The Website for People Who Love Britain - Anglophiles
Last year, we had our own British Christmas complete with crackers, wassail, and Christmas pudding. I was so excited! I schemed, planned, and surfed the net for the just the right combo of food and fun. But alas, the wassail was ho-hum, no one was interested in the games after too much turkey and pumpkin pie, and no matter how much brandy I threw … [Read more...]
Challiss of Uppham is a sweeping novel of the Challiss family, a Victorian upper-class family struggling with the economic downturn that occurred in the 1830s. Continuing the saga found in J.A. Noble’s book The Lime Walk, the Challiss family faces hardships and changes all while trying to maintain their proper place in Norfolk society. Family … [Read more...]
Americans love to joke about that Christmas fruitcake that's been going around the world, or the one that holds up the door, or…well, you know. I know because I used to be one of those fruitcake-disdainers but, since I married a Brit, I've discovered that the problem is not fruitcake per se but the way we're used to seeing it in America: … [Read more...]
I'm the first to admit that it is hard to find an English main course recipe that doesn't start with "take half a pound of lard..." Nothing wrong with that of course, but in summer, we all crave lighter fare, even this true-blue Brit! So let's turn to the exotic East, the lazy days of the Raj and a lovely Goan-inspired shrimp dish with coconut … [Read more...]
Here's the perfect English drink for the long hot summer in Washington! In fact, wherever you are, a Pimms Cup will help you endure the heat with more aplomb and less pique. It's tall, languid, mildly boozy, and quite refreshing. Pimm's Cup is madly English and quite the upper-crust tipple. Apparently the Queen sips a few Pimms at Royal Ascot, … [Read more...]
(This one's by Prodigal Wife, the baker in our household) Before I met the old Prodigal Tourist, I assumed, as other Americans probably do, that Madeira Cake had Madeira in the batter, or perhaps that the sweet wine might be "fed" to the cake after it is baked, much like one adds brandy to a traditional fruitcake. In fact, this dessert is really … [Read more...]
Another really simple dish, but I made these stuffed mushrooms last weekend and everyone loved them, so here they are. You will need a bag of spinach, half pound box of medium to large size mushrooms, three or four rashers of bacon, breadcrumbs mixed with a spoonful of parmesan (parmesan optional for Brit purists), a spring onion or two, a few … [Read more...]
The weather turned unusually warm last week and my thoughts turned to languid summers and strawberries and cream and... Eton Mess! The dish was invented by the boys attending Eton College-that bastion of privilege in the lovely village of the same name-and usually served up on parents day or at prize-giving ceremonies. Why, you may ask, is a … [Read more...]
Here's a refreshing, very simple starter to add to your repertoire. The Stilton cheese make this a very proper English dish. This recipe is enough for at least four servings, with a half a pear per guest. Of course, you might like this so much you'll need a whole pear! You need two ounces of Stilton and the same amount of cream cheese. Two ripe … [Read more...]
If you're in the New York area and you've read the brilliant book A Yank Back to England - then this will interest you greatly. They've got a couple promotional events going on. Here are the details: A YANK BACK TO ENGLAND—NEW YORK EVENTS! MARCH 26 & 28 Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Triangle (Broadway & 66) 7:30 PM Friday, … [Read more...]
Stuck with leftover St. Patrick's Day cabbage and spud? Here's my home version of another cornerstone of English cuisine: Bubble and Squeak. So easy, not a real recipe really. I cook up some bacon and fry up the chopped, leftover spuds and greens in the rendered fat. I let everything brown for a few minutes without touching, then stir up and brown … [Read more...]
Two pigs...or two recipes using the same cut of meat--pork loin, one of my favorites. Surprisingly, while raiding the prodigal larder I discover we had some leftover mincemeat we made last Christmas; not enough for a batch of tarts but just enough for this....a stuffing for pork loin. And it worked rather well. By the way, both recipes ensure the … [Read more...]
Shepherd's Pie is basically minced (ground) meat covered and sealed with a potato lid that keeps it hot. That's probably why this dish is a perennial favorite in British pubs: it can be made in advance and kept warm for hours, and it's quite cheap and easy to make. Mind you, Shepherd's Pie in pubs is often horrid, with gummy mash and a thin … [Read more...]
I know, I know, it's not healthiest way to start your day, but my oh my, English breakfast is delicious. Also, the feeling of well being a complete English breakfast permeates is something to behold. And, really, if you just had this feast every few months or so, I don't think you'll come to much harm. Now, if you're going to do it, go for it! The … [Read more...]
