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The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook

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Featuring stunning photographs of dishes and the beloved series, plus notes on customs of the time, quotes from characters, and descriptions of scenes, this unique cookbook provides vivid context for the dishes and brings the show to life. Savor the rich traditions and historic flavors of Downton Abbey for contemporary palettes with Cornish Pasties, Jam and Custard Tarts, and more! An Official Companion to the Downton Abbey Films and TV Series: An exclusive inside look at the intricate and glamorous costuming of the popular PBS series, with complete historical detail and beautiful imagery.

But aside from the recipes & the ingredients that I scoured as I devoured this book's words & awesome photos, this cookbook provided a richness of info about old English Christmas traditions as well. I love reading about different holiday traditions of all kinds, worldwide, but the food-related stuff is a "biggie" for me. I have "tagged" 21 recipes in this as possibilities for adding to my soon-to-be-cooked or to-be-baked or even a to-be-concocted list in the near, or maybe even farther into the future. I'm not likely to do a complete Old English Christmas any time soon, if ever, but I "starred" (as in "*") a few recipes for earlier creation in our kitchen . For instance, the author cites Dorothy Hartley's Food in England re her mentions of "Epiphany Tart" in relation to its 6-pointed star design with a dozen different jams, although Hartley did not provide a recipe in her writing. I want to try the Downton writer's version of that tart, perhaps for the real Epiphany holiday on January 6th (in honor, actually, of the Italian legend of La Befana!)Added benefit is the historical context — adding extra facts to the DA story shows how much effort went into the series to be historically appropriate.

The "Lunch and Supper" chapter was centered on recipes for the midday meal. Items like "Sardine Salad"(a lovely preparation), "Lobster Cutlets", "Ham with Red Wine and Almonds", "Cornish Pasties"(traditional meat pies), "Eggs A La St James" and "Vegetable Curry" A history of the midday meal as it is observed in England and has included as well as "Notes' for each recipe discussing how the dish is singular to the series or can be changed to suit tastes. The recipes are grouped by occasion, which include breakfast; luncheons and suppers; afternoon tea and garden parties; picnics, shoots and racemeets; festivities; upstairs dinner; desserts and canapes; downstairs dinner; downstairs supper and tea; and the still room. The book is divided into sections: Soups, Fish and Shellfish, Meat, Game and Roasts, Meat Pies and Savory Puddings, Sides and Vegetables, Sauces, Savories, Desserts and Sweets, Drinks. The recipes are modernized for modern kitchens but recipe notes explaining the history of some of the recipes and how they would have been prepared. The notes also explain the differences between English and American traditions and tie-in the traditions to the characters.Let’s not forget the photography and mouthwatering visions of meals, separated by the Upstairs and Downstairs menus.

As the book is reflecting the divided class of Downton Abbey, and the cookbook likewise is divided (mostly) into two parts. There are in this book recipes for the gentry and the recipes for the servant class respectively separated. The introduction gives an excellent overview of the way food was important in British society and also how the dishes served were different for the various classes. As history (and science) moved forward, the availability of food and access to foodstuffs, electricity, refrigeration also changed the way the classes ate. Weldon Owen doesn't skimp on their cookbooks, even during a Pandemic. This is a gorgeous, full-color, hardcover book filled with Christmas recipes and traditions from Britain's past. Some are from long before the Downton Abbey days, traditions that carried over and some are from the future but classics of British Christmas tables the Crawleys probably would have known. Food historian Annie Gray in The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook offers up not only a feast for the eyes and the palette, but a marvelous historical journey through the lives, the country homes, the foods, the kitchens, and the people who populated such places as the fictional Downton Abbey. Well, I did brown the cauliflower and I think that part made a difference. However I needed to add additional milk to make a smooth cheese sauce.With a foreword by Gareth Neame, executive producer and co-creator of Downton Abbey, and featuring over 100 stunning colour photographs, many taken on the set of Downton Abbey and using the original glassware and china, The Downton Abbey Cookbook also includes a special section on hosting Downton-themed dinner parties, and includes stills from across the TV series as well as the latest film. Notes on the etiquette and customs of the times, quotes from the characters and descriptions of the scenes in which the foods appear provide rich context for the dishes. Food is a constant presence at Downton Abbey and the focus of daily life and festive occasions. The enticing recipes in The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook provide an evocative and fascinating portrait of life, upstairs and downstairs, during the Edwardian era and in to the 1920s. Lots of interesting facts, recipes, and more. Some other of my "tagged recipes" in THE OFFICIAL DOWNTON ABBEY CHRISTMAS COOKBOOK are Apple and Celery Salad, Roasted Parsnips, a few sauces, Hazelnut Cake with Coffee Icing, Wardley Cake, and Smoking Bishop (I already know what non-alcoholic liquid I can substitute for the bottle of red port in the latter recipe!). If you love to cook and/or you're interested in the history of food, this might be a terrific book for you to get hold of. Not to mention that it's also about some of the delicious dishes you might've seen while watching Downton Abbey!

The 2020 IBPA Awards Winner! Bring an authentic slice of Downton Abbey into your kitchen with over 100 delicious recipes from this official cookbook. Book Review — “The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook” by Dr. Annie Gray (2019) published by @weldonowen With these and more historic recipes, savour the rich traditions and flavours of Downton Abbey without end. In the chapter titled "Breakfast" we are presented with some traditional dishes such as "Kedgeree" (a dish of fish, rice and eggs), English Muffins(sounds hard to make, but not so much after reading this.), "Deviled Biscuits"(a perfect savory brunch offering), and "Pikelets" (a sort of free form crumpet that could become part of your daily home repertoire). A brief history of this meal begins the chapter and there are asides on the baking of bread in the Grantham household. Additional notes for each recipe gives historical and cultural information. This well-researched and compelling cookbook from food historian Dr. Annie Gray includes more than 100 authentic and delicious period recipes, accompanied by spectacular images of the Downton Abbey cast, food photography, quotes and historical information to vividly bring the dishes and customs of the Crawley’s English country home to life.I have only seen two episodes but I think if you are a die hard fan of Downton Abbey you will love this cookbook. It’s treasure of information, snippets about the show including dialogue and episode notes, recipes and the historical story about the meals presented.

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