One of my favorite summer reads this year was Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners. It’s a romantic comedy about Olive and Ethan who end up on a free trip to Maui after the bride and groom all get food poisoning from the seafood served at the wedding reception. Despite their mutual dislike, they agree to go on the bride and groom’s free honeymoon trip. During the trip, their hatred for each other becomes complicated. They start to admit their growing attraction for each other.

Olive and Ethan first met at the Minnesota State Fair. Their first impressions started off quite well until Olive decided to order the fried cheese curds and saw Ethan’s face of absolute disgust. Assuming Ethan had an issue with her choice of food or her body, things quickly turn sour and their dislike for each other begins.

What are cheese curds?

During the cheese-making process, rennet or acid is added to curdle the milk and form small pieces called cheese curds. These curds have a mild flavor and a delightful squeaky texture. Cheese curds are best known as a key ingredient in poutine. This is the classic Canadian dish of fries and cheese curds smothered in gravy.

Frying cheese curds:

Freezing the cheese curds help keep the curds firm when it gets dipped in the batter and fried. I’ve found that 30 minutes gives enough time to firm up the curds. This prevents it from melting out when it’s placed in the hot oil.

The Mouth Trap Cheese Curds is a fan favorite at the Minnesota State Fair. The cheese curds are fried until flight golden brown and served piping hot. Try making these incredible bites at home for a taste of one of the best dishes served at the state fair.

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Unhoneymooners: Olive’s Fried Cheese Curd recipe

Christina Lauren's Unhoneymooners: Fried Cheese Curd recipe from the Minnesota State Fair when Olive and Ethan first met.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword Booktok, Christina Lauren, Fried Cheese Curd, State Fair, Unhoneymooners

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Freeze time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds Cheese Curds
• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cup club soda
• canola oil, or any frying oil as needed

Instructions

• Toss the cheese curds with a 1-2 tablespoons of flour. Lightly coat the cheese curds with the flour and freeze for 30 minutes.
• In a bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together until combined. Whisk in the club soda. The consistency should be similar to pancake batter.
• In a heavy bottom pan, pour enough oil until it's 3 inches deep. Place over medium high heat until it reaches 375F.
• Dip the cheese curds in the batter (a few at a time to avoid loosing the curds). Using a spoon, drain off any excess batter and gently drop them into the hot oil.
• Fry the curds until lightly golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels once ready. Repeat with the remaining cheese curds.

The post Fried Cheese Curds: A Taste of ‘The Unhoneymooners’ appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

Bridgerton: Baked Apples with Mincemeat

Continuing on with my Bridgeton recipe series, I’ve got these delicious and comforting baked apples that would be perfect for your next Bridgerton themed party. The baked apples were never mentioned but thanks to numerous pausing, screenshots, and behind-the-scenes photos, I was able to determine some of the items the Bridgerton’s had for dinner when they invited the Duke of Hastings over for dinner. The baked apples were served on a large beautiful platter along with what we actually didn’t get to see, the gooseberry pie.

The recipe for these baked apples come from, Food in England by Dorothy Hartley. The book didn’t provide any measurements but it is incredibly helpful in describing the process and ingredients. I highly suggest the book if you’re interested in the history of British cooking.

These apples are incredibly easy to make. Keep in mind that if you’re making the mincemeat on your own, to leave enough time to let the mincemeat marinate. For this recipe, I have used a really great recipe from David Lebovitz. The recipe is quick but will still take up to 3 days to be ready. To keep this easy, please feel free to use store bought mincemeat. This is best enjoyed on the day of however, it was still great reheated the day after. The result is a warm and inviting dish that’s a bit lighter than apple pie but every bit as satisfying. I hope you enjoy it.

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Bridgerton: Baked Apples with Mincemeat

Bridgerton: Baked Apples with Mincemeat recipe inspired by the Netflix/Shondaland series, Bridgerton starring Rege-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor. This dish was served at dinner at the Bridgerton's when they invited the Duke of Hastings over for dinner.

