Raisin pie doesn't get the credit it deserves. It has no glamorous origin story, no famous patron who made it fashionable. What it has is staying power. This pie shows up in medieval English kitchens, in the servants' hall at grand Edwardian country houses, and in the farmhouses … [Read more...] about The Humble Raisin Pie: A History That Spans Continents and Centuries
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Champagne Cup: The Drink That Kept Edwardian Parties Going All Afternoon
Before the cocktail hour, there was the cup. A jug of champagne, cupped on a warm afternoon, was as essential to Edwardian entertaining as the guest list. If you have ever wondered what the guests at a Downton Abbey garden party were drinking while they stood on the lawn making … [Read more...] about Champagne Cup: The Drink That Kept Edwardian Parties Going All Afternoon
Traditional British Pancakes are Thin and Delicate
There's a reason British pancakes have remained unchanged for centuries—they're perfect as they are. Thin, delicate, and slightly crispy at the edges, these are nothing like the thick, fluffy American pancakes you might be picturing. Think closer to French crêpes, but with a … [Read more...] about Traditional British Pancakes are Thin and Delicate
Old-Fashioned Farmhouse Chicken Stew (A Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe)
Long before chefs started talking about "nose-to-tail" eating, Pennsylvania German cooks were quietly practicing it with whatever the land provided—including the humble groundhog. In 19th- and early 20th-century Pennsylvania Dutch communities, Groundhog Day wasn't just a weather … [Read more...] about Old-Fashioned Farmhouse Chicken Stew (A Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe)
Mrs. Patmore’s Yorkshire Pudding: The Downton Abbey Kitchen Classic
No roast beef dinner at Downton Abbey would be complete without Yorkshire pudding rising golden and magnificent from the Aga. In Mrs. Patmore's kitchen, these crispy, hollow puffs were essential to every Sunday luncheon served in the dining room, and likely caused Daisy more than … [Read more...] about Mrs. Patmore’s Yorkshire Pudding: The Downton Abbey Kitchen Classic
