I can't wait for return of one of my favourite programmes, the British period drama series 'Downton Abbey',written and created by actor and writer Julian Fellowes, and based around the early 1900's and filmed in the Stately home of the Earl and Countess of Grantham.
You cannot help but think of how life was around that time where 'the table' was an important setting, the focus of much of the social life of that period.
Guests were invited to teatime where important rituals helped to reinforce a family's wealth and social standing.
Dinner parties were held to show off their daughters with all the social skills and foibles of the time.
Teatime, sometimes immediately followed on from dinner (now lunch-time). Some of the breads you could choose from were wholemeal bread, cheese bread, soda bread and crumpets. Then there were lots of different types of scones followed by unusually named cakes like, Surly Curd Tart, which included one teaspoon of Epsom salts in its recipe!!! Cherry cake was very fashionable at this time as well as 'boiled' Fruit cake and of course a large choice of home made jams.
You can follow them on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/DowntonAbbey or online http://www.itv.com/dramapremieres/downtonabbey/