This delicious dish, as you can imagine, has nothing to do with greenish amphibians. Toad in the Hole is a classic of English cookery, in which banger-like sausages are set and baked within a large Yorkshire pudding (see recipe a few posts back). Kate and I like our Toad with baked beans. If you're feeling healthy have yours with a salad. So … [Read more...]
Yes, I made a turkey this week, complete with stuffing, gravy, mash, and about a dozen side dishes. But I also made the Prodigal Christmas pudding-and you should make yours now too. It gets better and better until it's perfect for the big day! A few things to bear in mind when attempting to make this fabulous confection. One: a homemade pud is … [Read more...]
Our lovely British Recipe and food blogger - Denis Lipman - has his book coming out in the next few weeks. To mark it - he's made a lovely youtube video of himself reading the first chapter in his book - A Yank Back To England. After watching this - I can safely say that I can't wait to read his book! Back to Dagenham, England … [Read more...]
Apparently, Yorkshire puddings first came about, not surprisingly, in Yorkshire, in Victorian times when meat was scarce and people were poor. Puds were served as a first course to fill people up. Today, things are a little better. And nothing is better than a slice of rare beef with a Yorkshire pud. Yum, yum! What a combination. Here's a … [Read more...]
For years cruel, jealous folk-a.k.a., foreigners-have spread the vicious rumor that we Brits put sauce on everything to cover up the taste of our appalling cooking. Well. Be that as it may, don't let all those fussy nay-sayers put you off trying the odd jar or two of Brit relishes, or making the odd English sauce. Admittedly, our pickles and … [Read more...]
Sadly the reputation for cauliflower cheese has waned over the years and been relegated to the realm of ghastly pub food. Even now, in many hostelries throughout the land, this maligned dish can usually be found rubbing shoulders with a tray of baked beans, shepherd's pie, and bangers, held under the ubiquitous glass coffin atop the bar near the … [Read more...]
We have a wonderful variety of seafood and meats here in the States. For instance, beef here is so good, I used to pack a rib roast and bring it to Blighty to share with my folks. They just loved it! That being said, I must confess, I do miss English or Welsh lamb. Sadly, Americans are not big lamb eaters. And no wonder. Most American lamb is … [Read more...]
I got some great news for our intrepid British Recipe blogger - Denis from A Prodigal Tourist. As most of you know, Denis has a brilliant book coming out in the next few months that I can't wait to read. The book is about: Denis Lipman left London's East End for Washington, DC more than 20 years ago, but made an annual pilgrimage year after year … [Read more...]
Here is a wonderful nibble for a special dinner party, or it could be used as an elegant starter. This is a great dish for company because you can easily make it a day before you need it. You need 8 oz. of filleted herring-sold as kipper fillets, or smoked trout or haddock, or white fish, or smoked eel if you can find it. Being English, I have a … [Read more...]
Being a Brit, I've always had a fondness for watercress sandwiches, the kind one has for tea with the crusts cut off, but I've always wanted to take their sophisticated, contrasting flavors from the tea table to the dinner table. Here, then, is my take on an old favorite, now transformed into an elegant cold soup for a lovely summertime lunch or … [Read more...]
If you are traveling to Britain and want to go camping, you will probably want to make some s'mores. After all, what is a camping trip without them? On my recent camping trip I of course had to pack the necessary supplies for making s'mores over the campfire. Upon entering the biscuit aisle of the supermarket and scouring up and down I was faced … [Read more...]
Indian food is as English as bangers and mash, one of the best vestiges of the British Raj. There's nothing quite like the scent of basmati rice spiked with cloves and silky threads of saffron perfuming the air. But, much to my Mum's chagrin, sometimes I deviate from pukkah curry and sample other exotic Indian dishes. And sometimes I even prepare … [Read more...]
My American family never quite took to the cooling charms of Summer Pudding, that quintessential English dessert. They said it was too bready, too pudding-like, and just a bit too splodgy. And I really cannot blame them: apart from fresh fruit, the standard recipe is mostly day-old white bread and gelatin. So here is a lighter version of this … [Read more...]
Editor's Note: This is the first in an ongoing series of articles featuring classic British recipes. Perfect for the Anglophiles out there who like to cook. Also, check out the author's The Prodigal Tourist blog here. A gentle nod to Grantchester and Rupert Brooke, but when it comes to England and afternoon tea, the answer is, most decidedly, … [Read more...]
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia is now our full time jobs and we spend our time working on the site and planning our yearly trips to Britain. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
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