Easter, not only desserts and cakes

If we think over food and drink at Easter in Spain, there are dishes such as "potaje", all kinds of fish, but especially cod and so on.

Are there main courses in Britain at Easter? Yes, of course.

The traditional roast lamb dinner that’s eaten on Easter Sunday is adopted from the lamb sacrificed at Jewish Passover and for Christians it came to signify Christ's death on the cross. Of course most Britons aren't Catholics, but all the same, it is traditional all over the country.

There are lots of websites where you can find recipes to prepare it. It's not really different from the one in Spanish cookery. Try and explain the difference.

Ir a: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roast-Leg-of-Lamb-with-Rosemary/Detail.aspx

Ir a: http://southernfood.about.com/od/lambroasts/Lamb_Roast_Recipes_Leg_of_Lamb_and_Lamb_Shoulder_Recipes.htm

The Simnel Cake- at Easter; for Mothers, too.

THE SIMNEL CAKE

In the late 17th century, girls brought a rich fruit cake called simnel cake home to their mothers on Easter Sunday. The cake was enriched with marzipan and decorated with 11 marzipan balls representing the 12 apostles minus Judas, who betrayed Jesus at the Last Supper.

The Simnel Cake signifies the end of Lent, a period of fasting and repentance. They are 40 days which come before Easter. It culminates in a feast of seasonal and symbolic foods. The Simnel Cake is rich with fruits, spices and marzipan, all forbidden during the period of Lent.

But, originally the Simnel Cake was made on Mother's Day (Mothering Sunday) in the days when girls in service (maids and cooks) were given the day off to visit their mothers. So this cake is used for both festivities and with different meanings. On both, it's tasty.

Easter Bonnet Parade; one of my first memories when living in London

If we live for a while with a British family, we'll discover that they are funny people, with some peculiar traditions. You'll love it because learning a language is also taking part into their habits, traditions and parties and eating and drinking what they do. As we say, "a donde quiera que fueres, haz lo que vieres".Don't try to eat "Spanish tortilla" or keep your own habits and traditions, but learn theirs.

My first visit to London was at Easter, lots of years ago. My British landlady acted with me as my "British granma" and I accompanied her to excursions, family parties and so on. So I went to her elderly people club, a Catholic club formed by the parish father. They celebrated the Easter Bonnet Parade: a funny party as they didn't have that sense of "this is ridiculous" that most Spaniards feel when doing something quite peculiar, or simply different.

What did they do and prepare? First of all they spent the previous days at home designing and making the biggest and most surprising hats. They had to include Easter eggs, little chickens, hens, chocolate, ... everything that they thought related to the topic. The day of the meeting in the club, they walked along as in the "Fashion Week" wearing their designs to choose the best one; of course, according to the criteria of "big, funny, peculiar, strange, ..."

Why is this related to "Food and Drink"? This was a party, so when they had chosen the First Prize, they were ready for an Afternoon Too, including cakes, Hot Cross Buns, Simnel Cakes, hot chocolate, tea and a lovely chat with the most marvellous old ladies I can remember. It was shocking while they weren't the old widows in black that I have seen in Spain many times.

But it is celebrated not only by old ladies. Festivities and traditions are learnt from the very beginning. You watch your relatives and continue these traditions and pass them to next generations. For that reason, these two boys have prepared their bonnets and are delighted to be photographed.
It was also taken to America, as many otherBritish traditions, so you can also find information in blogs, newspapers, and so on about the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York.Now, begin to think about your bonnet, prepare your cake for the party according to the ideas shown in other entries and enjoy with your friends.

See you next year on St. Patrick's Day! (19th March, 2012)

"Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's. Put on your Green and join us for Drinks!".

Somebody said it and this may be a great opportunity to continue learning "other aspects" of English language and culture: FESTIVITIES and SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

There is always a moment to feel oneself like an Irish. This is it, I think. So, go ahead! Dress yourself up with something green (or you'll get pinch)! Look for the nearest Irish Pub! (Be sure there is one in your neighbourhood). Ask for a Guiness if you are over 18 (a coke if you are younger)! And make friends with those lovely people, the Irish!
When you finish your "Pub Crawl", perhaps is the moment for relatives and close friends at home. Try some lovely games and activities for kids and youngsters, write a limerick and sing with your best Irish accent. Finish cooking a typical Irish dinner to celebrate the day, but... that's another chapter.
Enjoy yourselves and have a lovely day!

Christmas Time again!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer: Refrain
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here: Refrain
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Do you remember this traditional Christmas carol?

I suppose everybody knows it. You all have listened to it very often. Perhaps you have even sung it every year. It is also possible that you are really fed up with it as you have listened and listened and listened to it every year.

