Help - English "Stuff"

[Rosefriend]

Oh blimey - I do get into a pickle at times..

Due to the Olympics I am getting asked for "English recipes" especially things like scones etc etc...but also typical English meals!!

Can any of you give me typical English recipes (quick and easy) for meals, cakes (scones, biscuits etc) that I can make for the neighbours...

I have to use baking powder here as we don't have self-raising but I will work it out...

Any recipes gratefully accepted!!

RF

[Missredhead]

strawberries and shortbread....

Shortbread recipe

Ingredients
125g/4oz butter
55g/2oz caster sugar
180g/6oz plain flour

Preparation method
Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
Beat the butter and the sugar together until smooth.
Stir in the flour to get a smooth paste. Turn on to a work surface and gently roll out until the paste is 1cm/½in thick.
Cut into rounds or fingers and place onto a baking tray. Sprinkle with icing sugar and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.

[Jasmine]

Are you able to get clotted cream so you could do a cream tea RF?

[Rosefriend]

Clotted cream - mmmh - occasionally - only when one of the top supermarkets do an "English week" - otherwise I would have to go to Hamburg to an English shop there...bit far for just a tea methinks...good idea though!!

RF

[Jasmine]

Double cream would be ok - you might not get that either though

[Rosefriend]

Nope - not even single cream - we only have whipping cream, that has to do for everything !!

RF

[Jasmine]

This could be tricky.
I have a good shortbread recipe but it needs custard powder and I reckoned you wouldn't have that! Never mind - Missy's shortbread looks quick to make too!

[Rosefriend]

hah - think I have got some custard powder...maybe a bit out of date but I think I have some..

RF

[isabella]

Toad in the Hole ,Mash,Cabbage and Onion gravy Or bangers,mash and onion gravy

Cottage/Shepherds Pie,Peas and Carrots

[isabella]

Bakewell Tart

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3943/bakewell-tart

[isabella]

Sticky Gingerbread

uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/516045

[Rosefriend]

Lovely ideas, thanks so much...now to see if I can get all the ingredients..

RF

[carolann]

Just seen this thread RF so let me have a think then I'll be back later ;D

[Tig]

Cottage Pie is quick and easy, fish & chips is a British classic, and you can do mini-servings in a 'newspaper' cone I make a simple flour, sugar and water batter for the fish.

britishfood.about.com/od/recipeindex/r/cottpie.htm

Lots of other traditional recipes on that site

x Tig

[Rosefriend]

Good website Tig - I have been revelling in things...must make a list of things that I an cook with the ingredients I can get here...or try and substitute some things..

Saw your cheese scones - I could take the cheese out and have them plain or add some raisins, couldn't I...my home made strawberry jam and whipping cream !!??

RF

[Barbara]

I put glace cherries in scones RF, and then thay just need butter.

Cheese and onion pies with chips and peas .

shortcake is always nice with strawberry too.

[Jasmine]

Macaroni cheese Serves 2

200g macaroni
25g butter
25g plain flour
25g mature cheddar, grated
400ml whole milk
handful of cherry tomatoes (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to its highest setting, or if you have a grill in your oven turn that on high.

Put on a large pan of boiling, salted water and cook the macaroni according to packet instructions.

Meanwhile, melt the butter over a medium heat in a saucepan big enough to hold all the milk. When it has melted and is bubbling, stir in the flour. Leave to cook for a minute. Pour in a third of the milk and stir – you may need to switch to a whisk here to stop lumps forming. Then pour in the rest of the milk and cook for a few minutes, continuing to whisk, until the sauce thickens. Stir in two thirds of the cheese, season and turn off the heat. If the pasta is not ready yet, put a lid on the pan to keep the sauce warm.

When the pasta is cooked (it should be quite tender, not al dente), drain it and stir it through the sauce. Pile into a casserole dish and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Dot with the cherry tomatoes, if using, and give the top a final sprinkle of black pepper.

Put the macaroni cheese into the oven until the top is browned and crusty.

[Jasmine]

Mary Berry's Millionaire's Shortbread

Ingredients

For the base
225 g plain flour
100 g caster sugar
225 g butter
100 g semolina

For the topping
175 g butter
175 g caster sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
1 x 397 g can condensed milk
200 g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

Method
1. Set the oven to 160C/gas2. Lightly grease a 20cm x 33cm oblong/ Swiss roll tin.

2. Place all the ingredients for the base into a food processor and whizz together until they form a smooth dough (if preferred this can be done by hand in a bowl).

3. Press the mixture into the base of the Swiss roll tin and prick with a fork. Bake for about 30-40 minutes until golden and firm. Set aside to cool.

4. To make the topping, place the butter, sugar, syrup and condensed milk into a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the butter has melted.

5. Bubble the mixture gently for five to eight minutes, stirring all the time until thick and fudge-like. Pour over the cold shortbread in an even layer. Leave to cool.

6. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.

7. Pour the chocolate over the toffee and leave to set. Cut into small squares and store in an airtight tin.

[Rosefriend]

Oh marvellous - keep then coming...

Macaroni for us this week...told OH about the recipe and he says he wants to try it..

OH has asked about the cheese and onion pies Barbara - just add the amounts that you want ?? Have you a favourite recipe??

Shortbread and strawberries sounds lovely and your Millionaire's Shortbread Jasmine is a dream...also on the hips but I would love to do them for guests...

Has anyone got a recipe for an "all in one"...whatever...I have a hankering for an evening with the neighbours just having a one pot meal with fresh crusty bread etc...bottle of red.....

RF

[Jasmine]

It's not English RF but this is an easy pasta dish...

For 2.
2 handfuls of any sort of pasta
300g chicken
As many mushrooms as you like
200g jar of green pesto

Fry chicken and mushrooms.
Boil pasta.
Stir together once cooked and add pesto.

Serve with crusty bread, salad and lots of red wine! Some of that wine you gave me would be very nice!!!!

I guess you could use red pesto too!

[Rosefriend]

Lovely and easy and I bet it tastes good...

My neighbour loves the wine that I gave you - she can drink it in copious amounts...gave me the fault for her headache a few weeks ago !! I said that she obviously wasn't drinking enough of it if she still got headaches .....ouch !!

Thanks.
RF

[Barbara]

My favourite all in a casserole dish is, diced chicken, an onion, green beans, 2 or 3 potatoes diced, 6 carrots cut into strips, 2 tomatoes, 2 chicken stock cubes, coook for a couple of hours, and serve with crusty garlic bread.

[Rosefriend]

The list is getting longer - wonderful....you must all have your favourites...what are they??

RF

[Jasmine]

Pimms - do you get it over there RF?

[Rosefriend]

Yes we do - well we did...haven't looked for a long time..

RF

[carolann]

Mince and dumplings (yum yum)
Liver and Onions
Rock buns and Raspberry buns
these I love making comfort food to me.

[Barbara]

RF, I use an 8inch plate, and 1/2 lb of cheese and 2 onions for a pie.