tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post243323543691677805..comments2024-03-18T08:28:21.036+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Bran Tub # 9: Boxty or Drop Scones ... or both ... Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-35344148367637570822017-03-03T16:15:35.238+00:002017-03-03T16:15:35.238+00:00Hi Sara - they are a very good 'meal' aren...Hi Sara - they are a very good 'meal' aren't they. Thanks I couldn't resist Boxty either ... but Raggmunk -is pretty special too ... that was fascinating to look up in Wiki ... led me to all kinds of things! The combination of raggmunks, with pork and ligonberry sounds good - presumably a 'sour' jam ... good to read about a Swedish link. Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-67995399536387370722017-03-03T15:50:40.992+00:002017-03-03T15:50:40.992+00:00I love potatoes! I'd never heard of boxty (gre...I love potatoes! I'd never heard of boxty (great word), but we have something similar in Sweden called a raggmunk (potato, flour, milk, and sometimes egg). It's traditionally eaten with pork and lingonberry jam (Swedes put lingonberry jam on everything.)Sara C. Sniderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16148040154590535970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-42829692468341460362017-02-14T07:47:35.365+00:002017-02-14T07:47:35.365+00:00@ Susan - yes that's right lots of Irish came ...@ Susan - yes that's right lots of Irish came over to the States at the potato famine time. Different names for things ... gosh it's unusual to find someone who doesn't like potatoes ... and therefore quite understand you'd skip Boxty ... <br /><br />@ Nas - I'm afraid I do too - all food is rather good. Smoked salmon on Boxty is something I'm going to try sometime ... <br /><br />@ Maria - pleasure to come over ... and another smoked salmon and boxty fan! especially with sour cream ... <br /><br />@ Susan - no worries - good to see you ... a boxty on the griddle would be good and as you say a big dollop of sour cream, or creme fraiche or even Greek yoghurt ... with lots of smoked salmon ... <br /><br />I'm glad you picked up on the Lumpers being available at Fortnum and Mason ... I wonder if they still are ... I'll have to check in!<br /><br />@ Shannon - they do sound good don't they ... and we all have slight variations in the foods we cook ... so your potato pancakes would be similar ... but the sour cream doesn't seem to change!<br /><br />@ Joylene - I'd do the same ... eat them at all times. THose chocolate chips and raisins in your scones would be delicious ... childhood memories .. wonderful.<br /><br />@ Marja - they are similar to potato rosti ... but being made in the days of the famine. Yes - drop scones we can buy too ... and they are called pikelets ... a type of regional crumpet ... but for you in NZ it's a type of pancake ... muddling isn't it!<br /><br />Cheers these names are so easy to 'muddle up' we know what we're talking about - but if we chat to another person in a different country or different region ... it is likely there'll be a muddle! It's like a language with lots of dialects ... essentially the same, yet different and of course difficult to understand! Thanks everyone - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-38277152744019679992017-02-14T07:35:51.404+00:002017-02-14T07:35:51.404+00:00I love the potato pancakes or boxty and I would lo...I love the potato pancakes or boxty and I would love to eat one with that smoked salmon yum. Here we call them however potato rosti. You can buy these drop scones here as well but they call them pikelets (if it is the same). I love them.Marjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17458942200244031009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-79846478180675941492017-02-14T01:34:08.008+00:002017-02-14T01:34:08.008+00:00They both look so yummy. Unfortunately, I love the...They both look so yummy. Unfortunately, I love them both equally and would eat them for breakfast and dinner if I wasn't careful. When my boys were young, I would add chocolate chips and raisons to my scones. They still talk about them. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-34511118031566974322017-02-13T20:42:56.193+00:002017-02-13T20:42:56.193+00:00Both sound yummy. I like "potato pancakes&quo... Both sound yummy. I like "potato pancakes" (not sure how different they might be) with sour cream on them.Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-25633919687648403482017-02-13T18:03:36.175+00:002017-02-13T18:03:36.175+00:00I'm late to the party Hilary - but o my - I co...I'm late to the party Hilary - but o my - I could fancy a boxty on the griddle, with a dollop of cream (a big dollop or creme fraiche) and smoked salmon ...<br /><br />Interesting that a Lumpers bag of 'tat could be bought at Fortnum & Mason!