Traditionally this is the weekend that most Canadians and Scots look forward to: Victoria Day, celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria. She was born on May 24, 1819. She reigned for 63 years. May 24th marks her official birthday, but the holiday falls on the last Monday … [Read more...] about Scots and Canadians Ease into Summer with Victoria Day Holiday
food history
Add Downton Touches to Your Thanksgiving Table
Across America, many seasoned cooks have already finalized their Thanksgiving dinner menus and double-checked their order for a fresh turkey. Less experienced cooks are summoning up the courage to take on their first big meal, excited about starting new family traditions of … [Read more...] about Add Downton Touches to Your Thanksgiving Table
Pumpkin Spices Stimulate our Delicate Downton Senses
You know Fall is here when pumpkins line the outside of your grocer, huge displays of canned pumpkins appear out of nowhere, and you find yourself craving pumpkin-spiced treats. Pumpkin appears on every coffee shop menu: from pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, to pumpkin muffins and … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Spices Stimulate our Delicate Downton Senses
Cooking Lesson: Time to Perfect Your Pumpkin Pie
Autumn is in the air, and so are those lovely fragrant pumpkin spices. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, there is still time to practice to help you perfect your holiday pie. While we associate pumpkin pie with American cuisine, recipes for pumpkin pie appeared as early as … [Read more...] about Cooking Lesson: Time to Perfect Your Pumpkin Pie
Time to Enjoy Summer’s Bounty
Summer is my favourite time of year: not only is it a welcome change from a long cold winter, but is the time when gardeners can see the efforts from their Spring plantings. Grand country homes like Downton Abbey had vast kitchen gardens to feed family and staff, as a quick … [Read more...] about Time to Enjoy Summer’s Bounty