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Keyword Apples, Baked Apples, Bridgerton Food, Bridgeton Recipes, Georgian Era, Gluten-free, Mincemeat, Netflix, Regency Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

• 4 baking apples
• 1 cup mincemeat
• hot water as needed

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• With a pairing knife, cut out out the center of each apple without cutting down all the way to the bottom. The cut should be approximately 2" in diameter across the top depending on the size of your apples. Repeat for the remaining apples.
• Stuff each apple with the mincemeat and finish each apple with a mound of mincemeat on top. Place the apples in a deep baking dish.
• Pour enough hot water into the baking dish until it comes about 1/2" up the apples. Bake for 30-40 minutes until tender. If you like your apples more tender and soft, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes depending on the size of your apples.

The post Bridgerton: Baked Apples with Mincemeat appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

LADY DANBURY: “Lady Whistledown merely writes what she sees. Perhaps we need to help her to see things a bit more clearly. The duke is quite fond of gooseberry pie.”

LADY VIOLET: “The very dish my cook is renowned for.”

Bridgerton, Season 1 Episode 1

Bridgerton: Duke of Hasting’s Gooseberry Pie

We really can’t talk about the food from Bridgerton without mentioning the Duke’s favorite dessert, gooseberry pie. Luck would have it that the Bridgerton’s cook is renown for just that that dish! We sadly never got to see the pie so we don’t have the details of how it tasted or looked. While researching recipes for this series, I went back to one of my favorite books, Food in England by Dorothy Hartley. There is a great section in the book all about gooseberries and how it is typically prepared. The gooseberry pie is described as a raised hot crust pie filled with gooseberries and sugar. While these pies aren’t not as high as shown in the book, the decision was made so the pies were for single portions. To me, this would be much easier to eat and serve at a dinner party.

It’s quite difficult to find gooseberries. Thankfully, I have a store not far that always seems to have a great supply of them. It’s not quite the season for them now however, in a few months you might start seeing them at your local farmer’s market. The gooseberries have an amazing aroma but it’s quite tart. The result is this amazing pie bursting with sweet sugary syrup paired with tart gooseberries encased in a buttery crust. These pies are best eaten on the day of but it’s great reheated in the oven. Either way, these pies would be a hit the next time you throw your own Bridgerton themed party. Please enjoy these Bridgerton inspired Duke of Hasting’s gooseberry pie recipe.

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Bridgerton: Duke of Hasting’s Gooseberry Pie

The Duke of Hasting's gooseberry pie inspired by the Netflix/Shondaland series, Bridgerton, starring Rege-Jean Page, Phoebe Dynevor, and Jonathan Bailey. Perfect for any Bridgerton theme party!

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Keyword Bridgerton, Dinner Party, Duke of Hastings, Gooseberry, Hot Crust, Netflix, Party Food, Pie, Raised Pie, Regency, Shondaland, Sweets

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Cool Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 3 mini pies

Equipment

• Oven

Ingredients

Hot Crust

• 8 ounces all purpose flour
• 3 ounces unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 4 ounces water

Filling

• 11 ounces gooseberries
• 6 ounces granulated sugar

Glaze

• 1 large whole egg whisked

Instructions

Hot Crust

• In a saucepan, add the water, sugar, and butter. Bring to a boil and add the flour. Turn the heat down low and stir until the mixture comes together in a ball of dough. Let the dough cool down to room temperature before continuing.
• Once the dough has cooled, take 2/3 of the dough and divide it into 3 pieces. The remaining dough will be set aside for the lid and decorations. Lightly flour a ball of dough and flatten it out to a disc. Using a floured mold or base of a wide mouth jar, shape the disc of dough up the sides of the jar to create the base of the pie. If the dough is having a hard time keep it's shape, place it into the refrigerator for a few minutes to harden. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough.

