Hello friends. Welcome to the final part of our Austrian culinary adventure. Today, we’ll savour Marillenkuchen – Austrian for Apricot Cake. I was more excited about Austrian desserts than the savoury dishes. Austrian cakes and pastries are world-famous, and Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery offers an enticing array! Initially, I struggled to choose between Sachertorte, the most famous, and Linzertorte, my favourite. However, when visiting my greengrocer, I saw a display of breathtaking apricots. Consequently, all thoughts of other cakes vanished instantly.
Unlike its more fancy counterparts, Marillenkuchen is a simple cake. But as the saying goes – the simple things in life are often the best! Tilly Pamment, author of the excellent baking book “The Plain Cake Appreciation Society,” says:
The Plain Cake Appreciation Society is a club for connoisseurs of uncomplicated cakes, seasonal bakes and the general appreciation of pausing (often) for tea and cake
I think Tilly would approve of the Marillenkuchen! As do many Austrians! Marillenkuchen holds a special place in Austrian culinary tradition. It’s often enjoyed during the summer months when apricots are in season. It is a perfect treat for picnics, garden parties, and afternoon tea.
Marillenkuchen – The Recipe
Apologies for my scribble about how much my eggs weighed!
A Fun Fact About Austrian Apricots
Did you know there was an Austrian apricot that is famous throughout Europe? I had no idea! The Wachau Apricot is a key ingredient in jam, brandy, and various liqueurs. The EU protects this fruit. Only apricots originating from the Wachau region can be called ‘Wachau Apricots. Furthermore, the Wachau region, nestled along the Danube River, looks stunningly beautiful! An apricot festival appears to take place annually in July. If I ever have the opportunity to visit, I will plan my trip accordingly
Today we bid “So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye” to Austria. Our next stop is Belgium. Have a wonderful week!
Hello crime readers and food lovers. Welcome to Dining with The Dame! Today’s book, A Pocket Full of Rye, is my favourite Miss Marple to date. I absolutely loved this one. This is not so much a Dark Marple but a Marple out for vengeance! To paraphrase the 1976 film Network, “She’s as mad as hell, and she’s not going to take it anymore”! And I am here for every second of it!
Inspector Neele gave a sudden, rather unexpected smile. He was thinking to himself that Miss Marple was very unlike the popular notion of an avenging fury. And yet, he thought that was perhaps exactly what she was.
A Pocket Full Of Rye – Agatha Christie
Something I did not love about this book, at least in writing this post, was the weird use of ‘Pocket Full’ versus ‘Pocketful’. However, if Agatha Christie preferred it that way, who am I to judge?
Today’s menu will be a Bird Pie from Diana Henry’s excellent book A Bird In The Hand. Please note that I am not aiming for any verisimilitude with the text by baking four and twenty blackbirds in my pie. This bird pie contains a far more prosaic (and I’m sure more delicious) chicken!
A Pocket Full of Rye – The Plot
Setting The Scene
The king was in the counting-house, counting out his money…
Rex Fortescue, a wealthy businessman, dies after drinking a cup of tea in his office. However, it soon becomes apparent that the circumstances are far more complex than they initially seemed. Firstly, the actual poison was taxine, a deadly poison derived from Yew trees. Since taxine is a slow-acting poison, it could not have been contained in the tea. Instead, it was far more likely to have been something Rex consumed earlier, such as breakfast. Furthermore, he was found with some grains of rye in his pocket, an intriguing detail that adds another layer to the mystery.
Suspicion soon turns to Rex’s second and much younger wife, Adele. Indeed, Adele was almost certainly having an affair with her “golfing” partner, Vivien Dubois, providing her with a strong motive for murder.
The queen was in the parlour, eating bread and honey…
However, not long after Rex’s death, Adele is also killed via cyanide in her afternoon tea.
The maid was in the garden, hanging out the clothes, when down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose
Gladys Mitchell, the Fortescue’s maid, is later discovered strangled by the washing line with a clothes peg on her nose.
Enter Miss Marple
Gladys, the maid, had previously worked for Miss Marple. In fact, Miss Marple trained Gladys in housekeeping straight from the orphanage. Miss Marple remembers Gladys as a somewhat gullible, hopelessly romantic young girl. And she is fuming about the way that Gladys died!
