Food idioms

A universal preoccupation with food is apparent in the many idioms based on it. Here are just ten:

1. apples and oranges: two things that are inherently different or incompatible. For example, “To compare The Chronicles of Narnia to the Twilight series is to compare apples to oranges.”

2. bad apple: a negative or corrupting influence on others; a troublesome or despicable person. For example, “One official of a national motorcycle organization argued that a few bad apples shouldn’t be allowed to ruin all motorcyclists’ reputations…”

3. bring home the bacon: to bring home the prize, to achieve success.

In American usage “to bring home the bacon” means “to earn the living for a household.” The expression probably originated from the custom/legend of the Dunmow Flitch. A “flitch of bacon” is a side of bacon, salted and cured. Married visitors to the town of Dunmow in Essex who knelt on two sharp stones and could swear that during the past twelvemonth they’d never quarreled with their spouse or wished themselves unmarried could claim a free flitch of bacon. Another possibility is that the expression derives from greased pig contests at county fairs. The contestant who succeeded in catching the pig “brought home the bacon.”

4. chew the fat: originally the expression meant to argue over a point, perhaps because people arguing make energetic mouth movements similar to what is required to masticate gristle.

In British usage, both “chew the fat” and “chew the rag” mean to argue or grumble. In American usage, the expressions mean “to engage in friendly conversation.”

5. cream puff: literally, a cream puff is a shell of puff pastry with a cream filling. In British usage, a “cream puff” is an effeminate person. In American usage, a “cream puff “is a used car in especially good condition.

6. cup of tea: something that suits a person’s disposition

The expression is used in both positive and negative contexts:

“A Mozart concert? Just my cup of tea!”

“A ball game? Sorry, football is not my cup of tea.”

7. a pretty/fine kettle of fish: an awkward state of affairs; a mess or a muddle. For example, “As the crisis dragged on to the eleventh month, Bishop Segun introduced a pretty kettle of fish to the whole matter when he instituted an ecclesiastical court…”

In researching this post, I discovered that the expression “a pretty kettle of fish” (with the meaning “a fine mess”) seems to be morphing into “a different kettle of fish” or “another kettle of fish” with the meaning “something else entirely.” For example, “Your website needs to be a whole different kettle of fish.”

8. a lemon: something that is bad or undesirable.

Anything that fails to meet expectations can be called a lemon. For example, “Her first husband was a lemon.”

Most often, the term is used to describe a car that has problems from its time of purchase. Individual states have “lemon laws” intended to protect consumers from substandard vehicles. The federal lemon law (the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act) was enacted in 1975 and protects citizens of all states.

9. full of beans: full of energy and high spirits. For example, this headline: “Hollins still full of beans as he settles in at Crawley Town”

In current usage the expression “full of beans” is so frequently associated with children that it has been adopted as a brand name by child care centers and a children’s clothing store. I’ve always assumed that the expression derived from the idea of a frisky bean-fed horse, but recently I read that at one time beans were considered an aphrodisiac.

10. hot potato: a delicate situation that must be handled with great care. For example, this headline: “Herbert’s ‘Healthy Utah’ Plan Could be a Political Hot Potato”

Orignally posted on Daily Writing Tips

Caramel cake

Caramel is one of my favourite sweet flavours. I had been thinking about how to make a caramel cake for quite a while. Research on the interweb shows that they are quite popular in America but it seems to be more about a plain cake with icing: not particularly interesting or inspiring.

I had also recently learnt the rules about substituting oil for butter in cakes to allow different flavour profiles and I thought a caramel cake would be the perfect way to try out my own oil cake recipe.

To make my "ultimate" caramel cake, I baked two different cakes, one vanilla and one caramel (using muscovado sugar). These were then split into three and layered with three different types of icing. The combination of icings was determined by a taste test at work a few days ago. A lunch time activity which my work pals were more than happy to participate in. I even had some of the cake trimmings with me to help out.

The final cake looked like this (unfortunately I don't have a cross-section).

The cake was amazing. I would go so far as to say it was possibly the best cake I have ever made. The caramel cake had a really rich deep flavour. The slight bitterness from one of the icings worked really well as a foil to the sweetness. The plain sponge cake also provided contrast for the other flavours to work against. Overall the cake tasted of a rich caramel providing a long, rounded and satisfying mouthful with each bite and crucially it wasn't too sweet. The decorative sugar shards provided a textural contrast although they didn't last long in the warmth of the office.

