Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...: We're off to spend Christmas at Hembry Castle with Meredith Allard, my Coffee Pot Guest

Tuesday 7 December 2021

We're off to spend Christmas at Hembry Castle with Meredith Allard, my Coffee Pot Guest

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Most fans of the 19th century are familiar with Mrs. Isabella Beeton, the Martha Stewart of Victorian England. Although I used her recipes and household management tips as resources for both of my Hembry Castle novels, I admit that I didn’t know much about Mrs. Beeton herself until recently.

On her very own website, it says that she married publisher Samuel Orchard Beeton in 1856. After her marriage, Mrs. Beeton wrote numerous articles about cooking and household management for her husband’s publications. In 1861, the articles were compiled into a single book, Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management. Sadly, she died at age 28 shortly after giving birth to her fourth child.

Some of Mrs. Beeton’s recipes that appeared in Christmas at Hembry Castle. Here is her recipe for Edward’s favorite beef rolls from the BBC Food website:

· remains of cold roast or boiled beef

· salt

· pepper

· minced herbs

· 1 roll of puff pastry

1. Mince the beef tolerably fine with small amount of its own fat. Add a seasoning of pepper, salt, and chopped herbs.

2. Put the whole into a roll of puff-pastry, and bake for ½ hour, or longer if the roll is bigger.

3. Beef patties may be made of cold meat, by mincing and seasoning beef as directed above, and baking in a rich puff pastry.

And how about the Syllabub Edward and Daphne share over a quiet dinner at Staton House?

· 570ml/1 pint sherry or white wine

· ½ grated nutmeg

· sugar to taste

· 900ml/1½pt milk

1. Put the wine into a bowl, with the grated nutmeg and plenty of pounded sugar, and add it to the milk.

2. Clouted cream may be held on the top, with pounded cinnamon or nutmeg and sugar; and a little brandy may be added to the wine before the milk is put in.

3. In some countries, cider is substituted for the wine: when this is used, brandy must always be added. Warm milk may be poured on from a spouted jug or teapot; but it must be held very high.

And last, but definitely not least, here is Mrs. Beeton’s recipe for the mince “Pies!” that nearly causes the death of Hembry’s cook, Mrs. Graham.

· Short crust, rich short crust, flaky, rough puff or puff pastry, using 6 oz. flour, etc.

· 10–12 oz. mincemeat

· castor or icing sugar

1. Roll the pastry out to about ⅛ in. thickness. Cut half of it into rounds of about 2½ in. diameter and reserve these for lids. (Use a plain cutter for flaky, rough puff or puff pastry.)

2. Cut the remaining pastry into rounds of about 3 in. diameter and line some patty tins.

3. Place some mincemeat in the tins, brush the edge of the pastry with water and place a lid on top of each. Press the edges well together; if a plain cutter has been used knock up the edges.

4. Brush the tops with water and sprinkle with sugar. Make a hole or 2 small cuts in the top of each. Bake in a hot oven (450°–425° F., Gas 8–7) depending on the type of pastry, for 25–30 min.

5. Dredge tops with castor sugar.

These are simple recipes, but they were very influential in my writing of Christmas at Hembry Castle. If you’re in the mood for some authentic Victorian flavors at your Christmas table this season, you might give them a try.

You are cordially invited to Christmas at Hembry Castle.

An unlikely earl struggles with his new place. A young couple’s love is tested. What is a meddling ghost to do?

In the tradition of A Christmas Carol, travel back to Victorian England and enjoy a lighthearted, festive holiday celebration

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About the Author

Meredith Allard is the author of the bestselling paranormal historical Loving Husband Trilogy. Her sweet Victorian romance, When It Rained at Hembry Castle, was named a best historical novel by IndieReader. Her latest book, Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction, was named a #1 new release in Authorship and Creativity Self-Help on Amazon. When she isn’t writing she’s teaching writing, and she has taught writing to students ages five to 75. She loves books, cats, and coffee, though not always in that order. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Meredith online at www.meredithallard.com.

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