Cora, Countess of Grantham, grew up in Cincinnati in the 1870s and 80s. Her family was new money, the kind Gilded Age America minted by the trainload. By the time she married into the Crawley family in 1890, she'd almost certainly grown up drinking iced tea. She'd also have known … [Read more...] about The Drink Cora Grew Up On, and Never Served at Downton
Kentucky Derby
Claret Cup: The Victorian Drink for People Who Knew Better Than to Rush
Champagne cup was a gesture. Claret cup was a commitment. It was the drink of long summer afternoons, served cold and refilled without ceremony. If a champagne cup was what you served when you wanted to impress, a claret cup was what you served when you wanted your guests to … [Read more...] about Claret Cup: The Victorian Drink for People Who Knew Better Than to Rush
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
Beaten Biscuits: The Southern Staple That Almost Disappeared
Before baking powder, there was muscle. Beaten biscuits are what Southern cooks made when they needed a biscuit that lasted for days, and they are worth every minute of effort. Beaten biscuits are not like any biscuit you have made before. They are dense, pale, and crisp. They … [Read more...] about Beaten Biscuits: The Southern Staple That Almost Disappeared
The Timeless Appeal of Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs, the classic crowd-pleasing appetizer, never fail to satisfy taste buds with their creamy and tangy goodness. This timeless dish starts with perfectly hard-boiled eggs, then halved, and their yolks expertly mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, and a hint of paprika for a … [Read more...] about The Timeless Appeal of Deviled Eggs