Anyway, on to the recipe. Be warned there are six different components in this cake: two cakes, three types of icing and the sugar shards. It's a lengthy undertaking but one which, I think, is well worth it.

Caramel cake recipe

Ingredients:

For the vanilla sponge:

2 eggs

4oz butter

4oz plain flour

4oz caster sugar

1tsp baking powder

1tsp vanilla extract

For the caramel sponge:

2 eggs

90.4g flavourless oil e.g. sunflower

22.8g milk

4oz dark muscovado sugar

1tsp baking powder

4oz plain flour

Pinch of salt

Filling icing 1 (taken from Bay Area Bites recipe):

2 cups caster sugar

1/2 cup water

2oz butter

30ml double cream

5oz icing sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

pinch salt

Filling icing 2 (taken from Scrumpdillyicious's recipe):

1/4cup light brown sugar

10tbsp butter

1/3cup double cream

8oz cream cheese

1/2tsp vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup icing sugar

External frosting (taken from My Recipes):

1oz butter, melted

1 3/4oz dark brown sugar

2-4tbsp milk

1dsp vanilla extract

135g icing sugar
Caramel shards, to decorate (taken from Ricardo Cuisine):

60 ml water
20og sugar
1.5oz  butter
1/2tsp salt
1/2tsp baking soda

Method:

1. Start be making the vanilla sponge. Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs one by one, alternating with a little flour, and then beat in the vanilla extract.
3. Sieve the flour and baking powder into the mix and fold in.
4. Split the batter between three 8" lined cake tins and bake at 180°C for about 10mins until cooked through. You'll need to keep a watchful eye to check that the edges don't go crisp before the middle is cooked.
5. To make the caramel sponge whisk together the wet ingredients: eggs, oil and milk.
6. Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl and mix with the muscovado sugar.
7. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, whisking only just enough to combine them.
8. Split the batter between three 8" lined cake tins and bake at 180°C for about 10mins until cooked through. You'll need to keep a watchful eye to check that the edges don't go crisp before the middle is cooked.
9. For filling icing 1, a caramel syrup is required. In a large heavy-bottomed pan mix the water and sugar until the mixture feels like wet sand.
10. Heat the pan on maximum until the syrup is smoking slightly and has a dark amber colour. (this may be as high as 190°C).
NB The aim is to create a slightly bitter syrup. This is crucial to offset the sweetness of the cake.
11. Carefully pour in one cup of water and whisk over medium heat until the syrup has reduced slightly and feels sticky between two fingers. (Obviously wait for it to cool on a spoon before touching it!)
12. To make the icing make a beurre noisette by cooking the butter until it is brown. Sieve into a bowl and aside to cool.
13. Beat the brown butter with until smooth and then ad in the icing sugar gradually alternating with the cream or caramel syrup. Repeat until all the sugar, syrup and cream has been incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Add salt to taste.
14. For filling icing 2, gently warm the brown sugar and 4 tbsp butter together until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil over medium heat and remove from the heat.
15. Whisk in the cream until well combined. Transfer to a heat-resistant bowl and allow to cool, stirring occasionally.
16. Beat the remaining butter until soft and smooth. Beat in the cream cheese, vanilla and salt until smooth.
17. Slowly beat in the cooled brown sugar mixture (an electric whisk helps here) until smooth. Add the icing sugar gradually, beating well after each addition until completely smooth. Chill slightly for a firmer texture, stirring occasionally.
18. For the external icing, melt the butter over a medium heat.
19. Add the brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk. Cook for 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
20. Combine the butter mixture and 2 vanilla in a large bowl. Gradually beat in the icing sugar; beat with a until smooth. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, as required until spreading consistency.
21. To make the decorative caramel shards, bring the water, sugar, butter, and salt to a boil. Cook until the mixture caramelises and take on a golden brown colour.
22. Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the baking soda with a whisk. Quickly pour on to a baking sheet lined with silicon sheet. Spread the caramel in a thin layer and cool completely. Once cold, break the caramel into long pieces.
23. To assemble, put one of the caramel sponges on the bottom of the serving board. Spread one third of filling icing 1 over the cake. Place one of the vanilla cakes on top and spread half of filling icing 2 over the top. Repeat these layers, alternating cakes and icings until all six cakes have been used and five layers or icing have been spread (see diagram below).
24. Slather the cake with a thin layer of the external frosting (a crumb layer) and refrigerate until solid. Use the rest of the frosting to cover the cake liberally. Decorate with shards of caramel.