About.com

Much Maligned Mutton - But Now it's Back

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:58:54 +0000

Poor old mutton (meat from sheep that are over two years old), the meat which kept Britain and Ireland going forever fell drastically out of favour. Mutton was once one of our staple foods but changing cooking methods as well as ways of farming affected the meat and it all but disappeared. Following a great campaign, kicked off by HRH The Prince of Wales, this great meat is back on our plates.

In preparation for St David's Day next week, here is a great recipe for long, slow cooked mutton braised with leeks (the Welsh emblem) and finished with a leek and mint sauce. Perfect for this time of year and if you are stuck finding mutton on sale there's a handy reference guide from the Mutton Renaissance to help you source it, at least here in the UK.

Leek Braised Mutton with Creamed Leeks and Mint Sauce Recipe
Shop for Mutton

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter.
Become a fan of British Food on Facebook.
Join me on Twitter

Photo © British Leeks}

It's Pancake Day - Get Flippin'

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:01:39 +0000

Pancakes for Pancake Day

I love Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday as it is also called and have ever since I was a child. Back then we loved pancakes served simply with a little lemon and sugar and I haven't really changed much since, it is still my favourite way, though a dollop of homemade jam comes a close second. This is my Pancake Recipe, it is similar to Yorkshire pudding batter just thinner. These are the pancakes traditionally eaten today but there's no reason to not ring the changes.

Scottish, Welsh and Irish pancakes tend to be more American style pancakes - all thick and fluffy, or how about the most famous pancake from Eastern Europe, the blini, a Swedish Raggmunk - a savory potato pancake, served with bacon and Lingonberries or a Finnish Pannukakku which is oven baked and served with whipped cream and fruit for a lovely dessert. You will find recipes for all of them on the Pancakes of the World page.

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter.
Become a fan of British Food on Facebook.
Join me on Twitter

Photo © Getty Images}

Meat Free Monday - Rosemary Shrager's Ratatouille Filled Pancakes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:01:14 +0000

This week's Meat Free Monday Recipe
in honour of Pancake Day tomorrow. The recipe comes from celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager's book,
Absolutely Foolproof Classic Home Cooking

Ratatouille Filled Pancake Recipe

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © Cristian Barnett}

Something for the Weekend - Beetroot and Chocolate Cake

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:14:25 +0000

I'm having something of a beetroot fest this week. Beetroot is unquestionably one of my favourite vegetables not least, because like rhubarb, it is so incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Right now I have a Beetroot and Chocolate cake baking in the oven, it smells divine. I found the recipe on the Love Beetroot website where you will never be stuck for inspirational ways to use beetroot.

Beetroot and Chocolate Cake Recipe

If you want to get an overview of just how adaptable beetroot is in the kitchen I have collated my most popular recipes in a Beetroot Recipe Collection
and a list of the 10 Fun Facts About Beetroot

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © Love Beetroot.}

Get Ready for National Chip Week

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:00:58 +0000

Next week is National Chip Week (that's chips as in deep-fried potatoes). We love chips in Britain is an indisputable fact: thick, thin, with vinegar or ketchup, we devour tons of them every year and work our way through half a billion meals containing homemade chips each year.

Debate will always rage over which is the best way to cook them. As a northern girl I was brought up on chips cooked in beef fat and they are still my favorites. The health police tell us that chips cooked in oil are 'better for us" but what about the taste I ask? Dripping and lard certainly add a certain something to the taste.

I like to triple cook my chips, some are happy to cook just once. Some par-cook, some don't. There are so many ways to create that perfect chip, what is yours. Do you have a secret for a perfect chip, if you do I'd love to hear about it.

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © Love Chips}

Happy Valentines Day and Bring on the Chocolate

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:37:03 +0000

Happy Valentines Day. Today is a day for romance and what better way to woo your significant other than with a romantic dinner for two. The dinner should not be complicated, after all, surely time is better spent with your loved one not sweating over the stove

Another important ingredient alongside the romance and red roses has to be chocolate. To make life easy how about this enticing and easy, Chocolate Mousse.

In fact, this recipe is so delicious, why save it just for Valentines Day?

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter.
Become a fan of British Food on Facebook.
Join me on Twitter

Photo © istock}

Meat Free Monday - Leek and Stilton Soup

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:54:10 +0000

As St David's Day approaches in preparation, this week's Meat Free Monday Recipe is a Leek and Stilton Soup.

Leek and Stilton Soup Recipe

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © Getty Images}

Friday Fish: Spicy Salmon Fishcake Recipe

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:29:12 +0000

Spicy Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe

Fish on Friday and first thought is fish and chips, of course, just look at most fish and chip shops on a Friday teatime and there will be long queues. Having just bought some salmon, I have spiced it up with a hot paste, fresh coriander and lovely sweet potato to replace the usual mashed potato. The result, a sweet yet spicy, light, fluffy fishcake. Topped off with a dollop of herb mayonnaise and a salad and it's done. Easy.

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter.
Become a fan of British Food on Facebook.
Join me on Twitter

Photo © Elaine Lemm}

Britain's Favourite Food - What is Yours?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:51:56 +0000

Love it or Hate it

There's been an interesting survey doing the rounds just now based on What We Adore About Britain. 60,000 Brits were asked what, to them, makes these isles so special and at number one... a bacon butty, not even the Queen or Big Ben. In fact food and drink featured 14 times in the top 50 with all the stalwarts you would expect; Yorkshire Puddings, Cornish Pasties, Fish and Chips et al.

With this year being a really special one for us (London Olympics, Queen's Jubilee etc) we are expecting huge visitor numbers all looking for the best of British Food. So I am on the hunt for what you think are the Top 50 British Foods and Drinks. These foods can be any dish: a starter, main course, or a great British pudding. A condiment, or iconic brand, be part of our history, heritage or culture, may not even be British in origin but is now synonymous with these shores (curry springs to mind). Drinks can be hot, cold, alcoholic or not. It's up to you.

You can let me know by filling out the Reader Survey, post a comment below, send a Tweet to @britishfood or post of my FaceBook page and I will collate them together. Watch this space.

Am pondering mine and thinking it may well have to be a Yorkshire Pudding.

What is Your Favourite British Food or Drink Survey
What We Love About Britain - Top 50 List
_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter.
Become a fan of British Food on Facebook.
Join me on Twitter

Photo © Unilever}

Brrr...It's Cold Outside - Stew and Dumplings for Dinner

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:37:44 +0000

Outside it is cold, hovering at around minus 9C with snow forecast for later in the day but inside it is warm, because in the oven, the perfect comfort food for these cold conditions, Beef Stew and Dumplings.

There is no better British food than a bowl of hearty Beef Stew to cheer the spirits. It may not be the most fashionable of dishes and many will balk at the use of suet in these health conscious times but the dish is warm and filling and is just what is needed at this time of year (we can eat salad in the summer).

This dish always brings a smile to my family when I serve it for dinner and there are never any leftovers. Enough said.

Beef Stew and Dumplings Recipe

_{Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter.
Become a fan of British Food on Facebook.
Join me on Twitter

Photo © RFB Photography}