American Readers(and others too)

[Rumil]

One unusual cake which Bilbo offered the dwarves, apart from the standard fare of apple tart and mince pies was seed cake.

I haven't encountered seed cake for years though I vaguely remember my gran making it long ago (or perhaps - shock horror - it was 'bought in' ). It was quite a light dry sort of cake in 'large cake format' around half a loaf of bread in size, containing seeds of unknown provenance, perfect for consumption with a nice cuppa. Naturally the dwarves, as us Brits used to in ages past, accompanied it with ale. Methinks an experiment is in order if I can find anywhere that still makes it. Any ideas from 'cheeky Brits'?

(Rumil sudenly feels peckish and heads for the larder........)

[Neithan]

and are possibly closest to cup cakes, but they come in infinite varieties; some have cream in them, some custard, some are in fact made with pastry, but to a man (or rather, to a cake) they are all sweet and exceedingly good.

That description sounds almost like donuts.

I determined to find out where my idea of American biscuits comes from and it turns out they are a Southern thing.

Well "buscuits and gravy" is primarily a southern tradition but it is eaten elsewhere. Personally I just put butter on mine.

For me it was the "conies and taters" (sorry if it's mispelled.) I never eaten a rabit of any kind, so I had to read that part a couple times over to determine that Sam was in fact cooking a rabbit stew. As for taters, I had to remind my self of "tater-tots", and I can't really describe them, except that they're great with ketchup.

Well that kind of thing depends on where in America you are from. The word "taters" was not the least bit foreign to me and rabbit stew is not uncommon among people who hunt rabbits.

[radagastly]

It's all Lembas and Cram! (there may even be a seed cake or two in there, though I didn't find one with a search.)

By the way, biscuits and sausage gravy can be very good for breakfast, though I agree those pictures looked pretty unappetizing, all kind of pale and gloopy.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

in this treat the scones are slathered in strawberry jam, clotted cream and possibly butter too.

*drools again* These are the scones I was talking about. Or even... my mum and I made scones last summer for a garden party and the best ones had blueberries in them. Slathered with butter while still hot? *dies*

As for biscuits... the best way [COUGH] the only way [/COUGH] to eat a biscuit is sliced horizontally and spread with butter and strawberry jam. Although there are some instances where biscuits are quite good served with a chicken/vegetable/gravy concoction. Very hearty and delicious.

As for taters... I have issues with taters. I always picture Sam cooking up the tater tots that my school's cafeteria likes to serve with cheeseburgers. The best way to describe them is as small (a square inch, or thereabouts) ball of shredded potato with [somehow] a crispy outside. Now don't get me wrong, I love taters... but it's just hard seeing Gollum holding one up to the light saying "What's taters, precious?"

Fea

[Nimrodel_9]

I determined to find out where my idea of American biscuits comes from and it turns out they are a Southern thing.

What? We have biscuits here in Utah. They are like a roll. You eat them with soup, or with jam and butter. You can dip them in gravy too.

By the way, biscuits and sausage gravy can be very good for breakfast, though I agree those pictures looked pretty unappetizing, all kind of pale and gloopy.

That's good stuff!

Gollum with a tator tot. Heh heh.

[Morai]

As for biscuits... the best way [COUGH] the only way [/COUGH] to eat a biscuit is sliced horizontally and spread with butter and strawberry jam. Although there are some instances where biscuits are quite good served with a chicken/vegetable/gravy concoction. Very hearty and delicious.

But of course....(though if you like salsa, I highly suggest spreading it on the biscuit like butter.)
American biscuits are very similar to an Egg-Mc-muffin minus the egg and ham (shudder!) and they are much tastier and easier on the stomach.

As for taters... I have issues with taters. I always picture Sam cooking up the tater tots that my school's cafeteria likes to serve with cheeseburgers. The best way to describe them is as small (a square inch, or thereabouts) ball of shredded potato with [somehow] a crispy outside. Now don't get me wrong, I love taters... but it's just hard seeing Gollum holding one up to the light saying "What's taters, precious?"

Exactly what I was talking about, still no one I know eats Rabbit stew, and yes...I refuse to reveal my location, unless you can figure it out yourself from all my inside jokes.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

American biscuits are very similar to an Egg-Mc-muffin minus the egg and ham (shudder!) and they are much tastier and easier on the stomach.

English muffins, those are called, but do they even have them in England? Quite excellent with... you guessed it... butter and strawberry jam. Or apple butter. I never pictured Dwarves and Hobbits with English Muffins though... regular muffins... blueberry muffins and such... Now those I can see a hobbit eating a dozen of in one sitting.

Fea