Pies, puddings, biscuits and tarts

[ovc88guelph]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "David" <dfrankiswork at n...> 
wrote:
 
> > Muffin is another one. When we moved to Tokyo, I leaped on a 
> display 
> > of "English muffins", wondering that such short-lived bakery 
items 
> > could get as far as Japan, only then to be mystified that they 
> > weren't made in England at all. So why were they 
> labelled, "English"?
> 
As Steve mentioned, "English muffins" here are more like a crumpet. 
They are two sided (ie to make them crumpet-like, one has to cut 
them in half. 
> But, I believe, Americans eat filling sweet food for breakfast 
that 
> we wouldn't, except, perhaps, on holiday (er (or uh), that's 
> vacation to you, um, y'all)?  Buttermilk pancakes and maple syrup 
> springs to mind.
Hoho! Don't I wish pancakes (and crepes) with syrup were holiday 
foods! We have them more often then cereal!
>  
> > Here's another one. Brits as well. What's the difference between 
a 
> > tart and a pie?
> 
Hmm. This is certainly different. A dessert pie (fruit/custard) can 
have pastry on the bottom only, or on top and bottom. It is large 
(dinner plate size). A tart generally has pastry only on the bottom, 
but is small (muffin size).  However, my granny made "jam tarts" 
which were essentially jam, raisins and nuts completely enclosed in 
pastry, but baked on a flat pan ("cookie sheet"), not in a pie 
plate. 
    I'm curious about how people refer to meals. In my family, we 
had breakfast, lunch and supper/dinner. These last two were 
synonyms. When I moved to a rural area, I was quite horrified when  
repairmen would tell me to expect them after dinner, by which they 
meant "after lunch". And after a late night gathering or reception, 
a "lunch" would be served about 11 pm. Apparently, I have passed my 
confusion on to the next generation. My children often wake one 
another up by shouting "Wake up! We're having pancakes for supper!"