This super moist lemon cake became famous after it impressed Humphrey Bogart back in the day. It comes from Mamma Agata, whose family started an amazing cooking school, situated on the Amalfi coast. It is on my bucket list to travel there one day. Mamma Agata's Famous Lemon … [Read more...] about Mamma Agata’s Famous Lemon Cake
Dining Upstairs or Down
Easy Chicken Escalope in Mushroom Sauce
"Escalope" is a French term that refers to any boneless meat which has been pounded by a mallet before cooking. It stretches your food budget and speeds the cooking process and when done correctly is wonderfully tender and juicy. I often make this an easy to put together dish … [Read more...] about Easy Chicken Escalope in Mushroom Sauce
Downton’s Chocolate Florentines
Despite the seemingly eponymous name, not much is known about these elegant treats except that Florentines do not hail from Florence. Although their origin is a mystery, the thin, crisp, and delicate nature of the caramelized almond delicacies suggests both French pastry … [Read more...] about Downton’s Chocolate Florentines
Downton’s Battenburg Cake
Also known as domino cake or church window cake, this almond flavoured checkboard style confection was named in honor of the 1884 marriage of Queen Victoria's granddaughter Victoria to Prince Louis of Battenburg. Because of anti-German sentiment in Britain in World War 1, the … [Read more...] about Downton’s Battenburg Cake
Downton’s Madeleines
These seashell-shaped French tea cakes were a customary addition to the afternoon tea tray at Downton and were kept in biscuit jars by the beds of Ladies Mary, Edith and Sybil for late-night snacking. They were also a favourite of Matthew, whose middle-class upbringing showed … [Read more...] about Downton’s Madeleines