But what perhaps you don't know is the connection between this Christmas Carol and the topic of this blog: "Food and Drink...".

Well, I consider it's time for you to get an idea:

The FIGGY PUDDING being considered as a typical British habit and as a new recipe for you to practice.

I must admit that it isn't my favourite British food. I haven't tasted it very often either. Although I'm interested in all aspects of British culture, I prefer our typical Spanish "polvorones" and "mazapanes". But, here you are. If you want to cook and taste it, try the following instructions and make any comment about its ingredients, the level of difficulty, if you consider it is tasty or any comparison with any other Christmas cake you like.

Go ahead, watch the video and follow the instructions carefully and share your information with all of us.

OTHER COOKERY WEBSITES:

http://homecooking.about.com/od/dessertrecipes/r/bldes108.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8w3kVpGjhA

http://thefoody.com/pudding/figgypudding.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-figgy-pudding.htm (including information for Diabetics and people on a diet)

Easter in Great Britain

When we think about something special at Easter in Spain, we usually think of Easter eggs (like the one in the photo to the right). Of course, there are "torrijas" all over the country. There are also lots of different cakes, sweeties and so on, according to the place where you spend your Easter holidays.


What about Great Britain and Ireland? What's the meaning of Easter for Britons? Remember they are not a Catholic, but an Anglican country. Even the name is from Anglo-Saxon origin, a goddess of fertility and springtime.


Easter in Britain and Ireland is similar throughout all four countries and, as in Spain, involves traditional cooking and baking with the highlight of the weekend of festivities involving copious amounts of chocolate eggs. Have you ever thought that Spaniards and Britons shared customs and traditions?


The two important cakes at Easter are the Simnel Cake and Hot Cross Buns. They were my first contact with Easter traditions in Britain during my first stay with my "British family" at Alice's. I must say that they were a Catholic family, a minority in London.


Hot Cross Buns are marked with a cross and were eaten by the Saxons to honor their goddess Eostre - it is thought the bun represented the moon and the cross the moon's quarters. To Christians, the cross symbolizes the crucifixion and traditionally eaten warm with butter on Good Friday (on the photo on the right).


The Simnel Cake signifies the end of Lent but as it was originally made on Mothering Sunday, I consider it deserves an entry apart.


Anything else important about Easter? Any other memories to share with you? Yes. It's nothing to do with food and drink, but all the same, you must know that British people share some traditions, as chocolate eggs and that they are not all so shy and reserved and you may think of them. "Easter Bonnet Parade" is a good example.

Ir a: http://www.visitbritain.co.uk/things-to-see-and-do/interests/food-drink/features/easter-food-traditions.aspx (about all kinds of traditions)

Ir a: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/ (news about 2009 Easter)

What can I cook on St. Patrick's Day?

From the very beginning of the day, this must be Irish. So let's start with an Irish Breakfast, hearty and simple as its people, which consists of tea and scones and a fine word or two from a poem by Yeats or the lyric prose of Joyce.




Ir a: http://www.csun.edu/~hceng029/yeats/collectedpoems.html
Ir a: http://www.poemhunter.com/william-butler-yeats/
Ir a: http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/William_Butler.htm
Ir a: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeats (biography)
Ir a: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1923/yeats-bio.html (Official Nobelprize Website)
Ir a: http://www.online-literature.com/yeats/ (also for other authors)

Beef recipes for St. Patrick's Day

There are many options if you want to cook beef, but a simple and tasty one like this will make easier to enjoy the day.

That is why I've chosen this one. The ingredients are also really "Irish" (beef and Guinness) and this is another important reason. But of course, you can choose any other one you like, according to your tastes, time to cook and ability.

So go ahead!

Irish Beef Stew Recipe

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/4 pounds well-marbled chuck beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces (NOT extra-lean)
6 large garlic cloves, minced
6 cups beef stock or canned beef broth
I cup of Guinness beer
1 cup of fine red wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups)
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled carrots
Salt and Pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
(It's up to you the possibility of changing the quantities of the spices or not to use some of them if you don't like them; but remember the flavour will change)

Method
1 Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add beef stock, Guinness, red wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

2 While the meat and stock is simmering, melt butter in another large pot over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion and carrots. Sauté vegetables until golden, about 20 minutes. Set aside until the beef stew in step one has simmered for one hour.

3 Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. Transfer stew to serving bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Salt and pepper to taste. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)
Serves 4 to 6.



I consider this is a recipe very similar to some Spanish stews (beef, lamb,...) and it is easier to begin with a similar taste. Is there anything similar in your country?

