Sunday 9 October 2011

And next to Norwich...


... where I am speaking on Tuesday at the Jarrolds Literary Lunch, alongside the distinguished Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers, and Susan Hill (whose writing is amongst the very best of contemporary authors; her brilliant ghost stories haunt me still -- they're as good as MR James or Daphne du Maurier. Her novel, 'In the Springtime of the Year' is also close to hand on my bookshelf, ever since I read it after my sister's death). Very pleased to be going to Jarrolds, an excellent department store that first opened in 1820 as a bookseller and lending library (for more about Jarrolds and other independents, read the Guardian guide here). Rather thrillingly, lunch is being held at Delia Smith's restaurant on the top floor of her Norwich City Football Club. Regular readers of this blog will know that I consider Delia's apple crumble recipe to be the best ever. And I'm also feeling inclined to try her autumn lamb recipe, now that it's colder outside...
PS. Later today. Inspired by Delia to have a baking afternoon: have made lemon cheesecake and a very dark gingerbread. The latter is my own recipe, adapted over the years, so I have no one to blame but myself if it isn't sufficiently gooey (I use black treacle, crystallised ginger, and spelt flour). If the lemon cheesecake works, then I'll post the recipe tomorrow; it has to be refrigerated overnight after baking, so the test will be in the tasting...
PPS. Just had the first slice of cheesecake -- delicious. Here is the recipe. I added far more lemon juice than suggested (the juice of two lemons, rather than a teaspoonful, as I like a properly lemony flavour; I also doubled the quantities for the biscuit base -- 85g of digestives, plus 85g ginger biscuits -- and substituted 150 grams of Greek yoghurt and 150 grams of half-fat creme fraiche for 300 grams of Philadelphia cheese, because I already had them in the fridge; in other words:
300g light soft cheese.
150g Greek yoghurt.
150g half-fat creme fraiche
175g golden caster sugar
3 tbsp cornflour
1½ tsp finely grated lemon zest
Juice from two lemons
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs , room temperature, beaten
150g fromage frais

My cheesecake took twice as long to cook at the low temperature than in the recipe, but then everyone's oven is different... you'll know by the slight wobble!

13 comments:

enid said...

Oh the places you go reminds me of Dr SeussCongratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go

Justine Picardie said...

Love Dr Seuss! But I've never read this one before, so thank you so much, Enid.

jaywalker said...

I just had a web book site notification of Susan Hill's new Simon Serailler novel and will be ordering it. I thoroughly enjoyed the others in the series.
We're just back from five days in Sydney but it doesn't seem to compare with a Chanel fashion show in Paris or even dinner at Delia's - even though we were in the Place Vendome and Rue Gambon in daylight a few months ago.

However, we did visit the opera house twice - Verdi's Macbeth and then the Vienna Philharmonic who were stunning and played a wonderful encore of the full version of the Blue Danube to a standing ovation and flying streamers. The Concert Hall at the Sydney opera house is one of the most stunning in the world.

We also visited the home and studio of Norman Lindsay in the Blue Mountains. You may be familiar with his voluptuous nudes (both real and painted) or with his classic Australian children's book The Magic Pudding or the film made of his novel, The Age of Consent (with a very young Hugh Grant and Elle MacPherson). He was an amazing, uniquely creative person and lived a life to match.

What exotic destination is next, Justine? Even Norwich sounds a bit exotic to me! We'd all love to be in your suitcase!

Karen, Surrey said...

Sounds very exciting. The 13th Earl Ferrers sounds like a distant relative of someone from Sense and Sensibility! I am a massive fan of Delia too. A recipe of hers I made this week is Red Cabbage with apples. I make it every year with the excess of cooking apples around and freeze for Christmas. Try it it's great.

Justine Picardie said...

Sydney seems very exotic to me -- as do the Blue Mountains -- I've never been to Australia, and am longing to go. Also, have never been to India or South America; so much more to explore...
I like the sound of the Magic Pudding. And of red cabbage with apples. If summer is for gardening, then autumn always makes me want to cook.
Yesterday's gingerbread was delicious: dark and satisfyingly sticky. Will report back on the cheesecake later, as it had to stay in the fridge overnight.

Lilacs said...

Spooky! I just bought The Magic Pudding for my nephew - on Philip Pullman's recommendation (he said it was the funniest book he has ever read). Your yummy gingerbread description has made me want to cook some now, it's perfect with the temperature dropping and leaves falling outside.

Justine Picardie said...

Now I'm going to have to order the magic pudding!

jaywalker said...

Serendipity seems to pop up on here all the time. Here's the Lindsay website with a link for The Magic Pudding.

http://www.normanlindsay.com.au/

Realised I made a typo in the last post. Sirens was the movie with Elle MacPherson and The Age of Consent was with Helen Mirren.

If you saw Sirens you will remember the nude models cavorting in the garden. Our guide told us that one of them is still alive, aged 90, who told her that there is no way that it ever happened as Lindsay was far too mean to pay them for anything but posing! Ah, well, it was a nice cinematic touch.

I'm not a cook but I still enjoy reading all your cooking adventures.

Unknown said...

Hi Justine
I would love to hold a gathering at Love Bakery - what a wonderful idea. Lovely to see a picture of you in your kitchen - I will be trying that recipe! Thrilled to see you enjoying Paris and Chanel's collection - so exciting. Sam xx

kairu said...

I loved the peek into your kitchen and the idea of lemon cheesecake! I made a lemon ice cream (and a vanilla one, as well) last week for a girls' weekend on an alpaca farm (long story) and as the ice cream wasn't lemony enough on its own I dumped in quite a lot of lemon curd while it was all churning. A bit of sunshine on a dark and rainy night!

Justine Picardie said...

Lemon curd icecream -- heavenly. I feel inspired to make a lemon meringue pie. And definitely a magic pudding.
And Sam -- yes please, let's have a gathering at the Love Bakery when Enid is here in November. Bloggers and cupcakes -- what could be nicer?

Unknown said...

How exciting. Let me know the date and I will put it in the diary and we can make a plan! x

enid said...

II would love that will be in London from 3 to 19 November I agree what better than bloggers and cupcakes.