Foods of Downton Abbey

[The empressof all]

If you haven't watched the show Downton Abbey on PBS you are truly missing something wonderful.

I love learning about foods and kitchens of the past and wanted to share this with you all. Check out the meatless sausage recipe!

"There's never a dull day at Downton Abbey, with the estate positively brewing with scandal, intrigue and salacious gossip. And whether the servants are nattering over their breakfast downstairs, or the Granthams and their guests are keeping up appearances over dinner upstairs, there is almost always a common theme running between both classes - food!

Many a suitor has fallen for Lady Mary's charms while sipping on the Grantham's fine wine, while downstairs Cook shouts at Daisy to get a move on with the kidneys.

Indeed, mealtimes were an important part of the everyday lives of Edwardian people, with the servants savouring a moment's respite from their duties over a hard-earned meal, as the upper class put on airs and graces over a sumptuously-laid dining table."

http://www.itv.com/food/articles/food-downton-abbey

[beac]

1. We are hooked on Downton Abbey!

My historian husband has grumbled a bit that the show hasn't addressed rationing and food shortages. Perhaps with so many other subplots, they just couldn't fit it in.

[maddezmom]

2. my friend just suggested this to me yesterday

downloading now to my iPad.

[surrealAmerican]

3. That "meatless sausage" sounds sort of like kishka ...

... but without the casing, and with beans.

[The empressof all]

4. EEEEWWWWWW Kishka

A nightmare from my Childhood.

My mother made it every weekend for my father and it had the most god awful stink known to man. I could smell that rank stuff a block away...YUCK! Makes me sick to my stomach even thinking about it.

I think kishka is made with buckwheat, duck blood and other assorted innards.

Oh MY God....Now I have to think of it.....Uuuuuuuuth.....

Words can not describe.... Oh My God...... Please..never speak of it again.


I need a drink now and find a corner to look for my happy place....This is not good....

EEEEEEKS KISHKA Oh my God!

[Denninmi]

5. My father used to like "Kiska" aka "blood sausage".

I don't know what species the blood was from (probably all tastes roughly the same), and it was mixed with various things, including definitely rice and I also think some mashed potatoes.

Yes, it was definitely kind of scary, although it looked worse than it tasted. I could eat it if I absolutely had to, but certainly wouldn't go out of my way to get it.

His parents were immigrants from Croatia. My grandmother's cuisine had some really good things, and some really scary things. I'll pass on the pickled fish, the pickled pig's feet, the kidneys, the kiska. However, the nut and fruit filled pastry/cookie things (the same basic thing as "rugula&quot are a keeper.

[elleng]

7. I'm thrilled when I find a good rugula!

Chancey, but they are available at grocery/bakeries.

Never had kishka; don't know why, but sounds OK that I didn't!

[The empressof all]

8. Rugelach is easy to make

The Ina Garten recipe is terrific. I've used it many times.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/rugelach-recipe/index.html

Then there's always hamantaschen which I always preferred because they were BIGGER...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/great-grandmother-bubbies-hamantaschen/

[elleng]

9. I like them both, but both depend on good pastry AND fruit combos.

Darn, grocery closed now; may have to wait 'til tomorrow!

[surrealAmerican]

10. The kind I'm familiar with was mostly ...

... crumbs and fat. I think it involved some celery too. Definitely not blood though.

[elleng]

6. AMAZING amount of food preparation, and then there's

their wardrobes! OMG!

[Lucinda]

11. Very cool. I have a long standing fascination with food throughout history.

What was cooked, how it was cooked, how was it served....