<br />Susan Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041548718544123557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-1898630737511112042017-02-13T08:46:44.999+00:002017-02-13T08:46:44.999+00:00Thanks for dropping by my page Hilary! Those Smoke...Thanks for dropping by my page Hilary! Those Smoked Salmon<br />and sour cream on Boxty looks yummy :DMariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742777265021634232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-43726622098361755222017-02-13T07:21:17.523+00:002017-02-13T07:21:17.523+00:00I love pancakes. And Smoked salmon on a Boxty soun...I love pancakes. And Smoked salmon on a Boxty sounds great too!Nasreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10903012810404786521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-11295619394384589452017-02-12T21:10:25.164+00:002017-02-12T21:10:25.164+00:00I've read much about the Potato Famines as it ...I've read much about the Potato Famines as it had a lot to do with the great Irish migration to the States. The scones look so much like pancakes. I'm not overly fond of potatoes in any form so I would likely skip the Boxty. Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-36544038196796056672017-02-12T09:54:36.558+00:002017-02-12T09:54:36.558+00:00@ Jo - Irish history sometimes is interlinked with...@ Jo - Irish history sometimes is interlinked with British history, but they definitely had their own culture. I love crumpets .. gosh I'd have loved to have had a father who had a crumpet factory! Yes - the Boxty with the smoked salmon and sour cream looks good ... the Boxty is an Irish name and dish. Oh yes the coal fired Agas ... ours was like that too ... <br /><br />@ Keith- I think you're probably right .. just different names and slightly influences from other cultures. They are great starters ... and I'd be happy with those for starters. Oh yes Jersey Royals ... must be soon - simple food, but so so good - I happily eat them that way too.<br /><br />@ Susan - we're lucky we can add things to our potato cakes: the Irish were poor, poor ... <br /><br />Scones aren't pancake like - it's just the name difference that occurs especially here in Britain ... as we have the Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English take on things - let alone all the other areas!<br /><br />Shortbread like crescents with jam sound delish! ... but I love marmalade - though I normally have fresh scones, drop scones etc with just butter ... unless Cornish Cream is around - then that changes things!<br /><br />@ Theresa - back in the 1700s and in the 1800s for a while that's all the peasants had to eat ... I'm sure the Jewish ones started the same way - just we've got alternatives now ... latkes, boxty and other names.<br /><br />Smoked salmon on a bagel is similar to the smoked salmon with sour cream on a boxty ... or any morsel that can fit the mouth!<br /><br />Scones - yes are also delicious, but I do prefer them for tea ..<br /><br />Cheers to you all - we can mix and match with Boxty, potato cakes and drop scones ... just enjoy them that's the main thing ... and thanks for commenting - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-38355837481330770982017-02-12T04:01:54.124+00:002017-02-12T04:01:54.124+00:00There's an Irish potato pancake? I've only...There's an Irish potato pancake? I've only had a Jewish one. I wonder how similar they are. Smoked salmon on a bagel is similar to smoked salmon and sour cream on a boxty. Funny! <br /><br />I'm always up for a scone!Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-3705023150763853032017-02-11T20:53:40.664+00:002017-02-11T20:53:40.664+00:00Potato pancakes sound good... especially with some...Potato pancakes sound good... especially with some onions and cheese. <br /><br />I never thought of scones as being pancake-like. The ones my grandmother used to make were more like shortbread-like crescents. Reeeeally good with jam, but she never could get me to like marmalade. <br /><br />Have a super weekend!Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-85390160131123794552017-02-11T15:07:12.817+00:002017-02-11T15:07:12.817+00:00I suppose the blini is the modern equivalent to dr...I suppose the blini is the modern equivalent to drop pancakes. Almost everyone who comes to my place starts the evening with them with cream cheese, smoked salmon and caviar. Yummy. It can't be too long before we get Jersey Royal spuds. Love 'em dripping in butter and covered with chopped mint. Now I'm hungry!Keith's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564578491652021492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-17418459805307934962017-02-11T14:51:10.263+00:002017-02-11T14:51:10.263+00:00Unfamiliar with both Hilary although I know a lot ...Unfamiliar with both Hilary although I know a lot of the history of the Irish and potatoes. I think their Enlish overlords had a lot to do with that. We used to have crumpets which look a bit similar. Dad had a crumpet factory for a while. I love the idea of Boxty with smoked salmon and Sour Cream. Yum. I don't know if I ever ate a potato pancake but certainly never heard the word Boxty before. That picture of the Aga looks like the one my mother had many years ago. I used to hate having to look after it if they went away. It was coal fired.