Is there a better gift for a British Expat who has lived away from its shores for a while?
This patriotic book contains every recipe you will have dreamt about, and plenty more besides. Some of which you might not have been that fond of before, but have developed strange cravings for since (that happens believe me!). From Battenberg construction instructions (and yes, it is English before you ask!) to good old Beef Stew and Dumplings. And then from recipes for Toad in the Hole, StarGazy Pie, and crumpets and muffins besides, Parragon have included them all…
And once you’ve read it from cover to cover (which you will as soon as you get your hands on a copy) savouring the delicious photography, and remembering fond dishes past, you will realise that the recipes in it aren’t overly complicated (most have 7 steps or less). It’s a book I think even my younger sister would be confident to create something from (the poor thing has had to endure years of us teasing her about her “skills” in the kitchen), and not just leave it to collect dust on a shelf.
The first recipe we made from Great British Food was a good old Broccoli & Stilton Soup (as depicted above). You can find Stilton in Munich, I get it from the Viktualienmarkt when cravings have called…
Ingredients: 50g butter, 2 chopped onions, 1 potato peeled and diced, 2 litres vegetable stock,1 broccoli crown, 200ml double cream, 200g Stilton, 4 slices toasted French bread, pepper, 10g snipped chives (optional)…
Method: 1. Heat the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently for 5-8 minutes or until soft. Add the potato and stir, then add the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. 2. Add the broccoli and cook, stirring occasionally for a further 5 minutes. Season to taste with pepper. Transfer the soup to a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Return to a clean saucepan. 3. Add 150ml of the cream and 150g of the cheese to the soup and cook over a low heat until the cheese has melted. 4. Mash the remaining cheese with the remaining cream in a bowl and pile onto the toast slices. 5. Serve the soup hot in individual warmed bowls, topped with cheesy toast slices and sprinkled with a few chives.
This is a good recipe – easy to make, and easier to eat (not one to pick if you are on a diet though!)… Of course we also had to see if the fish and chips recipe was up to much, and I am happy to report that they were pretty authentic too…
And finally, as a challenge, and because I have never made one before, I attempted the Jam Roly Poly (vegetable suet available at British Allsorts in Munich) and was happy with how it turned out.
Ingredients: 225g self-raising flour, pinch of salt, 115g suet, grated rind of 1 lemon, 1 tbsp sugar, 125ml mixed milk and water, 4-6tbsp strawberry jam (I only had raspberry), 2 tablespoons of milk, custard (obligatory!)
Method: 1. Sift the flour into a bowl and add the salt and suet. Mix together well. Stir in the lemon rind and the sugar. 2. Make a well in the centre, and add the liquid to give a light elastic dough. Knead lightly until smooth. If you have time wrap dough in clingfilm and leave to rest for 30 minutes. 3. Roll the dough into a 20x25cm rectangle. Spread jam over the dough leaving a 1cm border. Brush borer with milk and roll up like swiss roll, from one short end. Seal the ends. 4. Wrap loosely in greaseproof paper, and then in foil, sealing the ends well. 5. Prepare a steamer (or in our case pan of boiling water with a colander stuck upside down in it) by half filling it with water and putting it onto boil. Place the roly poly in the steamer and steam over rapidly boiling water for 1.5 to 2 hours, making sure you top up the water from time to time. 6. When cooked, remove from steamer, unwrap and serve, cut into slices on a warmed plate, with some custard.
I know quite a few Expats that would appreciate this turning up under the Christmas Tree, and I will be buying a few for friends – not just of the British Variety, but from other corners of the globe who mistakenly think that British food isn’t that Brilliant! A welcome addition to any bookshelf.
* I was sent a copy of the book to review. All opinions are my own as per usual…
Sophie says
Oh that looks delicious! Broccoli and Stilton soup is one of my favourites! We do have some amazing food here in Britain and not to mention a good cup of tea! How’s the tea in Munich?
