According to Jane Grigson there was a Parson Woodforde in Weston Longville near Norwich who kept a record of what he ate when being wined and dined by friends and neighbours for 30 years. He first had Charter pudding in 1777 at the home of another cleric.  There is now a Parson Woodforde society which publishes any of the recipes they find. I've been doing this one since she did a series of small magazines of recipes round British regions in the mid 80s.
600ml single or whipping cream 1/2 lemon - zest only 2 eggs 2 egg yolks sugar 18 dried apricot halves
Infuse the cream and lemon overnight or, for speed, bring them to just simmering heat and then leave to cool.
Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and strained cream and sweeten to taste but not too sweet as the apricots will be sweet. Divide between 6 ramekins, cover with foil and bake in a bain marie at 150C (adjust for fan) for 25 to 30 minutes.  test with a narrow bladed knife. If it comes out only slightly creamy, they are done. Remove the foil so theer are no drips and leave to cool. They will carry on cooking and set firmer.
Meanwhile, cook the apricots in just enough water to cover and simmer till tender (very quick with modern, moist, "dried" apricots.  Add 3 tbs of sugar and keep simmering gently till they start to caramelise then watch carefully so they don't burn while the liquid reduces down. Turn the apricots occasionally to keep them coated and glossy. Â
Use them to top the custards in the ramekins just before serving.
Thanks folks There was a nice item about Hamish MacInnes on the news @punkdoc - funeral today. I've just been reading the tweet on the online news from M. Rescue : "Today we say our final farewell to our friend Dr Hamish MacInnes OBE.
Hamish passed away last week and leaves a legacy across all areas of mountain exploration and rescue.
Thank you Hamish for setting a standard for being the best we can be. "
The best we can be. What we should all strive forÂ
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Parson Woodforde’s diary ... The Diaries of a Country Parson is my Desert Island book. I’ve read it over and over again. I have a small copy on that very thin paper (like a prayer book) and it’s almost always in my handbag for the odd ten minutes or more of reading when the occasion presents itself. A humane man and a fascinating introduction into rural life (and cuisine) in Norfolk and Somerset, what it was like to be a student at Oxford  in the 18C, and a glimpse into the politics of the times.Â
Plus ca changes plus c’est la meme chose.Â
Highly recommended.Â
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Evening all. We've had a lovely day out to Oxfordshire and the weather, although perishing was better than forecast. Paid our respects to grandparents, parents and various relatives buried in the local churchyard and left a big bouquet of roses, flowers and greenery from my garden. Then we hastily (it was jolly cold) entered the nearby pub/restaurant for a seriously good, French inspired lunch - yummy. OH had a whole seabass stuffed with small prawns and crab, something else I can't remember and rice. I had Gressingham duck breasts in orange sauce which was sublime, mixed fresh veg and French Fries. Followed this with homemade treacle pudding, creme and sauce with raspberry garnish for OH and I had apple and rhubarb crumble with icecream. We're still stuffed! There were only 3 occupied tables in the conservatory and one inside, such a shame on a Friday lunchtime at a very popular pub. Staff said they were struggling being put into Tier 2 but they were going to open for Christmas Day (is it a Friday?). It was a long way to go (2 hours each way) but oh so worth it to get out of the house and have a day away.
Sounds a good day out and a wonderful lunch, @Lizzie27, I would have chosen the same as you and my OH the same as your OH, though it would have been a difficult choice, I love both.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Good morning Forkers. Enjoy your evening rain @Pat E
I have had a mostly sleepless night with the stupid knee throbbing but can't lie and dose now as I have to take Bonzo to a specialist osteo vet in La Roche. Looks as tho he's done a funny move yesterday evening and now his back legs aren't right and he's clearly in pain so we're hoping she can manipulate him back to normal.Â
Sunny with streaky clouds and cool after a clear skies night. Not going to get above 9C today.  Big jumper day then.
I'd have gone for the fish @Lizzie cos I can do duck breast myself in several ways.  Fish too but that stuffing appeals.
That's a good aim to have @Fairygirl. He sounds like an exceptional man.
Morning all/afties, evening @Pat E - glad you're getting a little rain, although I expect it's nowhere near enough for you. I take it you haven't eaten since @Lizzie27 ? Perhaps the vet can give your knee a going over too @Obelixx? I have to admit that I've had that decades ago when my big toe was damaged I thought it was rather ironic that the item on the news, showing the respectful mourners lining the streets of Glencoe, was followed by another concerning tw*ts at a football stadium in Glasgow. The gulf between the behaviour couldn't be wider. Wet and dank today again. I think it's to clear a bit though. We've had everything this week, although we didn't have the thundersnow over here. Must ask my sister if she heard it.Â
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
600ml single or whipping cream
1/2 lemon - zest only
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
sugar
18 dried apricot halves
Infuse the cream and lemon overnight or, for speed, bring them to just simmering heat and then leave to cool.
Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and strained cream and sweeten to taste but not too sweet as the apricots will be sweet. Divide between 6 ramekins, cover with foil and bake in a bain marie at 150C (adjust for fan) for 25 to 30 minutes.  test with a narrow bladed knife. If it comes out only slightly creamy, they are done. Remove the foil so theer are no drips and leave to cool. They will carry on cooking and set firmer.
Meanwhile, cook the apricots in just enough water to cover and simmer till tender (very quick with modern, moist, "dried" apricots.  Add 3 tbs of sugar and keep simmering gently till they start to caramelise then watch carefully so they don't burn while the liquid reduces down. Turn the apricots occasionally to keep them coated and glossy. Â
Use them to top the custards in the ramekins just before serving.
There was a nice item about Hamish MacInnes on the news @punkdoc - funeral today. I've just been reading the tweet on the online news from M. Rescue :
"Today we say our final farewell to our friend Dr Hamish MacInnes OBE. Hamish passed away last week and leaves a legacy across all areas of mountain exploration and rescue. Thank you Hamish for setting a standard for being the best we can be. "
The best we can be. What we should all strive forÂ
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
There were only 3 occupied tables in the conservatory and one inside, such a shame on a Friday lunchtime at a very popular pub. Staff said they were struggling being put into Tier 2 but they were going to open for Christmas Day (is it a Friday?).
It was a long way to go (2 hours each way) but oh so worth it to get out of the house and have a day away.
I have had a mostly sleepless night with the stupid knee throbbing but can't lie and dose now as I have to take Bonzo to a specialist osteo vet in La Roche. Looks as tho he's done a funny move yesterday evening and now his back legs aren't right and he's clearly in pain so we're hoping she can manipulate him back to normal.Â
Sunny with streaky clouds and cool after a clear skies night. Not going to get above 9C today.  Big jumper day then.
I'd have gone for the fish @Lizzie cos I can do duck breast myself in several ways.  Fish too but that stuffing appeals.
That's a good aim to have @Fairygirl. He sounds like an exceptional man.
I take it you haven't eaten since @Lizzie27 ?Â
Perhaps the vet can give your knee a going over too @Obelixx? I have to admit that I've had that decades ago when my big toe was damagedÂ
I thought it was rather ironic that the item on the news, showing the respectful mourners lining the streets of Glencoe, was followed by another concerning tw*ts at a football stadium in Glasgow. The gulf between the behaviour couldn't be wider.Â
Wet and dank today again. I think it's to clear a bit though. We've had everything this week, although we didn't have the thundersnow over here. Must ask my sister if she heard it.Â
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Looks grey and cold outside.
Will be writing more Christmas cards and the sitting room needs a clean. The wood burner makes it dusty.