U S of A versus the Great British Isles
If you were in England over the weekend there is probably a very big chance you or someone you know was watching the football. Not just any run-of-the-mill match, it was England’s opening game in this year’s FIFA World Cup Tournament. And it was against the US. Not a problem for most people but in our house it was made complicated by the fact that my OH is English and I am, yes you guessed, American.
Most of the time, we manage to combine our allegiances to get the best of both worlds. Like spending Christmas in Florida and our summer hols in Devon (okay we have only achieved this once but you get my point). The kids have followed suit with their love of pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast and egg, chips and beans at tea time. They are happy to describe themselves as half and half.
So the few international sporting events (try Wimbledon and the Olympics) in which the countries are on opposing sides can cause a problem or two. There is no question in my OH and son’s mind which team to support. Yeah, England. On the other hand my daughters can be swayed either way. They have other criteria: cute players are a big factor. And me? I just can’t help myself. Yeah it’s USA all the way folks. In the case of international football, this is, in the mind of my OH and son, a sure way of backing the losers. Or at least they thought.
See the two teams drew. It was one all. But perhaps you already knew that.
Just to prove that there was a posse of American supporters actually watching it in the US, my sister texted me three times during the game. She was in a bar in NYC with her fiancé. Apparently the walls shook when the US scored. I can promise you it was pretty still over here when they got that goal followed by a lot of groaning and sighing and shaking of heads. English men do not take kindly to having their team draw with a team that can honestly say “it’s not our national sport”. (I am pretty sure that’s something men from both sides of the pond have in common.)
All this sports competition stuff is done in pretty good humour I might add. I could chant “USA all the way,” every now and again without losing too many friends. Of course when I mention things like “that’s British Petroleum isn’t it?” well then I might have crossed the line (right Karen?). That’s the other little dent in our otherwise harmonious household: Obama’s recent speech emphasising what BP use to stand for.
Good time to keep your hand down then, if rolling your “r’s” is easier than clipping them.
It’s a tight balancing act keeping the peace between the two nations. Sometimes I feel the scales weighing down heavily towards one side and hope that whatever the tensions are causing it quickly dissipates. The thing is I love both places. I swear I was born with a twin, one that calls England her homeland, the other America. Guess it wasn’t a draw for nothing.
So what’s all this got to do with Cinnamon Swirl Bread? Well, when I hear those three words spoken together there is only one thing I think of and that is America. Next week’s post will be decidedly English. I promise. It’s our village fete this weekend and victoria sponges need to be made.
Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This week Susan from Food.Baby picked Cinnamon Swirl Bread from Dorie Greenspan’s book Baking: From My Home to Yours. You can find the recipe over at her’s. The ingredients list several optional items, some of which I choose to leave out. I wanted a pure cinnamon sugar taste so I omitted the raisins and orange zest. I also doubled the amount of sugar and cinnamon needed and only used one teaspoon of the unsweetened cocoa powder. Just to complicate matters even more I used brown sugar instead of white. What’s not to completely adore about brown sugar and cinnamon swirled inside the confines of a sweet doughy bread? It was so good that I had two pieces toasted with butter for breakfast. I could have eaten more but that little voice in the back of my head held me back (for once!).
I know homemade bread can seem a little daunting, time-consuming and not worth the trouble now that there are so many options available at the local supermarket. However, I would say although there is a time element when it comes to the rising, the other steps are quick and fairly straightforward. Some will be put off by the yeast but, in this case again, it’s simple. Just make sure the milk is warm while still okay to touch. The other great thing about this recipe is you can make the dough and put it in the fridge over night. So in the morning you can wake up and bake it fresh for breakfast.
There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread rising its way to perfection inside your oven. So go on, let a little sunshine in to your life and bake yourself a loaf.
And in case you want to see a recap of the two goals, here’s a lego version courtesy of http://www.legofussball.eu
Wow, that sugary crust looks divine! Makes me wish I had another loaf stashed in the freezer. Great post and thanks for baking with me!
Ciao ! We went to the movies when Italy was playing and were only five !! I love your loaf !
Thanks Natalia! I think the movies is much better than watching football any day.
Ah, sigh, I know it well…but this year NOT supporting France at all and YAY for the USA playing like gentlemen and not like, well, football players. LOVE this cinnamon bread and darned if I don’t have this book. It is now on my list of must make this weekend! Gorgeous!