Emma says
The tea in Munich is excellent Sophie, when I have remembered to smuggle some decent stuff in! The coffee here however, is some of the best I have ever had! :)
older mum in a muddle says
Jam roly-poly – I haven’t had that in years – yummity yum! X
Emma says
Sooo good and much easier than I thought! :) x
Mammasaurus says
Now I am a late comer to Stilton (same as red wine and dark chocolate!) and this looks delish!
I’m not an expat but I can deffo see what a great present it would make!
Emma says
Thanks Mammasaurus, it goes really well with gin! xx
Amanda says
Perfect for expats I would imagine. I wonder if some of the ingredients were hard to come by though…I mean no mushy peas?!? *shocked face* ;)
Emma says
You can find a few tins of mushy peas in the expat shops, but they are rarer than hens teeth! :D Thanks Amanda! :)
Downs Side Up says
Jam roly poly or spotted dick were two of my childhood faves. I haven’t eaten them for yeeeeears, but might just be tempted to have a go after reading this.
Great mouthwatering photos.
Hayley
x
Emma says
Thanks Hayley x
Cass@frugalfamily says
I’ve never tried brocolli and stilton soup – I imagine it tastes quite bitter but I’m sure it doesn’t ;-)
Emma says
It goes really well, trust me! :D Thanks Cass! :)
otilia says
I so miss some fish and chips like at my local shop in Wandsworth….
Emma says
I miss any kind of real fish and chips Otilia! Something we really took for granted! :D
pinkoddy says
Sounds a great read. I have never tried cooking with broccoli to make a soup.
Emma says
It makes the best soups. Thanks J! x
Mary Keynko says
I love broccoli soup – sadly can’t eat stilton because of an allergy problem – but it looks sooo yummy! I use feta very often instead – it’s not the same, but I can pretend!
Emma says
I think it would be nice without the stilton too! Thanks Mary! :) x
Aly says
I do love good old British recipes.I have so many books with traditional stuff in, I need to convert them for veggies and vegans (mainly vegan because of my 12 year old son’s egg allergy).I have to say *whispers* liver and onions is best down in the slow cooker.
Emma says
Thanks Aly. I have to say I am not sure that’s a dish I will ever be converted on! :D x
Sally Sellwood (@Recipejunkie27) says
Interesting. I’ve just managed to get my hands on a copy of Paul Hollywood’s British Baking book which is full of regional recipes, but mostly recognisable as British too – nothing too obscure. You’d love it for the heavy nod back to these shores!
Emma says
Will have to search that one out! Thanks Sally! :)
Emma says
I’m not a fan of stilton, but your photo makes it look lovely :-) I could definitely eat a slice of Jam Roly Poly though. xx
Emma says
I bet you if you moved abroad, your brain would make up that you really missed it. That’s what mine does! :D Thanks Emma :) xx
Pia says
Broccoli & Stilton is one of my favourite soups, next to a good Pea & Ham, Spiced Parsnip or Leek & Potato. Oh, and butternut squash :) Your soup looks delicious – I need to make more of them now that we have the weather for it.
Emma says
Pea and Ham, now there’s a soup I haven’t had in a while! Thank you Pia! Yes, definitely soup weather all the time here now! :)
susanna says
I am the same with American cookbooks. Glad you could enjoy some British favourites abroad. x
Emma says
Thanks Susanna! :) x
Frau Dietz (Eating Wiesbaden) says
Do you know, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a broccoli and stilton soup :S But I have had jam roly poly… about 30 years ago ;) Those were the days!!
Emma says
You don’t know what you’re missing! And yes, I think that was the last time I had jam roly poly too! :D Thank you! :)
Donna@MummyCentral says
Oooh you’ve given me a fabulous idea for what to send to my friend, who is facing her first Christmas in New Zealand
Emma says
She would love it. Might make her a little homesick though! :D x
Grace says
Just wondering of they have a recipe for Liver and Onions just in case you have developed a yearning for this delicious meal? x
Emma says
Sadly, I think this is one lifelong meal that I will always hate! :D Thank you xx
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
Some wonderful recipes, I must see if I can get this for my MIL who has just moved to Spain so she can keep up with some British classics.
Emma says
Thank you! I think she would find something in there that she needs to make now she lives abroad! :D