1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. British & Irish Food
photo of Elaine Lemm
Elaine's British & Irish Food Blog

By Elaine Lemm, About.com Guide to British & Irish Food

Something for the Weekend - Braised Lamb Shanks

Friday November 6, 2009
Braised Lamb Shank Recipe

Long, slow, braised Lamb Shanks are perfect comfort food, so welcome on a chilly autumn or cold winters day. There are many recipes for Braised Lamb Shanks but this is one of my favourites. The Lamb Shank is cooked very slowly in a good red wine (I emphasise good, never cook with wine you wouldn't drink) which tenderises the meat until, when it is cooked, the meat will quite literally fall from the bone.

Serve with creamy mash or atop a dish of Tomato and Bean Casserole.

Braised Lamb Shank Recipe
Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © StockXpert

50 Cooking Days to Christmas

Friday November 6, 2009
Pickled Onion Recipe

Pickled Onions

I don't want to panic anyone, but I just realised that there are only 50 cooking and baking days left until Christmas. "What's the rush?" you may well ask. There isn't as long as you stay organised.

I'm already planning and this weekend it's Pickled Onions. Pickled onions are a national treasure - everyone loves them. They are eaten with fish and chips, on a Ploughman's Lunch, pies, and many other savory dishes. There are hundreds of commercial varieties but nothing beats a jar of homemade pickled onions. Tiny onions for pickling are available now and if prepared and stored are perfect by Boxing Day to eat with cold meats or pork pie.

Other Jobs Creeping Up - If you haven't done it yet, it's time to make Christmas Cakes. The cake will be so much better the longer it has to mature. This Christmas Cake recipe may look a little daunting with all the ingredients, but don't be put off, it is actually quite easy with a bit of planning. If I have time I may make a few jars of Piccalilli, again for Boxing Day buffets.

Guess it's a busy weekend ahead.
Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © RFB Photography

There's Still Time - Bonfire Toffee Recipe

Thursday November 5, 2009
Bonfire Toffee

Bonfire Toffee - Treacle Toffee

It's a great weather forecast for Bonfire Night tonight, fine, clear, dry, and cold - perfect for Guy Fawkes Night.

There's still time to make bonfire night must-have Bonfire Toffee. It's so quick and easy to make and within a few hours set and ready to go. No bonfire night would be the same without it.


Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © RFB Photography

Recipe of the Week - Northumberland Pan Haggerty

Wednesday November 4, 2009

Across all cuisines there exists, in some form or another, dishes just like Pan Haggerty, potatoes and onions, a wonderful combination. Northumberland Pan Haggerty can be found all over the north east of England, not just the beautiful county of Northumberland, though they do lay claim to it.

Pan Haggerty is similar to other British and Irish 'Fry-Up' dishes, dishes made from simple or already cooked ingredients and fried on the stove to make hearty, wholesome and often cheap dishes. Simply serve Pan Haggerty with roast meats, sausages, or as I like it, with a fried egg on top.

Other potato 'fry-up' style dishes.
Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © StockXpert

Bring on the Bangers - British Sausage Week

Monday November 2, 2009
British Sausage Week

Here's a fun week to follow, British Sausage Week, a week of celebrating the great British banger - sausages are commonly referred to as bangers because during WWII the sausages contained a lot of water and would explode in the pan. I hate to imagine what British food would be like without sausages, 5 million sausages are eaten every day from breakfast sausage through to lunch, at barbecues and for dinner. Some of the great British classics involve sausages think Bangers and Mash, Sausage Rolls, Toad in the Hole, and what would a Full English breakfast without a couple of sausages on the plate.
Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © StockXpert

Meat Free Monday - Baked Onions, Egg and Lancashire Cheese

Monday November 2, 2009
This week's Meat Free Monday Recipe
 Lancashire Onions, Cheese, Egg Recipe

A Cold Wet Sunday Morning - Time for a Full English

Sunday November 1, 2009
Full English breakfast

A Full English

... or a Full Irish, Scottish or Welsh.

It's a miserable, wet day here today so not much else to do but chill out and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. A busy working week leaves little time for a 'Fry Up' for breakfast, probably a good thing as it's not the healthiest breakfast to be eating every day. But the weekend is different. A Full Breakfast on a Sunday morning is a great treat.

Breakfast may begin with orange juice, cereals or porridge, stewed or fresh fruits but the heart of the Full breakfast is bacon and eggs. They are variously accompanied by sausages, grilled tomato, mushrooms, tea, toast and marmalade. Each country in Great Britain and Ireland have their own variations but whichever you choose, enjoy. Have a great Sunday.

Breakfast Recipes


Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © Getty Images

Rain One Day, Sun the Next, Guess What...

Thursday October 29, 2009

Wild Mushrooms

...mushrooms appear in abundance. The rain and warmth guarantee the forest floor will be sprouting the autumn beauties. Foraging for wild mushrooms is a wonderful activity but one that must be approached with extreme caution. I have expressed my concerns here and it is a sentiment echoed by any forager. An expert or at the very least a really good book and there's no reason to not enjoy what can be a very exciting pastime.

My Favourite Wild Mushroom Recipe - Wild Mushroom Lasagna
Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © StockXpert

Recipe of the Week - Beef, Mushroom and Leek Stew

Wednesday October 28, 2009

Today, the house has a wonderful smell wafting through, there's a beef stew is in the oven. Beef, leeks and mushrooms, what a great combination for a warm and comforting winter stew. For this recipe I used a chunk of tender Irish rump steak but you can use any beef from rump to stewing beef as this is a long, slow-cooked recipe, so well suited to less tender cuts. Serve with fluffy, mashed potatoes and fresh, green vegetables, yummy.

Beef, Leek and Mushroom Stew Recipe
Stay up to date with British Food by signing up for my Weekly Newsletter or Join me on Twitter

Photo © StockXpert

Meat Free Monday - Baked Pumpkin Soup

Monday October 26, 2009
This week's Meat Free Monday Recipe
 Baked Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Discuss
Community Forum
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Reclaim the morning and your sanity with these easy recipes, tips, and timesaving ideas. More >