This next weekend Beulah and Noel, Sarah's in-laws, are coming to Struan Farm with Sarah and Matt. They are visiting from England, have been to New Zealand quite a number of times on extended trips. They'll all stay at the Cottage, hopefully the weather will cooperate.
We'll serve dinner at the Homestead on Saturday night. I haven't sorted out my main course as yet, but think I'll make one of my favorite desserts: Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova. It is one of those special "to die for" desserts, definitely worth the effort, especially when fresh raspberries are in season. It's a twist on that classic Kiwi favorite, but more decadent thanks to Nigella.
I decided I'd better do a test run--I'm a bit gun shy after my recent "pud that (almost) burned down the house" episode.
Yep, this will do.
Can't wait to tell them that I've been reading Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "Cranford." Gaskell was born in 1810, published her first novel anonymously in 1848. Charles Dickens invited her to contribute to his magazine Household Words, where Cranford, her major work, appeared in 1853.
"Cranford" was based on Knutsford in Cheshire, where Gaskell grew up, and where Beulah and Noel live. I'm enjoying this tale of the ladies of Cranford and their lives in the village, since adapted into a BBC drama with an ensemble cast starring Dame Judy Dench.
Definitely the proper sort of discussion to have over Nigella's pav.
Postscript: after taking these pictures for the blog post, I delivered the pav to our neighbors in the back, who have three little girls--it's so delicious there was no way I could possibly have kept it in the house!
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