Blanc-mange

 

"Jo" of Little Women

 

Last book report of the school year. Abby chose to do hers on Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. As part of her presentation, Abby dressed the part of "Jo." Another part of the project called for Abby to find a reference to food in her chosen book, provide a recipe, and bring in a sample (optional). We (that is, Mom, the research assistant) found a passage about Blanc-mange, as follows: "Mother sent her love, and was glad if I could do anything for you. Meg wanted me to bring some of her blanc-mange; she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats would be comforting." Abby and I decorated the Blanc-mange in Victorian fashion, using greenery and roses.

Blanc-mange

3 cups of milk, divided

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

2 cinnamon sticks

1 lemon peel, cut into strips

1 pinch of cinnamon

3 ounces shaved semi-sweet chocolate, for garnish

Instructions: Place 1 cup of milk in saucepan.

Add lemon peel and cinnamon sticks. Bring milk to a simmer.

Meanwhile, whisk together cornstarch and sugar.

Add remaining milk to cornstarch mixture.

When milk begins to simmer, pour cornstarch mixture into it in a steady stream.

Incease heat and bring to gentle boil while whisking.

Allow mixture to boil for 20 seconds.

Remove from heat.

Remove cinnamon sticks and lemon peel.

Add pinch of ground cinnamon and vanilla.

Pour into dish or mold and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Garnish with chocolate before serving.

My grandmother taught me to make Blanc-mange using Irish Moss seaweed (Chondrus crispus) that is common along the Maine beaches. The seaweed provides the thickening agent in place of the corn starch, you see. We used to place the seaweed in cheesecloth and simmer it gently in milk until the carrageenan was extracted. We would then proceed as above.

Trivia: Carrageenan is used commercially in desserts, ice cream, sauces, beer, pates, processed meats, toothpaste, shampoo, cosmetics, air freshner gels, shoe polish, and biotech research. Approx. 80% of commercial carrageenan comes from the Phillippines where it is a big business.

The Beast

 

Our vacuum. This antiquated appliance came with our rental here in Bermuda. The front of the machine proudly states "Since 1914." I think I have the prototype model. I feel as though I should be cranking the thing to start it. But, hey, it works...after a fashion...if I have a small pile of tiny specks of dust conveniently arrayed in front of it. I wouldn't think of asking it to over extend itself to vacuum up, say, dog hairs. Remember the Saturday Night Live show with the vacuum that the Czech Brothers had brought with them from Czechloslovakia? They had to pour dirt into the vacuum for it to "work." Mine is very much like that.

Interesting how people's perspectives on "how-dirty-can-the-house-be-before-I-scream" are so different. Eric, for example, will tolerate a modest amount of dog hairs on the floor. I, on the other hand, don't feel particularly compelled to vacuum until the dog hair is ankle deep. I can also sleep soundly at night even though I know that there are mysterious lumps wrapped in aluminum foil dying a slow death in the back of the refrigerator. When the food is really dead, I'll throw it out...and not a moment before!

At West Whale Bay

 

 

Every Monday, a dozen of us ex-pats go walking for an hour-and-a-half or more. Today we went to West Whale Bay where there is an old fort with this view. All of us in the walking group are still "gob smacked" (as some of the Brits say) at the exquisite shades of turquoise that we see all around us.

The Diamond Swept Shore

 

Yes, the ocean is this clear. An artist here in Bermuda paints these wonderful scenes of diamonds washing up onto the shoreline and the photo above reminds me of that. Click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see what I mean.

"My Best Friend, My Mom"

 

Loiterers in St. George's

 

Ladies of the Evening: Going out to dinner, that is.

 

Ready for Tom Moore's Tavern

Mother's Day! It was a splendid day...as it should be, of course. Abby set her alarm clock so she would be up early to make pancakes for me. Eric grilled turkey bacon (the best way to cook it!) and made what he calls a "fluffy drink" (hazelnut cappuccino decaf) for me. You see, Eric is a coffee purist (Dark French Roast, Guatemalan, Hawaiian Kona, etc.) and refers to my flavored decaf as a hot beverage, undeserving of the sacred word "coffee."

Abby also presented me with a wonderful poem (see above). I am thankful that it is laminated so I can have it forever...well, at least through her teenage years so I can point to it and say, "You may not remember, but not so long ago you thought I was terrific!"

After breakfast and poetry, we went to St. George's where I gave Eric and Abby the history tour of the old houses, fortifications, ancient cemetaries, and narrrow back lanes. More than once Eric had to remind Abby that "it's Mommy's Day and if she wants to spend it walking around in the hot sun looking at old stuff, that's what we'll do."

That evening, Eric and Abby surprised me with dinner out at Tom Moore's Tavern, one of Bermuda's best restaurants. The food was spectacular, starting with Tuna Sashimi and Crab/Scallop Cakes on Sweet-Sour Mango for appetizers, and ending with Chocolate Souffle, freshly poofed in the oven. The service was excellent, too. Eric wouldn't let me see the bill...which was probably wise. A Yankee in Bermuda is still a Frugal Yankee.

So, a lovely Mommy's Day and, yes, I did feel very special and appreciated indeed.

Ladies who Lunch

"This is my own, my native land!"

And so it is with ex-pats in Bermuda that sooner or later, we usually leave and return home, to our native land. My friend Wendy and I took Linda to lunch today since she is returning to England with her husband in June.

The title to this post comes from "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" by Sir Walter Scott. I had to memorize it in 7th grade and have never forgotten it. Something to thank Mrs. Mosely for after all.

The Lay of the Last Minstrel

Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
"This is my own, my native land!"
Whose heart has ne'er within him burn'd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on some foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonor'd and unsung.

Hibiscus Sampler

 

 

 

 

 

Flower Power

OK. I admit it: I'm a floweroholic. I can't seem to take enough pictures of them. They're everywhere...and I HAVE to capture their beauty on film! Someone stop me before I snap again!

The above is a sampling of the hibiscus that grow around the thrift shop.

A Pretty Poison

 

May is the month of the oleander. The blossoms are EVERYWHERE in Bermuda, in shades of white, red, and pink. As pretty as it looks, however, it is deadly. All parts of the plant contain a toxin similar to the one found in foxglove (Digitalis).

Golf course -- Southampton Princess

  

The golf course at the Southampton Princess is very beautiful, as you can see from the above photo. The controversy at the moment is that the Southampton Princess has been bought by developers who want to eliminate 1/2 of the 18-hole golf course in order to build condos. Seems like a very bad idea to me.

The Southampton Princess is not only beautiful, but one of the most expensive hotels in Bermuda. Rates start at $519 per night. I saw a couple with two small kids, one howling, in tow today when I was there to see the Masterworks Onions with Wendy and Linda. Lifestyles of the rich and famous, I guess.

The Somersfield (Abby's school) Onion

  

The Glass Onion

  

The Onion "Patch"

  

The International Women's Club Onion

  

Masterworks Bermuda Onions

Each year various groups and artists in Bermuda participate in the Masterworks program to produce variations on a theme. This year the theme is the Bermuda Onion. Probably two dozens or so Onions are now on display at the Southampton Princess. Eventually, these onions, which are large enough to be used as chairs, will be auctioned off to raise money for the Masterworks program.

Tennis at Grotto Bay

  

Coach Dad