Filling

• Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a sheet pan with parchment and set aside.
• Slice any of the larger gooseberries in half and toss the gooseberries in sugar. Fill the bases with the gooseberries. Top off pies with any excess sugar that is remaining in the bowl.
• With the remaining dough that you have set aside, roll out lids for the tops of the pies. Top the pies with the lids and crimp the edges. Make sure it's nice and sealed so none of the juices will run out while it's baking. With the remaining dough, you can make leaf decorations to place on top.
• Brush the pies with the whisked egg. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Let cool before serving.

The post Bridgerton: Duke of Hasting’s Gooseberry Pie appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

One of the reasons I love Bridgerton so much is because the world is so aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The colors are so bright, welcoming, and cheerful. The clothing are all so captivating that you fall head first into the world without even really knowing it at first. The show is transportive and soothes the soul during the time where so many people need it. It’s interesting to see all the little details I missed when I watched the show a second time around. I have been catching up on all the behind the scenes clips released on Shondaland. It’s amazing to see all the details and talent it took to put this show together.

This recipe for ginger ice cream is inspired by the Netflix series, Bridgerton. We get to see Gunter’s Tea Shop is a few scenes throughout the show. The recipe came from Frederick Nutt’s cookbook, The Complete Confectioner. I love reading all the flavors that were popular during the Regency era. Flavors like parmesan and gruyere cheese were some of the ones that stood out to me. While ginger ice cream really isn’t all that unique, I thought the use of ginger preserves really made this ice cream different and it became one of my favorite flavors out of the batch. We don’t get to see any of the ice creams in the show but since Frederick Nutt was one of the confectioners at Gunter’s Tea Shop, it’s nice to think that this was served at Gunter’s during that time.

The use of ginger preserves provides a more subtle and less spicy flavor than steeping the cream in raw sliced ginger. I decided to add diced candied ginger from Paradise Candied Fruit that they kindly sent me. They have an amazing selection of candied fruit that has been incredibly useful for so many of my recipes. Also, this recipe doesn’t call for any eggs. Why the ice cream still churns and comes together nicely, the end result it’s the lush creamy consistency we are use to. It’s still fantastic and I hope you enjoy the recipe.

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Bridgerton: Gunter’s Tea Shop – Ginger Ice Cream

Bridgerton: Gunter's Tea Shop – Ginger Ice Cream recipe inspired by the Shondaland Netflix series, Bridgerton, starring Phoebe Dynebor, Rege-Jean Page, and Jonathan Bailey. This recipe came from one of Gunter's Tea Shop's confectioner, Frederick Nutt.

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Keyword Bridgerton, Food, Gingerbread, Gunter’s Tea Shop, Ice Cream, Netflix, Regency

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 1 pint

Equipment

• ice cream machine

Ingredients

Simple Syrup

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Ice Cream Base

• 2 cups heavy cream
• juice of half a lemon
• 2 ounces ginger preserves
• 1/4 cup diced candied ginger

Instructions

Simple Syrup

• Combine the water and sugar in saucepan. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Once sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and cool.

Ice Cream Base

• Place the ginger preserves in a bowl and mash down any larges pieces of ginger.
• Combine the preserves with the cream and lemon juice. Add the simple syrup to taste. Depending on the sweetness of the preserves, you might use more or less.
• Churn the ice cream base according to the directions on your machine.
• Fold in 3/4 of the chopped candied ginger and top the rest of the ginger on top.
• Freeze in a container until solid.

The post Bridgerton: Gunter’s Tea Shop – Ginger Ice Cream appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

One of the reasons I love food and initially decided to join the food industry was because how transportive food can be. It can make it you feel closer to someone you miss, allow you to learn and explore cultures from around the world, and in this case, transport you through time to the Regency era. It’s been fascinating looking through cookbooks to see what ingredients and flavors were popular during that time. The next few recipes I will be posting will be from the cookbooks of some of the confectioners that worked at Gunter’s Tea Shop. All their cookbooks have quite extensive ice cream sections so it’s been so nice to try out some of the more unique flavors.

