Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Two Recipes From Two Queenly Dog Lovers

Despite the fact that I have a small family consisting of only myself, my husband, and my pets, I have always loved having traditions.  One of my traditions is to make a tea party meal every year on Mother's Day weekend.



   I tend to cook quite a bit for this event, far more then two can eat, so left overs are available throughout the week.  Every year I try something a bit different but there are two recipes that are always on the menu and both were created to honor British Queens who were also dog lovers.

Queen Victoria was a noted dog fanatic.   Her beloved spaniel Dash  was memoralized in potraits



and in this touching epigraph:


Here lies 'Dash'

The favorite spaniel of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria,
By whose command this Memorial was erected.
He died on the 20th December 1840, in his 9th year.
His attachment was without selfishness,
His playfulness without malice,
His fidelity without deceit.
Reader, if you would live beloved and die regretted,
profit by the example of 'Dash'. 



In addition to Dash, Victoria owned collies, pugs, labradors, and pomeranians, as well as many other breeds.




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An early advocate of animal rights Queen Victoria outlawed the barbaric practice of bull baiting and she was a patron of the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals, which due to her support became the RSPCA, Royal Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).  

Victoria had a sweet tooth and was very fond of her afternoon tea.  The cake, Victoria Sponge, was created in her honor and a delicious cake it is too!




I use the recipe from the NYC restaurant, Tea and Sympathy which you can find here.  The only change I make is to use one cake pan and bake it a bit longer, and then slice the cake into two layers.  I find the batter a bit scant for two pans.


The second recipe is in honor of Queen Elizabeth, who as everyone knows has a life long fondness for Corgis.


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This delicious salad was created for Elizabeth's coronation in 1953. 

Coronation Chicken Salad

3-4 lbs of split chicken breasts, bone in and skin on
olive oil 
salt and pepper to taste
Butter head lettuce
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup mild curry powder
1/4 cup tomato puree
1/2 cup red wine or water
1 bay leaf
Juice of 1 lemon
Large can of apricot slices in juice, or several small cans I used 3 8 ounce cans, drained
1/4 cup Major Grey's mango chutney
1 cup mayonnaise

Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.  Roast at 350 for 50 min to an hour until cooked through.  Cool and remove the skin and shred the meat.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Melt the butter in a large sauce pan and add the onion and saute until translucent.  Stir in the curry powder, tomato puree, wine or water, bay leaf, lemon juice, drained apricots and chutney and simmer until thickened about 20 minutes.  Stir into the bowl with the chicken.  Let cool and stir in the mayonnaise.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Serve atop butter head lettuce or in sandwiches.




13 comments:

  1. that's so sweet. Yes our royals have always been fond of dogs:-)

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  2. That Victoria sponge is actually making me drool :)
    Lynne x

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  3. High Tea. Great tradition. (and dogs...very important)

    XXXOOO Bella & Roxy

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  4. I love your tradition! We have just two who eat human food here, but yet my husband often cooks a big meal, too. Lovely pictures of queen Victoria and queen Elizabeth with their dogs. I love corgis. They are adorable :-)

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  5. Oh wow, what a lovely tradition! Everything looks so yummy and incredible. Loved learning those facts about Queens Victoria and Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing your sweet tradition!

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  6. We were hoping it was going to be a recipe for DOGS... but Mama says the Victorian Sponge looks so delicious, and if she ever makes it she'll share a little with us!

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  7. Lovely idea and High Tea as we call it over the pond if a great favourite for celebrations but we all add champagne to it as well as tea. Love it and the Royals have always been such big animal lovers and of course dogs play a huge part in their lives. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  8. We use to have high tea at boarding school. BOL. That Victoria sponge cake looks to die for :) xxoxxxxx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  9. Thoroughly delicious looking spread! Victoria sponge is such a great cake. It's high time more folks on this side of the pond started enjoying it. You always know just how to throw a fabulous party and put together a scrumptious menu, dear Kate.

    Big hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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  10. And what wonderful outfit did you wear?

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  11. Lovely (is that Royal Dalton china? Perfect pattern whatever it is).
    Sponge cake looks like a must try...mmm, sponge cake....

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