A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO SHOW LOVE
In yesterday’s post I shared about how God thinks about preparing food and how we are also like God when we care about preparing food for our families and for others.I’d love to share an example with you. On Sunday evening, Erin Harrison, who lives on the Hilltop here prepared a special Ladies’ High Tea for my 80th birthday. She called it “Fancy for Nancy” and everyone was asked to come really dressed up and with a hat to match!
Each person was asked to bring a dessert or savory dish, but the day before Erin got an idea, which was a surprise. She decided to turn it into a really royal Tea Party, and she set to work to bake 10 different English recipes for the party! Did I say 10? Yes, 10 different recipes that would have taken most people a day to do one of them!
At the party, one of our lovely ladies brought each dish around to show everyone and they had to guess the name of the recipe. I have to confess that even with my English background I didn’t win the competition.
Anyway, let me tell you about what she made. And I’d love to know how many you would have guessed!
No. 1. Scones. Well, we all knew what they were. It is very English to have scones with jam and cream. In our family, often on a Sunday evening we will make scones with jam and cream, a favorite because we come from New Zealand.
No. 2. Victoria Sponge. Erin made such a beautiful six-layered sponge with whipped cream between each layer.
No. 3. Chelsea Buns. They are made with currants or raisins, and cinnamon, allspice, and lemon peel. They look a little like cinnamon rolls.
No. 4. English Shortbread. We could all guess this one. Shortbread is a favorite of most people, but I think this was the best shortbread I have ever eaten in my life. Erin made all her dishes with freshly ground einkorn flour. so they were so healthy.
No. 5. Figgy Pudding. We sometimes sing about this when we are out caroling at Christmas time . . .
“Now, bring us some figgy pudding,
Now, bring us some figgy pudding,
Now, bring us some figgy pudding, and bring it out here!
The funny thing is that I had never eaten figgy pudding until Sunday evening! I didn’t even know what it was! But wow, I have never eaten anything so delectable I’ll post a picture of it. It includes dates and figs and raisins and eggs and flour. Erin made a beautiful job of them.
No. 6. English Trifle. This is a familiar one of course, made with sponge cake, custard, jelly, whipped cream, and berries, all layered. It's always a favorite at every party back home in New Zealand. We could purchase packages of custard powder (from which we make the custard) from the supermarket but it is difficult to procure here in USA. However, not to be outdone, Erin made her own custard with eggs which was even healthier.
No. 7. Spotted Dick. This was another one I hadn’t heard of. Apparently, it was also a favorite of Queen Victoria's. It is a boiled pudding with lemon undertone and is spotted with raisins. Dick was another name for pudding, derived from the word “dough.”
No. 8. Cornish pasty, made perfectly by Erin. Couldn’t get better at any restaurant.
No. 9. Mincemeat pies. These aren't made with meat, but with raisins and such in little cases of pastry which they make especially at Christmas time.
No. 10. Bubble and Squeak, made from leftover potatoes and cabbage. I sometimes made this for the children when they were growing up. You can also include eggs and other leftovers when frying them up.
How many of these would you have guessed correctly?
But what I am really wanting to share with you is the time, effort, creativity, and thoughtfulness Erin put into making all these recipes in order to make it such a special evening for all the ladies.
Food is a beautiful way to show love.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Pictures:
Erin’s table laden with food
Figgy Pudding
Spotted Dick
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