The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Tea Party/Book Club: Turkish Delight

So last October, every Wednesday, I have been a part of a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We started on The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, and when we finished moved on to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is different from my book club and the Book Club Picks I have been reviewing (and desperately need to catch up on). 

The second week we were inspired by the time Edmund spends with the White Witch. 

“Perhaps something hot to drink?” said the Queen. “Should you like that?”

Yes please, your Majesty,” said Edmund, whose teeth were chattering.

The Queen took from somewhere among her wrappings a very small bottle which looked as if it were made of copper. Then, holding out her arm, she let one drop fall from it on to the snow beside the sledge. Edmund saw the drop for a second in mid-air, shining like a diamond. But the moment it touched the snow there was a hissing sound and there stood a jewelled cup full of something that steamed. The Dwarf immediately took this and handed it to Edmund with a bow and a smile; not a very nice smile. Edmund felt much better as he began to sip the hot drink. It was something he had never tasted before, very sweet and foamy and creamy, and it warmed him right down to his toes.

‘It is dull, Son of Adam, to drink without eating,” said the Queen presently. “What would you like best to eat?”

‘Turkish Delight, please, your Majesty,” said Edmund.

The Queen let another drop fall from her bottle on to the snow, and instantly there appeared a round box, tied with green silk ribbon, which, when opened, turned out to contain several pounds of the best Turkish Delight. Each piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious. He was quite warm now, and very comfortable.

Of course as that only mentions one thing to eat, we ended up adding other recipes that sounded good. We decided to go with: Rose Petal and Green Tea, Rose Petal Earl Grey Tea, Blueberry Rose Petal Scones, Radish Ruffle Canapés, Zuppa Toscana Soup, Meatloaf, and Turkish Delight.

One thing I will be doing differently here than in my earlier posts, is that I will be sharing discussion questions that your group can discuss as you read and eat. I didn’t post discussion questions in the previous posts on The Magician’s Nephew, as I wasn’t in charge of that book. For discussion questions, click on this link.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Discussion Questions Chapter 4-6.pdfDownload

This recipe comes from Oh The Things We’ll Make.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/8 tsp. citric acid or lemon juice or cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup water
• 5/8 cup cornstarch
• Rose flavor to taste- rose water, syrup, or oil
• Red coloring (optional)
• extra cornstarch for dusting

Directions:

1. Line pans with greased wax or parchment paper. (The final candy will be sticky, and that will help with the unmolding process.)
2. Begin by mixing together the first 3 ingredients (sugar, 3/4 c. water, and citric acid) in a heavy bottom pan, and bring to a slight boil before lowering the heat.
3. Heat, without needing to stir, over low to medium heat until you reach 260ºF. You can occasionally use a spatula to wipe down any sugar crystals from the side of the pan throughout this process.
4. Meanwhile, mix together the solution of cornstarch and water.
5. When the sugar syrup has reached the right temperature, temporarily take it off the heat source and ladle in a bit of the sugar syrup into the cornstarch mixture to warm it.
6. Slowly drizzle the cornstarch mixture into the sugar syrup while continuously stirring them together.Once all of the cornstarch solution has been completely incorporated, begin to stir the mixture over low heat.
7. You will notice that the mixture should get quite thick almost immediately.
8. Despite the fact that the mixture is quite thick, you will want to reduce and thicken it even more before adding in your flavorings. Keep the mixture over a low heat so that the sugar won’t caramelize on the bottom, affecting the flavor of the final product.
9. As you heat and stir, you should notice that the gel becomes quite transparent. It will also reduce slightly in volume.To determine the point when you should add your flavoring, test the consistency of your candy by dipping a spoon into the gel, and then dipping the gel covered spoon into a glass of ice water.
10. As the candy cools, you can judge the consistency and stop when you are happy with it. The longer you cook the candy at this stage, the chewier it will become and the more it will hold its shape at room temperature.
11. Add in your flavorings and colorings. Use a combination of 2 Tbsp. rose water, and 2 Tbsp. rose syrup.
12. Once you’ve incorporated all of your flavorings, check the texture once more to make sure that the addition of any new liquids hasn’t affected the consistency of your candy too much.
13. If necessary, slightly mix and warm your mixture a little longer at very low heat to help evaporate a little water, but be careful and take into account that doing this for too long can alter and diminish the flavorings you have added.
14. When you are happy with your result, pour the mixture into your prepared molds and spread it out as best you can with a spatula. It should be very thick and sticky.
15. Let cool for several hours. Cut into small squares, using cornstarch to keep the candies from sticking to one another.
16. If you do choose to use powdered sugar for dusting, keep in mind that the candy may sweat and the sugar coating may end up “melting” off of the candy so you may have to add in more cornstarch or reapply the coating before serving your candy.

