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
Afternoon Tea
Downton’s English Cream Scones
Scones have been essential to the British teatime tradition since the mid-nineteenth century when, according to legend, Anna, the fashionable Duchess of Bedford ordered her servants to sneak the small cakes and hot tea into her room for an afternoon snack. In time, she began … [Read more...] about Downton’s English Cream Scones
Awesome Healthy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
This is a great use of holiday leftovers, as the secret ingredient for these cupcakes to make them dense and healthier is sweet potato. I love the idea of cupcakes but not a fan of the 75% icing and 25% light cake. These are dense and satisfying cupcakes, which Lord D has … [Read more...] about Awesome Healthy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
The Wellesley Fudge Cake Recipe Makes Great Cupcakes
This recipe from Gourmet Magazine was adapted from a rich chocolate cake first served in the late 1890s at the Wellesley Tea Room, a genteel establishment catering to students at the well-known Massachusetts women's college. It makes a lovely rich cake which I like to make as … [Read more...] about The Wellesley Fudge Cake Recipe Makes Great Cupcakes
Downton’s Orange Layer Cake: A Real 1887 Recipe with a Citrus Kick
Downton's Orange Layer Cake is a two-layer citrus cake filled with orange marmalade, iced in a simple lemon icing, and finished with candied orange and lemon peel. It's the recipe featured in the Official Downton Abbey Cookbook, and the original goes back to 1887. If you want a … [Read more...] about Downton’s Orange Layer Cake: A Real 1887 Recipe with a Citrus Kick
