Tag: homemade

Jam first or cream first – do you know the Cornish way?

Obviously I am talking about the delicious scone! But do you know the Cornish scone way? Scones, jam and cream form part of a traditional Cornish Cream tea – and no, I don’t mean cream in your tea!

Plain scones, traditionally served with a cup of tea, jam & cream

What is a cream tea?

There is nothing better than settling down mid afternoon, preferably with the sun shining, for a traditional cream tea. Picture the scene – fresh pot of tea (Cornish tea), small jug of milk (Cornish milk), proper tea cups, scones, jam and Cornish clotted cream.

Cornish tea?

You might just spot in the background the unmissable orange packaging of Cornish Tea – designed to be an “all day and every day brew” smugglers tea is perfect for a cream tea. We include a box of local Cornish Tea in our Welcome Basket for you to enjoy at Rock Cottage. https://www.cornish-tea.co.uk/

What is clotted cream?

It’s made by gently heating cream and then cooling slowly in large pans. Rodda’s Cornish Clotted Cream is famous all over the UK and made just down the road in Redruth, they even shared my instagram post on Facebook!

So what is the Cornish scone way? What is the “other” way?!

Ever heard of scone wars? A long lived rivalry exists between Cornwall and Devon on which way is the correct way to make a scone. Jam first then cream or cream first then jam? Jam first or cream first?

The Cornish prefer jam first then cream. This is the proper way! Devonians prefer cream first then jam. The Devon way!

A Devon Scone!

Which ever way you enjoy them, a scone with cream and jam is always delicious but when in Cornwall, eat them the Cornish way – you won’t regret it!

Rock Cottage is the perfect spot to enjoy a cream tea with scones the Cornish way – book online at www.rockcottagepadstow.com and come and see for yourself. The comfortable traditional holiday cottage near Padstow sleeps 4 and has a lovely enclosed sun trap garden to enjoy a cream tea. And if it a mizzle and drizzle kind of day then savour your cream tea in front of a roaring log burner.

enjoy!

Where is the best pasty in Padstow?

Padstow is pasty central. There are quite a few shops specialising in the famous Cornish pasty clustered around the harbour in Padstow.

I’m proud to report that I think I’ve tasted a pasty from every shop. I’ve also been known to venture to Malcom Barnecutts in Wadebridge (also superb) and even Prima Bakeries down in Redruth (totally recommended for their frozen takeway option – very cost effective to cook at home).

I’m so keen on pasties that I even make them from scratch – see the pic at the end!

Perhaps the first question ought to be: What is a pasty?

A pasty is a tasty pastry usually savoury containing meat, potato, swede, onion and seasoning shaped like a ‘D’ and crimped down one side.

A traditional pasty

These days you can buy pasties in all sorts of different combinations:

  • Lamb and mint
  • Curried meet
  • Cheese and Onion
  • Steak and stilton
  • English breakfast (bacon & sausage)
  • Christmas dinner (turkey, potato, pig in blanket, sprout etc!)
  • even sweet ones involving jam and fruits!

The history of the Cornish Pasty

The humble Cornish pasty has only enjoyed protected status (PGI – protected geographical indication) since 2011 – meaning that since 2011 you know a “Cornish Pasty” is truly Cornish.

Going back a century or two, the Cornish pasty was a traditional food for the working folk of Cornwall, the fisherman and farmers but most famously the miners that worked in the many tin mines. The thick crimped crust which runs down one side of the pasty was used as a disposable handle by the miners who hands were filthy from working down the mine. The miners even had little cloth bags for carrying their pasties in to work.

If you fancy learning more about the history of the Pasty then I recommend a day out to the National Trust run Tin Mines who have a plethora of information on the topic. On one trip to a mine the children were even able to make a felt pasty to take home to learn about the different fillings.

The Chough Bakery

You can’t fail to miss The Chough Bakery right on the harbour in Padstow. The famous building with its curved building is easy to spot, and so is the queue of customers out the door! Don’t be put off by the queue though as it moves quickly. They also have a “quick serve” hatch for fast takeaway.

The reason I am mentioning Chough Bakery over the other pasty shops in Padstow is that they put clotted cream in their pasties! How delicious is that?! The clotted cream melts into the pasty mix so it isn’t creamy as such but more of a rich buttery flavour.

The Best Pasty?

I can’t commit! I recommend trying as many as possible and then let me know which is your favourite. Perhaps I could do a poll? I change my mind every time I eat one, I think my favourite is the one I’m eating!

Homemade pasties – made by me!