My lovely wife is a hardcore lover of the Aubrey Maturin books (Those Master and Commander novels). I have gifted her with the full set in hardback, plus many in paperback as well when she travels. I bought her 3 different reference style books for Christmas (per her request). Now, in response to another thread, I want to hold a small dinner party for her in complete Royal Navy style.
For this, I call on the Dope for help. I cook, and I am decent in the kitchen. However, I want to try to do this tomorrow night, so recipes that need 3 days of lead time won’t work.
Please pass on any good recipes that don’t require too much in the way of specialized ingredients only available in a back alley of London that sometimes leads to the Neverwhere. I live in Southern California. There IS an English food specialty shop I can get to tonight.
I am planning on having my sons serve as Midshipmen in white t-shirts and neckers. My older one will ensure that glasses of (Claret?) are always full.
From other threads:
Parsnips in butter (easy to handle)
Biscuits with some brown rice tossed in as Weevils
What else should I make, and does anyone have the recipe?
Syllabub is heavy cream whipped and floated in red wine and sugar. Easy.
The center piece of my menu is Jack’s favourite pudding - spotted dog. Not exactly easy but not too difficul eithert. Tasty too if you don’t object to suet (available at butchers everywhere).
Marchepane is marzipan. I plan to make little achor shapes and dolphins - and weevils of course.
Strasbourg pie is made from foie gras and bacon! I plan to substitute duck pate for foie gras as a nod to my guests liberal sensitivities.
I am interpreting kickshaws as “whatever i decide to put on little plates when the guests arrive”.
I’d lend you my copy of “lobscouse and spotted dog” but southern california is a long way from northern california. The book is excellent and has lots of easy recipes if you can get a copy - maybe on kindle?
Don’t forget several pots of viciously strong “true Arabian mocha” coffee after dessert. And Stephen wondered why he had to drink laudanum to get any sleep!
I’d be happy to type in a recipe from the book, if there is something you have in mind. The book includes almost everything that Jack ate during the entire series - including turtle, porpoise, miller and - my favourite - boiled shit.
A lot of the desserts and puddings are especially easy and … interesting.
**kevlaw **- being a complete thief, I will just copy YOURS! (Menu that is)
Any recipes from your list for the Strasbourg Pie and the Spotted Dick you are willing to share are greatly appreciated. I will also order the book today, though it won’t arrive in time.
Strasbourg pie: the recipe in the book serves 20 and calls for foie gras. I’m serving 5 and will substitute pate.
1lb foie gras
1lb bacon
1lb puff pastry
1 Egg beaten with 1tsp of water
Make a pie base. Line it with bacon!! Put in pate. Add more bacon!!! Make pie top. Cut holes in top. Decorate with anchors cement pie closed with egg. And brush egg over whole top.
Bake at 450 for 10mins.
Reduce to 350 for another 20 mins.
4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 3/4 cups currants
1/2 lb suet (grated)
1 cup of milk
2 eggs lightly beaten
Mix first five ingredients in bowl
Add currents. mix.
Add suet. Mix.
Grease pudding basin (improvise!)
Tie a damp, floured cloth over top.
Steam the whole thing in a pot of boiling water for two hours.
Serve with custard.
Google “suet puddings” for more details on the steaming business.
You can probably buy a suet pudding at the local british store, but i am looking forward to making my own. My mum was very excited to hear that i was making it as she used to make them for us as kids.
cement pie closed with egg. And brush egg over whole top.