There are just two words that personify afternoon Tea in Autumn/Winter, and they are 'Crumpets' and English 'Muffins'.
Just the very mention of those words suggests cosy fires, home-made jam, and (for many) listening to 'The Archers'.
I was brought-up with Crumpets, but, amazingly, I don't think I'd ever had a Muffin before a few days ago. Why this should be, I don't know!
Anyway, I bought a pack of Warburton's Muffins. They looked to me like a flattened soft bread roll, but in fact they are very different.
Sliced in half, toasted, and spread with plenty of butter, and this Summer's Plum Jam, it was delicious.
I shan't abandon my Crumpets, but I shall certainly be adding Muffins to my shopping list.
And Lady M's Plum Jam (no pips) was the perfect accompaniment.
Above was my yesterday's breakfast.
p.s. It should be noted that 'English Muffins' are very different to those of other nationalities.
I've read about English muffins. They always looked like bread rolls, in photos. Neither of those delicacies are, available here. I could order crumpets from the British store in Athens but they'd be as expensive as a bar of gold.
ReplyDeleteAnything slathered in butter and your jam would be irresistible, even for a meat eater like me.
I'm quite surprised by how good the Muffins are. Not 'spectacular' but just very nice.
DeleteIt's the sort of thing that Eggs Benedict is served up on, half a muffin.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, and it's this type of Muffin.
DeleteI always preferred toasted muffins to crumpets. Someone once served them to me untoasted. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteNo, no, they HAVE to be toasted.
DeleteWatching Rick Stein's Cornwall recently, he was saying how peaceful and magical it gets in Winter around 4:00 pm just as it gets dark, when he treated himself to Cheese and Chive Scones with pear and honey and a cup of tea. And as he sits by his fire in his cozy chair, with a wry smile he says 'then I doze off to sleep.'A nice moment that many of us enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThat's the Cornish version of Sussex Muffins and Plum Jam. The 'snooze' bit remains the same.
DeleteCro, my understanding is that scones (Rick Stein' indulgence as DJ mentions) are very different to muffins, not least in texture.
DeleteAnd not all muffins are equal. Yes, there is yours but then also those little encased ones (bluebeerry, chocolate, whatnot) baked in the oven.
Anyway, enjoy every which way you can.
U
PS Just put clotted cream on my shopping list. The scones I make myself. Now, of course, we enter the dangerous territory of "first the cream, topped by jam; first the jam, topped by cream"?
Ursula, Apparently the Cornish prefer the cream on top of the strawberry jam. And Devonians prefer rasberry or blackcurrent jam on top of the cream.
DeleteBut I suspect that your home made scones taste much better than the ones on offer in the supermarkets.
Pop a poached egg on top of a toasted muffin, sprinkle of salt......
ReplyDeleteYes I might try that. I think it would be perfect.
DeleteSome men like Muffin the Mule but I prefer a nice crumpet smothered with butter. "Oo err missus!" as Frankie Howerd might have exclaimed.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Lidl muffins are half the price of Warburtons.
Warburtons were the only ones in Sainsbury's. I was surprised they didn't have their own make! I shall have words with them.
DeleteSounds like a real treat.
ReplyDeleteNo muffins, or crumpets available in local stores so I'd have to travel a distance for English produce. Sadly no home-made jam either, and I'd have to make do with a toasted brioche bun - but as a ritual, better than nothing!
My wife made a delicious Banana Cake recently, and we do occasionally spoil ourselves with an indulgent Chocolate Cake from M & S. The choice is endless.
DeleteThe good old American “English Muffin” as popularized by McDonalds
ReplyDeleteProbably. I've never partaken of McDonalds.
DeleteWarburtons are the best. That goes for any thing that they make. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThese were certainly very nice. I had another one this morning.
DeleteNow, also available in almost all French supermarkets beside the burger buns [and a muffin makes a better burger bun than those "brioché" things that are so sweet.... and UK made in packs of four.
ReplyDeleteI was brought up on both... and a muffin, toasted on both sides per half.... served with scrambled eggs on one half and crispy streaky bacon and baked beans on the other.... is one of my favourite comfort foods... and so easy to make.
You can go very posh and "surf and turf" by adding smoked salmon scraps to the scrambled egg on the last stir before serving but remember that the salmon [or trout] is supplying a lot of salt to the scrambled egg, so just add pepper... and salt as necessary at the table!!
Salmon scraps are sold in packs of 400g for about 5€... no point in buying good slices just to chop them into little bits.
NB: The same company that makes the muffins for France also does crumpets, but they only seem to be available in the greater Paris area!!
I have a feeling that I've seen them in Leclerc, but it's a section of the bakery that I never visit. I shall look next year!
DeleteI grew up eating Thomas English Muffins, known for their 'nooks and crannies' once split and toasted.
ReplyDeleteMy English husband belittled them as not English at all but, I told him they might have evolved as an American form of the crumpet...looking crumpet like.
That sounds almost like a cross between the two! a Muffin with Crumpet-like holes.
DeleteIf you have half an hour for some research, Glen of Glen and Friends cooking channel from Toronto did videos on YouTube about English Muffins and Crumpets:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/R3TNDeqSLlU?si=7RkhWl-yjitxRJWl
https://youtu.be/Xlh_t1fO49Y?si=jb5haqKtAj1sNTj4
Thanks for that. I shall certainly have a look.
DeleteThey were definitely 'English' Muffins. And definitely 'English' Crumpets. Both delicious, although I wouldn't even consider making my own.
DeleteIn the US, I like Pepperidge Farm English muffins. The crumpets in England are similar but still different.
ReplyDeleteFor a filling meal, try toasted English muffin with a fried egg and cheese in between. Optionally, you can add a slice of tomato and bacon as well.
This might be worth trying on Friday with Kimbo!
Aka a McMuffin
DeleteThat does sound very good. I might well try it out on Kimbo!!!
DeleteMcDonald’s probably deliver.
DeleteSeriously though, if you are making, I would substitute an egg omelette instead of a fried egg, which tends to get messy. Also, toast the muffin before splitting it, that was the inside is soft and the contents adhere a bit better.
Have eaten a good many English Muffins in my life.
Also very good toasted on both sides served with butter and ginger jam…