Helen RandellCherry Cake and Ginger Beer
May 30th 2010 01:22
I have been reading a book called Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer, written by Jane Brocket. The book is basically a collection of recipes inspired by childhood stories. For example, Enid Blyton's Famous Five never set off without a hearty breakfast of hot buttered toast and brown eggs, nor would they ever think to miss the wonderful treats of 'elevenses' or afternoon tea.
With the notion that good adventuring requires good fuel, other children's stories, such as What Katy Did, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and Mary Poppins, also include descriptions of wonderment for what is placed on the table.
Each recipe is prefaced with a paragraph or two taken from the children's book where a reference to the meal is made. In Henrietta's House, by Elizabeth Goudge, the characters are discussing the difference between tea, high tea and supper: "One adds cold ham then, you know, and then as time goes on the tea gets higher and higher and one adds ginger wine and damson cheese and stewed fruit, and sardines if you have any. And then after eight o'clock is isn't high tea any more, but supper, and you can fry bacon and eggs."
This sort of paragraph feels so comforting to me. There is no talk of pretentious ingredients or difficult methods - just simple, homely food.
Ironically though, this book does not inspire me to do much cooking. Instead I feel that I should delve into my boxes of old books and rediscover the magic of the Faraway Tree and find out what Fanny and Dick and the others are up to in Five on a Treasure Island. However, I may have a shot at making home-made ginger beer - perhaps at the same time as I make home-made lemonade!
What are your memories of your favourite childhood books, and what delicious treats do you remember wanting to taste?
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