Downton Abbey Revisited, Edwardian recipes, food history, Healthy Cooking, PBS

Getting ready to open its doors for Season 3

Thanksgiving in the US has past, and many are still savoring “leftovers” from huge family dinners. I never really liked the term “leftover” as it carries a negative connotation, as if the food has lost some value somehow. I like to use the term “makeover”, implying that yesterday’s fabulous meal will taste even better today with a few touches, and more love added in. I often find that many dishes take on new lives when enjoyed the second time around. Today’s dish is a prime example. Colcannon (a mashed mixture of potatoes and cabbage) is sinfully delightful when made into Colcannon cakes. This is definitely a Lord D favorite.

Learning to Cook French: From Mrs. Patmore to Julia Child

13 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Afternoon Tea, Brunch, Dessert, Season 1

≈ 5 Comments

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Abbey Cooks Enertain, Auguste Escoffier, clafoutis, cookforjulia, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Cookbook, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey recipes, Julia Child, Mrs. Beeton

Mrs. Patmore and Julia Childs

While foodies across North America were thrilled to watch Olympic coverage with the rest of the world over the past 2 weeks, they have been quietly gearing up for the big event of the summer: the celebration of Julia Child’s 100th birthday this Wednesday, August 15th. In kitchens around the country the smell of great French cooking is filling the air. Continue reading »

Tea Tuesday: Downton vs. Mad Men & Titanic Dairy Edition

10 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Season 1, Titanic Menus

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

American ice cream, Chocolate eclairs, French Ice Cream, Kerrygold dairy, Titanic Menus, titanic tribute dinners

Mad Men’s “fat” Betty shares cream tea

Welcome to Tea Tuesday, the day of the week I focus on the time honored ritual of gathering for tea and a chat. I often find that a great conversation, like a good meal, takes on a wonderful life of its own, a delicious blend of flavours: personal accounts, popular media and topical news events. Today, we use the tea ritual as a common thread to connect seemingly random thoughts. I offer a new recipe each week, so check out and bookmark Online Guide to Afternoon Tea to keep up to date. Continue reading »

Fellowes Night in Canada: Downton Garden Party vs. Titanic Haute Cuisine

29 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Drinks, Garden Parties, Main Course, Season 1, Special Occasion, Titanic Menus

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

afternoon tea, baked haddock with sharp sauce, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey Garden Party, Downton Abbey Party Food, Downton Abbey Season 1 finale, food history, Garden Party, Titanic Menus, Titanic recipes

Lounging in the garden (ITV) or on deck

It was a busy night in Canada for fans of Post Edwardian period drama. Last night Vision TV delivered back-to-back episodes of the final two episodes of Season 1 of Downton Abbey, the immensely popular British drama. Coincidentally, the final episode overlapped with Part 2 of the new 4 part Titanic Miniseries. Both shows were penned by Oscar winning writer Julian Fellowes. Which you watched likely depended on whether you prefer your heartache on land or at sea. You better sit for this part. These shows are called dramas for a reason. On Downton Abbey, while Cora loses a baby, and two sisters are spurned, we discover that all that drama is overshadowed by the start of World War I. Meanwhile on Titanic, class clashes in close quarters on the famed luxury ship are heightened by an iceberg with Titanic’s name on it. Continue reading »

Celebrating Downton’s Irish with Stew

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Dessert, Main Course, Season 1, Season 2, Special Occasion

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Chocolate Stout cake, Colcannon, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey Party Food, Downton Abbey recipes, Fine Cooking, Irish Stew, Saint Patrick, St. Paddy's Day, St. Patrick's Day, St. Patrick's Day recipes, St. Patrick's Day trivia, St. Patty's Day

St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland

March 17 marks Saint Patrick’s Day (aka St. Patrick’s Day, St. Paddy’s Day, St. Patty’s Day), a cultural and religious holiday which celebrates the life of Saint Patrick, who died on that date way back in the fifth century. Patrick has endured as the most commonly recognized patron saint of Ireland, credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century, and continues to have religious significance. It has also gradually become a secular celebration of Irish culture, where people line up for hours for the privilege of cramming into a pub to drink green beer or Guinness. I recall a childhood where vicious class mates threatened pinches if we didn’t wear green on that day. They weren’t even Irish. Continue reading »

The Downton Abbey Scandal: Pamuk & Turkish Delight

08 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Dessert, Season 1

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Abbey Cooks Entertain, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Cookbook, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey recipes, jelly desserts, Pamuked, Turkish Delight

