19th century biscuitmaker to the Empire

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I am visiting my son in Europe. Presently we are all in Cyprus, and that is 'cause I married a girl from there 44 years ago. (She is also American, having been raised and educated in St Louis.) So a few years ago my son was introduced to a Cypriot/English girl. The other Grandfather is extatic that he now has three wholy Cypriot  Grandchildren (Ya know, two halves make a whole!)

Son now lives in Reading, England and showed me this bit of local food history;

http://www.huntleyandpalmers.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=file&p=huntley&f=huntley.htm

My 8 year old grandaughter baked biscuits  ("cookies" to y'all) to the factory recipe as a school history project. She made the "Nice Biscuits" (1904 recipe) but they also have the "Long Jamaica Biscuit" recipe, dated 1865. Both taste great. It's not a great website: to find the recipes, go "themes" (Top menu) and then "Biscuits" (middle menu) then "bake a biscuit" (bottom of left menu).

P.S. This is not off topic as we have a real 19th century food processing company that is still in business, now owned by a conglomerate! This company also supplied the bulk of the British army's ration biscuits back in the day.

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings My Dear Sir C -

....
My 8 year old grandaughter baked biscuits  ("cookies" to y'all) to the factory recipe as a school history project.
....

...This company also supplied the bulk of the British army's ration biscuits back in the day.

Sooooo.... part of the British Army Rations included ( includes?) cookies ?

yhs
prof ( confused ) marvel

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Read the link, PERFESSA.

Try this;  http://www.huntleyandpalmers.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=huntley&f=generic_theme.htm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&t=rm-rm-biscuits_content1&%3dtheme_record_id=rm-rm-biscuits_content12&s=3pdo3Wz3FLl

The traditional army biscuit is much the same as it has been for at least 2500 years. My son, a Major in the Brit reserve says YES there is still a biscuit in the field ration; "Biscuit, Brown" It is still the traditional 4 inch square but in a foil wrapper, somewhat sweeter than formerly, but meant to be a bread substitute.

Note to self; try to bake the "Long Jamaica" biscuit recipe from 1865.

[Professor Marvel]

AH, the link!
READ the link!

so early biscuits == hardtack
and later biscuits vary in sweetness

what, if anything do the British have that is similar to the 'Merican cowboy biscuit?

yhs
prof confused but getting better

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

AH, the link!
READ the link!

so early biscuits == hardtack, or like saltines without the salt.
and later biscuits vary in sweetness

The original link can explain it better than I.

what, if anything do the British have that is similar to the 'Merican cowboy biscuit?

yhs
prof confused but getting better

Just google "scones "  http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/23618/simple-homemade-scones.aspx
Son just added to my knowledge. Toss lumps of a similar dough on top of a stew for "Yorkshire hotpot" (also Lancashire Hotpot...same idea, different county...not always with the suet dumplings, often made with mutton but sometimes beef, see http://britishfood.about.com/od/recipeindex/r/beefstewdumps.htm