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-26761717684172206212017-02-10T13:47:21.907+00:002017-02-10T13:47:21.907+00:00@ Jacqui - many thanks ... I just like to write ab...@ Jacqui - many thanks ... I just like to write about different things. The scone isn't what I would call a scone either ... we just have 'different names' for things ... and these are from a thick pancake mix ... I try desperately to stay away from donuts and similar!<br /><br />@ Maria - oh there were recipes when I looked around ... I just don't put them here, because everyone will interpret them differently. Well done on mastering how to make soda bread and in a microwave - I'd need to be told how to use the microwave too!!<br /><br />The rhyme has different variations - I just put one up .. but thanks for this ... oh gosh I'm glad we weren't told that as kids!! Housework is never nice at any time ... and messy rooms as kids were fun!!<br /><br />@ ACIL - the famines must have been terrible to live through or to experience and then decide to emigrate - a big risk ... successful for some ... others never got there, and some returned ... <br /><br />@ Diedre - yes the history is sad and very difficult at times - no change today. I guess the pinto beans are so essential to the way of life down south in USA or Mexico. Perhaps you'll have a go at making some Boxty sometime?!<br /><br />@ Lenny- you're back ... so good to see you. Oh yes, potato cakes were a standard when we grew up - my Mom also made them!! But with sour cream - that I agree just makes things that extra special ... especially if it's a savoury dish. You could have some drop scones with strawberry jam and cream?!<br /><br />The Aga is a wonderful way to cook - well I think so! Yes ... but did you know that Swedish Physicist was blind ... and he wanted to help his wife, as she struggled to constantly fuel the fire for their earlier cooker - this was in the early 1900s ... I wrote about it in my 'Cookery A - Z series':A is for Aga ... but congratulations and so glad you looked it up - well done.<br /><br />http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/a-is-for-aga.html <br /><br /><br />@ Baili - thanks for coming by ... potatoes are really delicious aren't they - I always enjoy a meal with them ... all varieties.<br /><br />@ Rachna - so good to see you too ... the drop scones taste so good especially for the kids!<br /><br />@ Deborah - aren't they simple to make - I'm sure if I had kids I'd have been making them too. Oh the bought things are really not up to scratch are they - rubbery alternatives. I hope you give Boxty a try sometime ... glad you enjoyed the post.<br /><br />@ Gattina - sorry you couldn't get your comment to show ... Blogger does it sometimes ... why I've no idea.<br /><br />Fascinating to read your side of life on famine with your family ... I'm sure in the War we were doing the same here .. I understand the people who weren't in the Forces, were working the land, or in the factories had much less to eat ... and had to scratch a living from the hedgerows. Cooking them in castor oil - revolting thought!! <br /><br />The idea of serving them as starters makes sense - with lots of different toppings! Oh yes I can believe that happened with your husband and your son ... kids! Makes for good stories later on ... made me laugh ... <br /><br />Cheers to you all - thanks so much for your memories and thoughts ... <br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-87848232345729063962017-02-10T12:54:49.643+00:002017-02-10T12:54:49.643+00:00This is from Gattina ... http://gattinawritercramp...This is from Gattina ... http://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.co.uk/ :<br /><br />I tried to comment on your blog and each time my text disappeared ! I just wanted to say that I adore scones ! I even find them here, and buy them from time to time. What surprised me really was to read that the Irish also make potato pancakes ! That's one of the specialities in Germany ! I ate them as long as I can think and love them. And it was the same just after the war when nobody had something to eat, my mother and her sister went through the fields to collect potatoes the farmer had left and my grandma made the potato pancakes. As there was no oil she once did it with castor oil she got for me !! Apparently it was awful ! but when you are hungry you eat everything. I can't remember that. So now we have to find out who made the pancakes first the Irish or the Germans. <br /><br />You also find them on all Christmas markets ! I serve them as starters I make them very small with different things on the top, and as the Belgian don't know them, it became "my" speciality ! When my son was still living with us I once made 20 potato pancakes and thought we would have for at least two days. When I came in the kitchen an hour later, the both father and son had eaten them all !!