Also, recipes aside, who else is so excited about all the news about the next season of Bridgerton?! Although we’re quite far from actually getting to see the new season, all the news is making me so anxious to see the new season with Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as Anthony and Kate! I think this was one of my favorite books of the series along with Benedict’s story, An Offer from a Gentleman.

We got to see the Gunter’s Tea Shop a few times in the show, (and let’s not forget about the spoon scene with the Duke) but we didn’t actually get what was served. Unfortunately, no amount of pausing and zooming in on the tables gave me any information of what they were eating! Thankfully, I found this recipe called royal ice cream from Frederick Nutt’s cookbook, The Complete Confectioner. The ice cream is flavored with orange, lemon, pistachios, and with subtle hints of cinnamon and cloves. The flavors are warming yet refreshing. I hope you enjoy it.

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Bridgerton Gunter’s Tea Shop Royal Ice Cream Recipe

A recipe for Royal Ice Cream inspired by the Netflix series, Bridgerton. This recipe comes from the cookbook of one of the confectioners from Gunter's Tea Shop. The ice cream is flavored with orange, lemon, and pistachios.

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Keyword Bridgerton, Gunter’s Tea Shop, Ice Cream, Netflix

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Cool Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings 1 pint

Equipment

• ice cream machine

Ingredients

Sugar Syrup

• 2 ounces granulated sugar
• 2 ounces water

Ice Cream Base

• 8 ounces heavy cream
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 whole egg
• 1 zest of lemon
• 1 tsp orange blossom water
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1/4 cup toasted pistachios roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp diced candied orange peel
• 2 tbsp diced candied lemon peel

Instructions

Sugar Syrup

• In a saucepan, combine your sugar and water and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Ice Cream Base

• In a bowl, whisk together the yolks and egg and set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine your cream, lemon zest, cinnamon, cloves, and orange blossom water. Place over medium heat and bring just to a simmer. While constantly whisking, slowly stream the hot cream into the eggs.
• Once combined, return the mixture back over medium heat. Keep stirring the mixture with a rubber spatula until it starts to thicken and coat the spatula, around 170F. Mix in the syrup and stir until combined.
• Strain the mixture and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until cold.
• Churn the ice cream according to manufacturers’ instructions. Once it's finished churning, fold in the chopped pistachios, orange, and lemon peel. Freeze until solid.

The post Bridgerton: Gunter’s Tea Shop – Royal Ice Cream appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

Why, these are delicious! We must order some for Clyvedon.

Daphne Bridgerton, Season 1, Episode 6

I didn’t grow up eating or knowing much about British standing meat pies. I was already a full grown adult when I started to discover and learn more about various dishes and that’s when I found out about this amazing dish. Since starting this blog, I’ve made quite a few meat pies and it honestly is one of my favorite things. So, when I saw the meat pies in episode 6 of Bridgerton, I knew I had to make it.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to go on. In episode 6, Daphne briefly mentioned how delicious it was and we get a quick glimpse of the pies. They were so beautifully made and was a clear indication of much practice I still need to work on to get the perfect pie. I couldn’t identify what the fillings were but we do see some leaf designs with some various shapes. I decided on a pork filling as the village was known for their high quality pigs. The recipe for the standing crust comes from the 1747 cookbook, The Art of Cookery.

I only used diced pork loin in this recipe, however, you can substitute some of that with fattier cuts of meat, if you prefer. Also, make sure not to skip the jelly as it will help keep the pie moist especially since we are using such a lean cut of meat. After an hour of baking, the pie might not be as golden brown as preferred so to get the golden color I have in the photos, I actually place the pies in a toaster oven for a few minutes and it came out beautiful without drying out the center.

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Bridgerton: Pork Meat Pies

Bridgerton: Pork Meat Pies recipe inspired by the Shondaland Netflix series, Bridgerton, based off of Julia Quinn's book series. The show stars Phoebe Dynevor, Jonathan Bailey, and Regé-Jean Page to just name a few.

