A Dessert Fit for Royalty

 

Recipe below

 

 

Starting the New Year with samples of the wonder of the English language—the Confusing and the Colorful.

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A Dessert Fit for Royalty

 Today's blog features a recipe I may have posted two years ago, but as I prepared it for Christmas dinner this year, I realized the instructions could use a few more details, particularly for the grandgirls who were interested in trying it. So here is an updated version of a recipe I adapted from a 1973 magazine. 

Special notes:  

1. The mold in the photo looks great, but molded desserts have gone out of fashion, probably because they are so hard to unmold without making a disaster of all your efforts! Therefore, I make my Nesselrode Pudding in a big mixing bowl and simply dish it up in fancy cut-glass dessert dishes. It could also be transferred to a big glass serving dish where the colorful ingredients can shine through without all the hazards of "unmolding."

2.  This is a "make-ahead recipe" that needs to sit overnight. It is also time-consuming, so do not wait until the last minute. 

3.  The original recipe does not mention whipping the cream, but my family liked the fluffiness that resulted—rather than the "jel" feel—so I adjusted the instructions. If you want to use a mold, whipping the cream is likely not be a good idea.

 

 NESSELRODE PUDDING

 

 

 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup sugar, divided (1/3 cup goes into the stiffened egg whites)
¼ tspn salt
2 cups milk
3 eggs, separated**
1 tspn vanilla extract
2 tspns rum extract or sherry extract
¼ cup golden raisins*
¼ cup sliced almonds (toasted)*
1/3 - ½ cup candied fruit*
1 cup heavy cream [whipped]
Toasted slivered almonds (optional)
    
*Amounts are flexible - more to taste than to exact measurement. Chopped pitted dates are also an option. I used “Extra Fancy Fruitcake Mix.”) 

To toast almonds, heat in dry Teflon-coated skillet, stirring frequently until lightly browned.

Original Instructions (added words in brackets): 

In top part of a double boiler, mix gelatin, 1/3 cup sugar and the salt. Add milk and egg yolks and beat with rotary beater or whisk until blended. Put over simmering water and cook, stirring until mixture thickens slightly and coats a metal spoon. Remove from heat and stir in flavorings. Chill, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened but not firm. [approx. 90-115 min.] [Near the end of the chill time, whip cream, set aside.] Beat egg whites until almost stiff but not dry.** Gradually add remaining sugar and beat until stiff. When gelatin mix is slightly thickened, fold  nuts, fruits, stiff-peaked eggs, and [whipped] cream into gelatin mixture. Pour into a 1½-quart mold*** and chill overnight. Unmold on serving dish and, if desired, sprinkle with toasted almonds. Makes 8 servings.

**Eggs will likely not form stiff peaks if even a small amount of yolk falls into the bowl.

***See Special Notes above.

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This week's featured book is one of only two of my books that is more classic contemporary romance than mystery, suspense, Gothic, etc. It's set in a world I know well: Medieval Fairs and the Society for Creative Anachronism. (I gave away all my costumes only when I moved to the Orlando area in 2007.)

 

 

Kate Knight fights memories of a former abusive relationship by armed combat with male members of a Medieval re-enactment group. To Kate, men are anathema, yet somehow she finds herself sharing a postage-stamp-size tent with a Florida Highway Patrol officer who is attempting to discover who almost killed his brother in a tournament at a Medieval Fair. For Kate, trust comes hard as they deal with obsessive enthusiasts, quirky personalities, and a ruthless killer.

Author's Note: My thanks to the Florida Gulf Coast shires of the Society for Creative Anachronism for providing so much colorful detail for this story. And to the John & Mable Ringling Museum for all the years it hosted truly grand Medieval Fairs.

Reviews:

"Lord and Ladies! Prepare thyself for an enchanting tale of mystery and romance! . . . I had a great time reading this novel! Bancroft's characters are funny and heartwarming. I found myself rooting for all of them. The connections between them are genuine, their troubles tugging on my heartstrings and their successes making me smile. . . . Bancroft couldn't have chosen a more original background." Heather Eileen, Romance Junkies

"Blair Bancroft gives us an excellent tale of two people who have wrapped their hearts into a cocoon of self preservation. Kate's history is a horror story of abuse and neglect. Michael's present as a patrol officer is often filled with the dregs of society. Both have felt they had to keep others at a distance to survive. The tale of Mona and Bubba, Kate's friends, is a mixture of heartbreak and strength that adds much to the book. The author does a great job of weaving their relationships while giving us an education about people who crave simpler times when chivalry was alive and well." Dee Dailey, The Romance Studio

"I just finished reading a great book. It travels through time, but not in the usual manner of time travels. There is no element of disbelief. . . . It brings the reader into the story not by guile or subterfuge but simply by telling a compelling story. The hero is a man for all seasons . . . Lady Knight an outwardly strong woman who has built a wall around her senses. Can Officer Turco scale that wall? I highly recommend this book. If you love historicals or contemps this tale is for you as it has both elements and is a great mystery. FoxladyCarey

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For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)