I was actually in France the year they won one of the biggies. Can’t remember if it was World or Euro Cup final. But the celebrations were great fun. I am not much of football fan so in reality I don’t care that much. It’s all good fun really! Definitely make the bread. Apparently it is fab as french toast.
Your bread looks delicious!! Great job!
Thanks Susan!
BP, whats that?
Go USA.
Daniel, get a grip young man!
LOL dad! Don’t you watch the news.
I just saw the Leggo video on t.v. Very funny!
Great post. Your bread looks amazing!
Thanks Valerie!
You are Very Naughty with your “USA all the way” and “BRITISH Petroleum”.
(hee hee!)
I do love being naughty!
I love the brown sugar idea. I may have to make another loaf just to try it out that way!
It was good! Any excuse to make it again, right?
Lovely bread! I loved that you topped it with sugar…reminds me of cinnamon Babka!
Cinnamon babka now that does sound good
cute players are definitely a criteria with me too LOL! i think the USA played brilliantly. i am loving this swirl bread. it looks moist and full of flavor.
Oh and I like the DoF ;o)
Thanks Meeta! Cute players make the game just about bearable. x
that lego thing is so adorable! and i love the artsy off centered swirl. Looks yummy!
Thanks Tia!
I love the sugary top on your bread and subbing brown sugar was a brilliant idea!
Thanks Kimberly. I actually got it off a comment left on TWD. So can’t claim it to be original
I love your cinnamon swirl bread. I can just imagine the smell of your house when you were baking this. Well this year, the French doubt that their team will win at all. There’s a mega store offers to give away free big TVs if France wins the world cup but of course the store know the chance of the French team wining the world cup is nil. It’s all the same a good marketing gimmick.
Great marketing ploy! A prize you know you don’t have to give away. Don’t think there is much chance of England or USA winning either.
That looks marvellous, I keep meaning to try making some cinnamon bread or rolls. By the way, I can’t remember whether I told you yet or not, I’ve got my ticket to Cybermummy!!!!
Cinnamon rolls are just to die for Sarah! But only make them when you have guests over or you will eat the lot. Really looking forward to seeing you again at Cybermummy x
Your bread look so good and the brown sugar idea rocks!
Thanks!
Brown sugar? That sounds good. I love it in cinnamon rolls so why not in this bread.
It was good! Thanks for commenting.
My boys have all been captivated by the World Cup here
I’m not a football fan so I just leave them to it! Your bread looks wonderful. I loved this recipe, one of my favourites from BFMHTY so far 
It was one of my favs too! I am not much in to football either tbh. So yeah leave it to the men.
We are also all caught up in the whole football craze here in Israel. I have a South African coworker and she makes sure that we are updated regularly
. Your bread looks great and I’m sure makes the whole football watching that much more enjoyable!
England loves watching football! We have had it non-stop on tv every night. And yes this bread made it bearable.
Lovely post H! I do enjoy reading this blog but still haven’t got around to the baking! Will try harder honestly!
Thanks Julia! You don’t have to bake anything. It’s just lovely that you keep coming back to read it x
Oh my! The bread looks delicious. In the Foodie household, we get that kind of rivalry all the time with Rugby and Football. I’ll let you imagine what happened when the French knocked Ireland out of the World Cup (with a handball oops).. Not good
LOL! Yes I can imagine
Yum! I love the idea of the brown sugar in the middle. Nice job!
Thanks Jules!
I could imagine the scene at your house with Daniel and Charles rooting for England! Hope you gave them pieces of that delicious looking cinnamin bread to ease their pain.
Yes Charles couldn’t quite believe it!
Your bread looks great. I love the sugary top!
Thanks Katrina!
Not really a soccer(football) fan, but am watching the basketball finals in the U.S., Lakers vs. Celtics…Go Lakers! I AM a fan of your cinnamon swirl bread though! It looks beautiful and delicious!
Thanks Sue. Not much of a footie fan myself tbh but it makes good conversation!
Wonderful, Heather, on multiple scores. I must admit that this year I’ve chosen to sidestep the whole Eng. v US issue by rooting for SA’s Bafana-Bafana in the World Cup. They so love the game there, I couldn’t possibly support Eng., and don’t give a toss about the American team. Love your approach to the cinnamon swirl bread, my absolute favorite childhood afternoon snack. Must try (but I’ll sneak the raisins back in)!
Yes it would be great if SA won. I will support them too. Think it’s unlikely that either the USA or English teams will make it that far. But I promise to make more of this bread if they do!