“It was the clothes peg that really worried me,” said Miss Marple in her gentle voice…That’s what made me so angry, if you can understand, my dear. It was such a cruel, contemptuous gesture. It gave me a kind of picture of the murderer. To do a thing like that! It’s very wicked you know to affront human dignity”
A Pocket Full of Rye – Agatha Christie
We have:
The return of Rex’s wayward son, Lancelot
Strange muddy footprints in the house
A housekeeper with something to hide
A mysterious person in the garden
An entire family vowing revenge on Rex Fortescue for some financial double-dealings around a failed goldmine in Africa
Blackbirds left on a windowsill and baked into a pie
Thankfully, Miss Marple can pull together these disparate threads and gain justice for poor Gladys. And, I guess, Rex and Adele. Even though they, and the members of their family, are all awful people.
A Pocket Full of Rye – The Covers
There are some amazing covers here. Lots of blackbirds and cups of tea as to be expected. There are also two great pulp covers featuring Rex and Adele lying dead. My favourite, though, is the German cover with the hand on the lawn, presumably referencing Gladys, lying dead by the washing line. Maybe, like Miss Marple, I am happy she is being recognised, if only in death.
Below this is a rather unflattering drawing of Miss Marple on the cover of a Czech version. In contrast, two to the right of this one, there looks to be a very snazzily dressed Miss Marple wearing a beautiful lilac suit paired with a gorgeous green scarf, bag and umbrella. It’s such a pleasant change to see a glam Miss Marple. Even though I’m sure far more eyes were focussed on the central figure of a very buxom Adele virtually bursting out of what is most definitely not a golfing outfit!
The Recipe: Bird Pie
I very much enjoyed this. The capers were a really nice addition that added a little spark to this chicken pie!
Links to the Christieverse
None that I could find. Please let me know if you find any!
Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in They Do It With Mirrors
Hello friends! Welcome to November 2004! This month, we’re going to the movies via the pages of Delicious magazine. Caution – there are puns galore in this post, so if you are not a fan, feel free to skip this one! But before you do, why not hang around and take a trip down memory lane as we look back at what was popular in November 2004!
Given this is movie night, let’s first take a look at what was at the top of the box office in November 2004. The Incredibles was the number 1 movie, with National Treasure and The Polar Express rounding out the top 3. I’ve not seen The Polar Express but I like The Incredibles and I also enjoyed National Treasure. Jumping back to 2024 for a moment, I recently watched Longlegs with Nick Cage and it was so creepy! I really enjoyed it, but it is definitely not for everyone!
Twenty Years of Nick Cage
Bookwise, I was quite surprised to see that I only recognised one of the books that topped the charts during the month: Northern Lights by Nora Roberts, Hour Game By David Baldacchi (this was the one I had heard of), Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich and London Bridges by James Patterson. I was a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich but Metro Girl completely passed me by!
The top three songs also got a “meh” response from me: My Boo by Usher and Alicia Keys, Dropp It Like It’s Hot by Snoop Dog, and Lose My Breath by Destiny’s Child Iam very glad to tell you that this month’s menu did not get that reaction. So, let’s take a look!
“Sunset” Boulevard
Let’s kick off our movie night with a Boulevard, which is a take on the Boulevadier, a Parisian Cocktail from the 1920s. The Boulevard packs a punch as it contains Bourbon, Grand Marnier and Vermouth! It actually reminds me of the famous quote from Sunset Boulevard. In the scene, Joe Gillis, a young and poor screenwriter, meets Norma Desmond, a former silent movie star dreaming of making her comeback.
“You used to be big,” he says.
She responds “I am big. It’s the pictures that got small”.
Well, like the film I’ve matched it with, the Boulevard is big! Sip slowly while enjoying the brilliance that is the film Sunset Boulevard!
Phantomato of The Opera Tarts
I loved these! They were so delicious! The combination of sweet caramlised onions, the tanginess of the goat’s curd and sweet bite of the cherry tomatoes was Chef’s kiss perfect. I could not find mustard cress so garnished my little tartlets with basil leaves. The phantomato tarts are sure to have you singing an aria of joy when you taste them!
Chinatown Chicken Salad
This was the first recipe I chose for this film night post because it seemed too good to be true that here was a direct reference to a film. (For new readers, I chose the topics for these 20 years ago posts via a random number generator). And yes, the name was incredibly fortuitous, but….I just didn’t love the salad. It wasn’t terrible. It was just a bit bland.