Pamuk’s visit makes a lasting impression (ITV)

I love entertaining and grew up with horses so I was thrilled with the Fox hunt episode. But alas horse lovers, it is not the fox hunt which makes the episode memorable; rather it is the tragic consequences of a dangerous liasion. While the death of two heirs was tragic, the outcome of this episode results in secret pacts which sends ripple effects far and wide thoughout the land, as well as future story lines.
Continue reading »

Tea Tuesday: Have a Cup of Tea and Eat it, Too

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Season 1

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Abbey Cooks Entertain, afternoon tea, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Cookbook, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey launches in Canada on Vision TV, Downton Abbey Party Food, Downton Abbey recipes, fruit cake, healthy desserts, Ritz London, Ritz London Cup of Tea Cake

Celebration Afternoon Tea at Ritz London

It is Tea Tuesday yet again where we take time to care and share.

If you have been following along on Twitter (@downtoncooks), Facebook or here on the blog, you know by now that I celebrated my 50th birthday on Sunday. If you know me really well, you will understand that I stretch my birthdays into a month long excuse to reconnect with friends. Aside from a brilliant gathering of family and friends at our home, organized by my amazing husband, I celebrated virtually with many friends and well wishers. I can boast birthday greetings from Hugh Bonneville (@hughbon) who plays Lord Grantham, and dear Lesley Nicol (lesley_nicol) who plays Mrs. Patmore, Queen of the Downton kitchen. I can imagine actors being adept at tweeting with all those hours of hurrying up and waiting for their next scene. Continue reading »

The Oscar Effect: I’d like to thank God, my husband and fellow Downton Abbey fans…

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Season 1, Season 3, Titanic Menus

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Cabin Biscuits, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey casting news, Downton Abbey Food, Titanic recipes

always time to give thanks...and grab a snack.

Canadians are applauding Christopher Plummer’s win last night for Best Supporting Actor, dubbing it “The Canadian Oscar.” Today’s news is filled with clips of all the wonderful acceptance speeches. Yes, the Academy Awards always puts me in mind of the art of the thank you. Continue reading »

Downton Abbey: In the Beginning There was Titanic, the Entail…and pie

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Breakfast, Dessert, Season 1, Titanic Menus

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

afternoon tea, Breakfast, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey Party Food, Downton Abbey recipes, kedgeree recipe, pie crust

Welcome to Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is seen in over 100 countries around the world. This week BBC launched the series in South Africa (Sunday nights), and in Canada Vision TV is broadcasting the series on Wednesdays.

Many of us around the world have seen all episodes (there are two seasons), but it really is great to relive the series again, right from the beginning. There is so much which is missed the first time. Plus, it kills time while waiting for Season 3.

Tea Tuesday: Welcome South Africans with Those Little tea Sandwiches

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by downtonabbeycooks in *About the Show, Afternoon Tea, Season 1

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

afternoon tea, Cake decorating lessons, Coronation Chicken Sandwiches, Coronation sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey Party Food, Downton Abbey recipes, egg salad sandwiches, Jeanette's Cake, South Africa, Tea sandwiches

tea time at Downton (ITV)

Welcome to Downton. Howzit. BBC in South Africa premiered the first episode of Downton Abbey this past Sunday. Yesterday, we spoke about America’s sadness at the last viewing of the last of the produced episodes. Now imagine the cultivation for a whole new crop of Downton fans. They have that lovely accent which reminds you of the British. Lovely. Let’s have them all over for tea, shall we, and make them feel welcome. Continue reading »

Downton Abbey Cooks

~ Great food has a history

Category Archives: Season 1

Downton Abbey and Thanksgiving “Makeovers”

Learning to Cook French: From Mrs. Patmore to Julia Child

Tea Tuesday: Downton vs. Mad Men & Titanic Dairy Edition

Fellowes Night in Canada: Downton Garden Party vs. Titanic Haute Cuisine

Celebrating Downton’s Irish with Stew

The Downton Abbey Scandal: Pamuk & Turkish Delight

Tea Tuesday: Have a Cup of Tea and Eat it, Too

The Oscar Effect: I’d like to thank God, my husband and fellow Downton Abbey fans…

Downton Abbey: In the Beginning There was Titanic, the Entail…and pie

Tea Tuesday: Welcome South Africans with Those Little tea Sandwiches