I was listening to the radio the other day and they were giving statistics about food related searches and one of the highest was "cup cakes".

This reminded me of the converstion over what to call these "buns" when I'd sent this recipe in -

tea buns from Lancashire

Steve

Hi, Steve, your Lancashire Tea Buns look very tempting. I'm living in the US, and cupcakes are immensely popular here at the moment. There are neighbourhood bakeries that sell ONLY cupcakes! They look like larger fairy cakes, and are made from many kinds of cake, with all colours and flavours of icing. Magnolia Bakery in New York City charges $2.50 to 3.00 -- at today's exchange rate, that's about 1.75 to 2.10 GBP -- each!

No wonder I make my own buns at that price!.... lol

Steve

Hi,

I find it interesting how indifferent parts of the world use a variety of names. Here in Oz 'buns' contain the product yeast, they can also be called 'bread rolls'. Looking at the pictures of Lancashire tea buns they look like chocolate cup cakes.

Your recipe is easy, tried and true. Much better made at home with real butter, real flour and real sugar.... yum yum:)

cheers

JL

Considering we're all speaking English, it's curious that the words have different meanings. In the US, "buns" are the breads on hamburgers or hot dogs. As far as I know, nothing else is called a bun here except for hot cross buns. Other small yeast breads are always called "rolls". If they're sweet, with icing and filling, then they're called "sweet rolls", or perhaps "pastries". A "teacake" is a special type of cookie, which is to say, a biscuit in Britain. An American "biscuit" is a dinner roll similar to a scone.

The first time I asked for a bap I got blank stares. And I've learned not to ask guests if they'd like a biscuit with their tea, lol.

Words are a strange thing... and bread rolls, teacakes, buns, baps, burger baps etc... oh don't get me started... .lol

Steve