The second day I ate this, I added some baby corn and some crispy chilli oil to liven things up a bit, and that did make it better. I also didn’t have any coriander (cilantro) so I added some Thai Basil which to me is a far superior herb. Not everything is for everyone, though, and I’m sure many other people would find this delicious! Personally, I might have liked it better with the duck, which is given as an option instead of chicken. However, for me, this quote is my view on the Chinatown Chicken Salad!
Passionfruit Roulade of The Christ
Interestingly, both The Phantom of the Opera and The Passion of The Christ were released in 2004! So, technically, a movie buff in November 2004 could have themed a dinner party exactly like this. I added some whipped cream into the roulade along with the passionfruit curd.
And what a way to finish! The passionfruit roulade is as light as air with a little zing coming from the passionfruit so it is also not overly sweet! One might say it is divine!
My Nigella Moment – Polka Dot Popcorn
For first-time readers, this refers to the moment at the end of Nigella Lawson’s cooking shows when she sneaks back to the fridge to have another bite of something delicious. In the context of these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that may not fit with the overall menu theme, but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share.
This month, my Nigella moment is definitely in theme! Because what’s a movie night without some popcorn? When I was growing up, we had a snack food called Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs, which were a combination of caramel popcorn and peanuts. This gave me the same vibes, plus a wave of nostalgia! It’s really yummy, and if you wanted to throw in some peanuts for a really Lolly Goggle Bliss Bomb effect, who could blame you?
I hope you have enjoyed Movie Night from November 2004. For me, the month was a little hit-and-miss.
I am taking a weekend break next week to travel to Queensland to catch up with some family. I will do my best to set up the next post to send out on Sunday morning at the regular time. However, if things go awry and that doesn’t happen, I will be back Sunday evening and will do my best to send it out manually then. Apologies in advance if it is late.
Hello friends and cookbook lovers! I’ve been exploring Nisha Katona’s latest work, Bold. As the visionary behind the Mowlgi chain of restaurants and the Mowgli Charity, Katona truly embodies the spirit of courage and innovation. The book begins with a poignant Shakespearean quote:
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures
The quote simply means that that fortune favours the brave, the bold and those wise enough to seize life’s opportunities as they occur. Now, I was interested in this quote because part of it forms the title for Agatha Christie’s Taken At The Flood. which, coincidentally, I was reading around the same time as I picked up Bold. I love that Katona has used it as a metaphor for her work and for this book!
Bold – The Look
Bold is a beautifully styled book. The cover is bright red with gold lettering and a pink plate. It is both gorgeous and bold! Certainly eye-catching! The cover is also slightly padded which gives it a luxuriant feel when you hold it. It’s so inviting, you can’t help wanting to open it and flick through the pages.
And that flick will not disappoint, either. The photography is beautiful! Just look at these and tell me you don’t want to start cooking now!
From Top Left: Crunchy Nut Chicken Burger, Liquorice and Almond Chicken Satay, Speckled Spiced Scotch Eggs, Beetroot Pannacotta
Bold – The Book
You will notice that some of the combinations within the book are, well…bold! This is not a book for the unadventurous cook, and for that, I am grateful! I feel that recently, there have been a plethora of books where the contents have been pretty much the same-same. This is so creative, and for that, I 100% applaud Katona! But there is also enough that feels familiar – burgers, fish cakes, pasta, spanakopita, Welsh Rarebit, that it is not so different as to feel alienating. These are meals for the home cook but have a little twist to keep things interesting.
Would I have ever thought of a Cod and Popcorn Gratin? No. Do I want to try it? Hell yes! As soon as I get my hands on some venison I will be making her Landed Gentry Potickers. The recipes in Bold for Simla Salmon Fishcakes, Cashew and Mushroom Stroganoff and Chilli Crab Mac and Cheese are right in my wheelhouse. I also really want to try the Roasted Corn and Elderflower Iced Tea! I have mentioned my dislike for beetroot many times on this blog, but the look of that beetroot panna cotta in the photo above has made me want to give it another try! And how much fun does that Full English Cassoulet look in the photo below?
Pink Peppercorn Pavlova, Cassoulet de Full English, Kashmiri Crusted Cote De Boeuf, Caper Puttanesca
Bold – The Cook
I’ve made two things from Bold, the first was Thai Tequila Trout
This was delicious, bright, and zingy with citrus, and some really nice punchy flavours coming through from the herbs!