Ir a http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/st-patricks-day
Ir a: http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/irishbeefstew_73826.shtml (bbc)
Ir a: http://http://blogchef.net/irish-beef-stew-recipe/ (good photos, free recipes, interesting comments)

British traditional breakfast

What is the traditional English breakfast?

The traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms. Even though not many people will eat this for breakfast today, it is always served in hotels and guest houses around Britain.

The traditional English breakfast is called the 'Full English' and sometimes referred to as 'The Full English Fry-up'. But depending on where it is served, it is called bacon and eggs, a fry, a fry up, The Great British breakfast, a full English breakfast, a full Irish breakfast, a full Scottish breakfast, a full Welsh breakfast or an Ulster fry. The complement of the breakfast varies depending on the location and which of these descriptions is used.

But Full English Breakfast has seen its last dawn, market researchers have announced.
Fry-up, as it was affectionately known to those who found calorific comfort in its fried bacon, sausage, mushroom, eggs and tomato - could not survive in the modern world.
According to Datamonitor, notoriously unhealthy Fry-up was killed by a flurry of activity. Britons are increasingly busy in the mornings and Full English was just too "time consuming to prepare".

There are even lots of news of different kinds of newspapers, broadcasters or magazines on science and health which include different articles about the health problems caused by too much fat and so on.

But what would be a visit to London or any other British place without tasting, at least for once in a lifetime, a Fry-up? Do it! Then compare ingredients, quantities, flavours, recipes, ... and decide if you like it or not.

Ir a: http://http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/food/meals.htm

Ir a: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_breakfast

The secrets of TEA

Where does it come? How to prepare it? How did it arrive in the UK? Spend a little time to get enough information to learn its qualities and advantages, how to prepare a cup of tea in a proper way and... Relax yourself with a nice typical British cup of tea (with milk, of course)!

Tea existence of tea dates back to 5000 years and is considered to be one of the most preferred beverages all over the world even today. Whether it is consumed hot or cold, tea is considered to be the second most consumed beverage, after water.

Tea with its rich history is still regarded as a high quality and refreshing beverage, inspite of the fact that a lot of new, innovative hot and cold beverages have now flooded the department stores, groceries etc. The delicious taste, soothing aroma, health benefits and often calming effect may be the reason for people taking a liking for this beverage all over the world.

Researches have found out through their various studies, that consumption of tea varieties and tea extracts have given relief to many an ailing. This feature of tea has attracted many researchers, medical professionals, scientists and even health conscious people, who are all seeking wellness from natural products, to suggest and acknowledge that consumption of tea has a lot of health benefits.

With these high recommendations and potentiality for improvement of health, there is a huge demand for tea arising all over the world. . To cater to the rising demands, tea manufacturers all over the world have started producing tea in various varieties, forms, flavors and specialty tea products, to give the consumer greater choices of tea and its products. Due to the increase in production, tea lovers these days are getting to taste new and more alternatives of tea.

All the varieties of teas available originate from the same evergreen plant, the Camellia Sinensis. But around three thousand varieties of the bushes of these plants are grown in the mountain ranges all over the world. The different varieties in harvesting and processing procedures done on the dried tea leaves and buds, resulted in developing various varieties of tea. Many of the world’s best teas are grown in large plantations, also referred as tea estates or gardens. The Camellia sinensis plant, although has a high growth, is normally cut to under three feet in size for harvesting tea. Regular pruning of these plants results in thick growth and makes plucking of the tea leaves easier and more efficient. The major varieties of tea are the black tea, oolong tea, green tea and white tea.

Black tea commonly referred as red tea in China, Japan and India, is the most popular among the varieties of teas that is easily available al over the world. Black tea has deep red color and comes in wide range of flavors and tastes from flowery and fruity to spicy and nutty. The process of deriving black tea is a tedious one. After picking the leaves, they are exposed to air for about 10 to 24 hours, by spreading it out to let the water in it to evaporate. The leaves exposed to sunlight curls and begin to dry. After complete drying of the leaves, they are rolled into balls and then cooled. When this process is taking place, the leaves creates a chemical change wherein the juices of the leaves emerge and the leaves start to darken. After this oxidation process, the leaves are finally heated to stop the process of oxidation and seal the flavor and aroma in them.

Ir a: http://teaonesite.com/

An expert and his perfect cup of brewed tea

We can learn how to make a cup of tea using basic vocabulary and instructions for our elementary or pre-intermediate students. The intermediate can use a more elaborated video, including more complex explanations and more specific vocabulary. The upper intermediate students dare to follow the instructions of an expert.



And what can you do if you are fond of cooking? First, of course, you should know the previous steps. Secondly, get precise information from an expert on tea leaves and brewing tea. If you follow his instructions, you'll feel as the Queen in Buckingham Palace when drinking it.