Twelfth Night Food

>> Saturday, January 1, 2011

ENGLAND-INSPIRED MEAL IDEAS

Toad-in-the-Hole

This down-home English recipe consists of sausages baked in a Yorkshire pudding. Delicious.

Ingredients:
8 links pork sausage
1 tbsp vegetable (or canola) oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Pour the oil in to the bottom of a baking dish and arrange the sausages over it in a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, eggs and half of the milk until smooth. Gradually mix in the rest of the milk until a smooth batter is achieved. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Remove the sausages from the oven and ladle batter over them until the sausages are 3/4 covered. Return to the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the center is risen and golden brown. (The underside will be slightly soft)
5. Serve hot. For added flavor, serve with an onion gravy.
SERVES: appx 4


Cottage Pie

What we often think of in the United States as "shepherds pie" is known in the UK as "cottage pie." The difference? Traditionally, shepherds pie was made with lamb or mutton. The US version usually is made with ground beef. The ground beef variation is cottage pie. This very simplified recipe is great for a cold winter's night and is extremely easy to prepare.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
2 tbsp. chopped onion
1 tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen peas and carrots
1 (10 oz.) can beef gravy
1/4 c. chopped celery
1 egg
2 c. mashed potatoes


1. In a large skillet, brown beef, onions and parsley lightly. Discard any fat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Cook frozen vegetables until barely tender. Drain and add to beef.
3. Stir in beef gravy and celery, heat through. Pour into 2 quart shallow baking dish.
4. Beat egg into potatoes and spoon around edge of casserole. Sprinkle with chives.
5. Bake 425 degrees until gravy bubbles and potatoes are light brown, about 20 minutes.
Serves: 4.

GOODIES
Fruit
Only recently have we gained the ability to ship produce large distances and store perishable foods for long periods of time. During earlier centuries, fruit was a delicacy during the winter. As such, Twelfth Night festivities often included:
  • apples, brought up from fruit cellars
  • oranges, grown in "orangeries," special hot-houses specially designed to grow orange trees
  • any other fruits that might be found in cellars
Nuts
Chocolate
Chocolate reached Europe as a result of the colonization of South America. In the centuries that have followed, chocolate has remained a favorite treat. It would have been included in the Twelfth Night celebrations in well-to-do homes until late in the 19th Century when chocolate became more affordable and it began to make appearances in homes of the less affluent.
Coconut Macaroons
As recently as the early 20th Century, coconut was still considered a delicacy, as it was not easy to come by. Treats made with coconut were viewed as a rare treat.
Ingredients:
1 package white cake mix
2 1/4 cups sweetened flaked or shredded coconut
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl on low speed for 2-3 minutes, scraping bowl as needed. (Dough is going to be very thick.)
2. Scoop onto a greased backing sheet.
3. Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly brown.

*for a new twist, try substituting a chocolate cake mix or chocolate brownie mix for the white cake mix*

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