<br /><br />From Gattina ... Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-45079340061515878602017-02-10T10:58:47.753+00:002017-02-10T10:58:47.753+00:00I love drop scones and they are so simple to make,...I love drop scones and they are so simple to make, I used to make them for my children after school. Pancakes were another favourite of course. If you buy drop scones from the supermarket they are so rubbery, it could put you off for life mind. I have never tried a Boxty, it sounds very filling. I have learnt something new - you are doing your job well XDeborah Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261449936843388583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-10686069052949680572017-02-10T10:22:57.262+00:002017-02-10T10:22:57.262+00:00Hi Hilary, such a delicious post, the Drop Scones ...Hi Hilary, such a delicious post, the Drop Scones look awesome.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-84574654230702470742017-02-10T06:29:44.644+00:002017-02-10T06:29:44.644+00:00reading this interesting informative writing makes...reading this interesting informative writing makes me happy as i am huge fan of Potatoes .bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-14089654310901451722017-02-10T05:37:22.652+00:002017-02-10T05:37:22.652+00:00hi grandblogmom! wow...another interesting post. a...hi grandblogmom! wow...another interesting post. and..another mom memory for me. mom used to use leftover mashed potatoes to make potato cakes. she would fry up onion and garlic with spices, stir it into the potatoes and fry it into potato cakes. they got nice and brown on both sides and the edges were real crispy. they were soooo good. add a little sour cream and...yum! i never had drop scones. they look delish. i'll have mine with some strawberry jam please. yikes! your post sure made me hungry. i never heard of an aga so googled it. it was invented in 1922 by the nobel prize-winning swedish physicist. a physicist should know stuff about heat. not so sure about cooking. ha ha <br />...hugs Lenny Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12822588007434789481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-57103419119526067182017-02-09T23:20:11.024+00:002017-02-09T23:20:11.024+00:00Mmm... such a delicious post! I've just about ...Mmm... such a delicious post! I've just about every ingredient in my pantry! Now if only I could cook ;-) Interesting, if tragic, history. I imagine it would be the same if we ran out of pinto beans, here by the border.diedre Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-30872834270978846342017-02-09T21:33:24.402+00:002017-02-09T21:33:24.402+00:00What a lovely post. I have read about the famine i...What a lovely post. I have read about the famine in Ireland in the 19th century.<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-63405990721061946062017-02-09T16:09:51.837+00:002017-02-09T16:09:51.837+00:00This is lovely, to find a recipe for boxty. I'...This is lovely, to find a recipe for boxty. I'm Irish, living in India and with the cooking facilities in my house being somewhat basic, living in a community where the oven is never used, I was over the moon recently to have mastered the art of baking soda bread in a microwave. This is my next cooking project as I never made boxty at home in Ireland. BTW I think you're rhyme is slightly wrong. What about this?<br /><br />Boxty in the griddle<br />Boxty in the pan<br />If you can't make boxty<br />You'll never get a man<br /><br />As kids, we girls were always being told we'd 'never get a man' by the nuns at school if we were untidy and the like. It always had to do with not being up to the mark with the old housework :(Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977676093756206414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-80242396511394951122017-02-09T15:45:49.192+00:002017-02-09T15:45:49.192+00:00You have the most interesting posts. Who would hav...You have the most interesting posts. Who would have known? The scones look nothing like I'm used to considering scones. They look much more like the pancakes I love almost as much as donuts.Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.com