The second was the Singapore Sling Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I adore Pineapple Upside Down Cake, it is probably my favourite tasting cake and it also has a kitschy retro appeal that delights my soul! This one was exceptional. So delicious!!!
To be honest, the recipes I made did not take me too much out of my comfort zone. However, trying them, seeing and tasting the results has given me the confidence to try some of the more out there recipes – Miso Parmesan Doughnuts and Butterscotch Brussels Sprouts, i’m coming for you! I think this is a book that will delight anyone who wants to try something a little bit different but does not want to be overwhelmed or daunted by recipes that are too “cheffy” or have a load of ingredients that you have to source from specialty shops!
You can find more of Nisha’s recipes from Bold here
Hello, crime readers and food lovers! Today’s Dining with The Dame takes us on a culinary journey from the bustling streets of Iraq to the quaint English country village of Chipping Cleghorn. And, as we all know, the English country village is the natural home of one Miss Jane Marple! Our delectable companion for today’s reading is Delicious Death – a delightful and delovely chocolate cake that is sure to satisfy both your taste buds and your thirst for a good mystery. However, it’s important to note that this Delicious Death is not the same one created by Jane Asher in 2010 to celebrate Agatha Christie’s 120th anniversary. I had some difficulty in finding all the necessary ingredients for that particular recipe so as Fleetwood Mac famously suggested, I went my own way on this one!
A Murder is Announced – The Plot
When the inhabitants of Chipping Cleghorn read the following in the local paper, they mostly think it is a joke.
A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th at Little Paddocks at 6:30pm. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.”
Despite this, most of them turn up to Little Paddocks, the home of Letitia Blacklock and Dora “Bunny” Bunner on the 29th at the designated time to find out what is going on.
At exactly 6:30, the lights go out. In the darkness, a gun fires twice. And dead body is found on the ground.
The body turns out to be that of a young man who worked in a hotel in the local town. But why was he there? Who put the weird notice in the paper? And why? Is someone really trying to kill Leticia Blacklock?
We have:
Forged cheques
An unused door being oiled
A missing revolver
A missing lamp
Missing photos
A host of people who might not be who they say they are
More murders
And EVERYBODY being utterly horrible to Mitzi the maid
Thank goodness for Miss Marple! Sir Henry Clithering might bizarrely call her the ‘Super Pussy of all old Pussies,’ but she’s the one who’ll solve this mystery and bring peace back to Chipping Cleghorn! Here is a somewhat less unhinged quote from Sir Henry on Miss Marple:
“She’s just the finest Detective God ever made. Natural genius cultivated in a suitable soil…remember that an elderly unmarried woman who knits and gardens is streets ahead of any detective sergeant. She can tell you what might have happened and what ought to have happened and even what actually did happen. And she can tell you why it happened”
A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
A Murder is Announced – The Covers
There are some absolutely cracking covers here. I couldn’t find as many foreign covers as usual which was disappointing. However, I feel the calibre of the ones I did find make up for it. Even the weird French one at the bottom which looks like people in a doctor’s waiting room has its own charm!
The Recipe: Delicious Death
“Death!” said Patrick in sepulchral tones. “Delicious death.”.
“Be quiet, Patrick, ” said Miss Blacklock as Miss Bunner gave a little yelp.
“I only meant the special cake that Mitzi makes,” said Patrick apologetically. “You know we always call it Delicious Death”
“Ha, ” Patrick cried dramatically as the party took their places around the dining room table. “What do I see before me? Delicious Death.”
“Hush” said Miss Blacklock. “Don’t let Mitzi hear you. She objects to your name for her cake very much.”
“Nevertheless, Delicious Death it is! Is it Bunny’s birthday cake?”
“Yes, it is, ” said Miss Brunner. “I really am having the most wonderful birthday”.
A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
Links to the Christieverse
Edward Swettenham wrote a play called “Elephants Do Forget”. Christie later wrote a novel called “Elephants Can Remember”.
Dermott Cradock, the investigating officer in “A Murder is Announced”, is Sir Henry Clithering’s godson. We previously met Sir Henry, the former head of Scotland Yard, in Murder at the Vicarage and The Body In the Library.
Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in “A Murder is Announced”