So to be honest with you guys, I don’t get what Edmund was going on about. I mean I know they are magical/enchanted but Turkish Delight is not worth betraying your whole family for. I found it to be too sweet and not something I could ever find myself wanting. The rest of the group loved it, but I just was not a fan.

I guess I’m just not angry and envious enough? Maybe I’m too much like Lucy? All I know is Turkish Delight was not the thing for me.

For more from our The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe teas, go to Zuppa Toscana

For more recipes, go to Radish Ruffle Canapés

For more desserts, go to Snickerdoodles

For more tea posts, go to Jane Austen Birthday Party Music & Party Review

The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club: Easy Fruit Tarts

 

So every Wednesday, starting in October, I have been a part of a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club on The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. This is different from my book club and the Book Club Picks I have been reviewing (and desperately need to catch up on). The first week we had NovelTea Tins The Picture of Earl Grey, Haarlem Tea Room’s Cheddar Scones, Eating Well’s Radish Tea Sandwiches, Tea Time Magazine’s Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Tea Time Magazine’s Brisket and Slaw Roulades, and Fruit Tarts.

I couldn’t share the recipes but now I’m trying my best to catch up.

This comes from Jenny Cookies. 

Ingredients:

• Angel Food Cake Cups
• 2 Cups of Whole Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 Teaspoons of Butter
• 2 Egg Yolks, slightly beaten
• 1/3 Cup of Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of Cornstarch
• Mint Leaves
• 1/2 Cup of Raspberries
• 1/4 Cup of Blackberries
• 1/2 Cup of Blueberries
• 1/2 Cup of Sugar
• 1/4 Cup of Corn Syrup

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt. 
2. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. 
3. Boil and stir 1 minute. 
4. Gradually stir at least half of the hot mixture into egg yolks, then stir back into hot mixture in saucepan. 
5. Boil and stir for 1 minute; and remove from heat.
6. Stir in butter and vanilla.
7. Store covered in refrigerator. 
8. While waiting for pudding to cool, rinse fruit and place in a bowl.
9. Pour corn syrup over fruit and gently stir until coated. 
10. Pour 1/2 Cup of sugar over fruit until coated in sugar. 
11. Using a cookie scoop, place pudding in angel food cake cups. 
12. Use a spatula to smooth out the top of the tarts. 
13. Finish tarts by adding fruit and mint.
14. Place larger berries on the tarts first, staying on just one side of the tart and fill in the spaces with the smaller berries.
15. Store in fridge until ready to serve. 

These were extremely delicious, and we gobbled them all up. I unfortunately didn’t get a better picture of them then this one of the whole table. 

For more from The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club, go to Brisket and Slaw Roulades

For more recipes, go to Eating Well’s Radish Tea Sandwiches

For more Earl sandwiches, go to Mini Pumpkin Créme Brûlée

For more tea posts, go to Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

Baked Apple Slices

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This year I have a lot to be thankful for-1) Being alive-my ex-husband was abusive and tried to kill me; 2) My 5-year restraining order and the fact that my divorce was finalized 10/24/18-thank you California!; 3)My friends, family, and faith who have gotten me through this; 4) And this blog and all you readers!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday however you spend it. I am course am going to spend it with food:

So what would Jane Austen be eating if she was celebrating the American holiday?

Last year I shared a recipe for apple pie, I thought this year I would share one for baked apples which make a great breakfast, side dish, or dessert.

This comes from my sister blog MysteriousEats.wordpress.com. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Granny Smith Apple-Peeled, Cored, and Sliced
• 2.5 Tablespoons of Water
• 1.5 Tablespoons of Cornstarch or Flour
• 1.5 Tablespoons of Sugar
• 1 Pinch of Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
2. Spread the apples slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Whisk the water and flour together, and pour over the apples and gently stir.
4. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
5. Cook for about 15 mins.

 

 

Delicious!

For more Thanksgiving posts, go to Are Dean Winchester and Jane Austen Kindred Spirits?

For more recipes, go to Blueberry Earl Grey Tea Smoothie

For more holiday posts, go to Life Seems But a Quick Succession of Busy Nothings