"The servants' hall table at Downton is usually laden with batter puddings, potatoes, stews, and vegetables that are cheap and filling. Rather than being carefully molded and garnished, the dishes are typically served in the vessel they were cooked in, and while some of them take … [Read more...] about Downton’s Toad-in-the-Hole
Meal
Boozy Hot Guy Fawkes Punch
Guy Fawkes Day, aka Bonfire Night, is celebrated across the United Kingdom marking the failed attempt of Guy Fawkes to blow up the English Parliament on November 5, 1605. Bonfires were set alight on that night when the plot was revealed, celebrating the safety of King James I and … [Read more...] about Boozy Hot Guy Fawkes Punch
Comforting Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped Potatoes (aka Dauphinoise Potatoes as they are known in the UK) is versatile comfort food for colder seasons. It can be made ahead, served as a side or main course. The potatoes are layered with a creamy, cheesy sauce with a crunch on top. No need to peel the potatoes, … [Read more...] about Comforting Scalloped Potatoes
The Queen’s Croque Monsieur
Croque Monsieur, "Crisp Mister" is a hot ham and cheese sandwich but it sounds so much tastier with a french twist. The earliest written reference is traced to Proust' novel À la recherche du temps perdu (In search of lost time) in 1918. However, Croque Monsieur started to … [Read more...] about The Queen’s Croque Monsieur
Downton’s Macaroni with Soufflé Top
This recipe appears in the new Official Downton Abbey Cookbook, which I have adapted to make it slightly cheesier and to allow for the soufflé to do its thing. I love the crusty cheesy edges. Did you know that Macaroni cheese was very popular in Britain in the 1800s? Settlers … [Read more...] about Downton’s Macaroni with Soufflé Top