Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Today we had Biscuits for Breakfast..

and man, that term can get quite confusing.

Why?
  • Biscuits ( American ) are Scones ( British )
  • Biscuits ( British - often crispy and dry ) are ALSO Cookies ( American - and often soft and chewy )
In American English "biscuit" means a form of bread similar to a roll made with baking powder or baking soda as a rising agent rather than yeast, usually served as a side dish to a main meal or a breakfast item.



In British English a biscuit is a harder baked product which in North America would be called a "cookie" or "cracker". Both sweet and savoury exist, where sweet biscuits are commonly eaten as a snack and may contain chocolate, fruit, jam or nuts. Savoury biscuits are plainer and commonly eaten with cheese following a meal ( not AS a meal ).

( from watching Sesame Street over the years, I thought that cookies were special biscuits! )

In the States, Biscuits are served with Gravy along with chunks of sausage, and is quite a food of the South. Traditionally, a lot of grease and fat goes into making the gravy and biscuits, but I've omitted all of that ( yuck ) and use NO-FAT gravy and the wholegrain flour mix. They can also be eaten with..

  • Jelly ( American ) aka Jam ( British ) or
  • Jam ( American ) aka Marmalade ( British )
not to be mistaken with the British Jelly ( American Jell-O )

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, I didn't realize how varied the nomenclature for US and UK foods was.

Monica said...

I dont eat Biscuits???

we just eat toast here

and Included in the Major food groups In NY as breakfast food is BAGELS

Bagels Bagels bagles!!!

Thats what we eat here!!!!

Sarah said...

Wow never knew there were so many different types - I thought they either came with or without chocolate lol

Jaxon S said...

there are also other types of cookies -- we can't eat them but we can delete them. ;)

Unknown said...

Fat-free gravy.

*GASP*

Heathen!!

-grin-

PS. He was throwing a lantern at the flamingo. Lawn jockey statues are usually holding lanterns for some reason.

hearts81 said...

I (Canadian) married an Englishman so I had to learn the differences really quickly. But I still call a cookie a cookie and it drives him nuts lol... Yorkshire Pudding really confused my Dad the first time he had them at our place. Wasn't sure if he was supposed to butter them or what ;)

A Touch of Style :)

Anonymous said...

Totally. I was confused initially when I came to US too. Also, I say "serviette" in Singapore but they call it "napkin" here. "Washroom" as in "bathroom". "Kan't" as in "can't"... I find it very interesting!

letti said...

My Adventures in the US of A

Gravatar That made me hungry.


Mandy | Homepage | 03.16.05 - 7:43 pm | #

Gravatar I used to love up north, and down here in the south, biscuits are done very differently-- fattening with gracy and stuff as you mentioned. I am now remembering how the scones in England looked more like our biscuits here, but here, often scones are hard and misshapen, rather than something you can cut evenly down the middle.
Hannah | Homepage | 03.16.05 - 8:42 pm | #

Gravatar Hey.. letti,
I know wat you mean.. about the biscuit.. and cookies.. I call it biscuit .. my spouse call it cookies.. so poor chloe.. donch know wat to think..?? biscuit or cookies..??
MrsT | Homepage | 03.16.05 - 9:12 pm | #

Gravatar WOW! I think I'm confused! hehe
Salena | Homepage | 03.16.05 - 9:25 pm | #

Gravatar What about Doughnuts???? Those are the best anywhere you go. Doughnuts!!!!
Kerri Rachelle | Homepage | 03.16.05 - 11:37 pm | #

Gravatar Hi Letti,HAHA I eat before visiting your blog today. My the British do have a stange language. LOL This sommer I'll be in London for a week. So I'll be able to try English cusine first hand. From some of the people I've talked to. I shouldn't get my hopes up to much.
Raven | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 2:18 am | #

wow! there's something magical with breakfast. it brings out the little kids in all of us, don't you think?
dreaming-neko | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 3:35 am | #

Gravatar I'm an American living in England so I know exactly what you mean about the confusion with British/American words!

I love your blog. You always write such interesting and lively posts!

Maureen
Maureen | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 9:44 am | #

Gravatar This is a great entry; very interesting. I love well made biscuits, light and fluffy, but rich--McDonald's has a great "sausage biscuit" and depending on the restaurant, so does "Bob Evans." I like to bake my biscuits in an iron skillet.

Can't imagine, though, sausage gravy without fat drippings. Blogger isn't working too well today, so I used your Haloscan.
Norma | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 10:54 am | #

Gravatar o.k., how come you were in such a bad mood yesterday? :op
Big Gay Sam | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 12:58 pm | #

Gravatar What can i say, BGS..Henry is a handful. BLEH.
letti | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 1:12 pm | #

Mmmmm those eggs looks delish... crispy on the sides... :P
Ria | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 2:08 pm | #

Gravatar Ah...gotta love the "English" language
Carrie | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 10:52 pm | #

Gravatar hmm..i wonder what about muffins?? in McDonals, they serve those mc muffins for breakfast...but those arent really muffins isnt it?? weird
Michelle | Homepage | 03.17.05 - 11:56 pm | #

Gravatar I really hope England has KFC, and Wendys! Those two I would kill for. OH crap I gained 2lbs just mentioning them. LOL
Raven | Homepage | 03.18.05 - 3:17 am | #

Gravatar SCOOOOOONES........... yummy, How I love them. Now you'll excuse me but I'm off for breakfast... you've made me really hungry! *winks*
kay | Homepage | 03.18.05 - 4:26 am