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine British

Keyword Bridgerton, Meat Pie, Netflix, Regency

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 6 pies

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 pound all purpose flour
• 6.8 ounces unsalted butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 ounces water

Pork Filling

• 20 ounces diced pork loin small dice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tbsp dried sage
• 1 pinch nutmeg

Egg Wash

• 1 large whole egg whisked

Jelly

• 14.5 ounces chicken stock 1 can
• 12 grams powdered gelatin

Instructions

• In a saucepan, add the water, salt and, butter. Bring to a boil and add the flour. Turn the heat down low and stir until the mixture comes together in a ball of dough. Let the dough cool down to room temperature before continuing.
• In a bowl, combine your diced pork, salt, pepper, thyme, sage, and nutmeg. Stir until combined.
• Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment and set aside.
• On a generously floured surface, knead your dough for a few seconds until you get a smooth dough. Set aside 200g of the dough and divide the rest into 6 equal pieces.
• I don't have a standing pie mold so I used a mason jar to mold each pie. Press or roll each ball of dough into flat discs. Generously flour the ball of dough and the mold and gently but firmly press the dough up the sides of the mold. Make sure the crust is even. If there is excess dough, slice it off and set aside.
• Remove the mold and place the crust on the prepared sheetpan. If you're finding the dough too soft to manage, place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Fill each pie with the pork filling. Make sure not to pack the meat in as we will need room for the jelly later on. Repeat this with the rest of the dough.
• Roll out the 200g gram ball of dough and cut out circles to make the lids for each pie. Top each pie with the lid and crimp the edges together to seal it closed. Cut a hole in the center of each pie.
• With the excess dough, roll it out again and cut out small leaves to decorate the pies with. Adhere each piece with a dab of the whisked egg. After placing on all the leaves, brush the egg all over the pie and bake. Bake at 350F for 1 hour or until golden brown and cooked through.
• Let it cool for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, add the stock in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium high heat. Turn off the heat and whisk in the gelatin until it has all dissolved. Once the pies have cooled slightly, pour the jelly mixture into each pie. Leave it in a cool area to set and serve.

The post Bridgerton: Pork Meat Pies appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

ROSE: Miss! You’ve already awakened!

DAPHNE: Have Cook prepare as many biscuits as he can this morning. Perhaps we might move a few extra chairs into the drawing room too. I do wonder which gentleman will be the very first to call.

Bridgerton, Season 1 Episode 1

After a few years of creating recipes inspired by shows and movies, I can’t help but get distracted by the mention or display of any kind of food. What’s even more frustrating is when I get through a whole movie or season without a single mention of food or what the characters ate. I had the same sense while watching Bridgerton. There were so many scenes with elaborate displays of food but there wasn’t much when it came to actual description. Regardless, the display of Regency style food was amazing and gave so much life to story.

The second recipe in this series are Judges Biscuits. The recipe for these biscuits come from the cookbook, The Complete Confectioner, by Frederick Nutt, one of the confectioners from Gunter’s Tea Shop. We didn’t get a great look or description of the biscuit other than seeing Nigel Berbrooke take a bite out of it when he went to call on Daphne. These biscuits are crispy on the edges and light and spongey in the center. The addition of caraway seeds give the biscuits a great aroma and distinguishes it from any other biscuit.

Why is it called Judges Biscuits? I really don’t know! I’ve tried to find any history or information regarding this biscuit but unfortunately I haven’t been able to come up with anything. The texture is quite similar to Savoy biscuits but the caraway seeds really help distinguish it.

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Bridgerton: Judges Biscuits

Bridgerton: Judges Biscuits recipe inspired by the Netflix series, Bridgerton, base off of Julia's Quinn's bestselling romance book series, Bridgerton. Biscuits were mentioned in the the television series as well as the popular book series. This recipe from one of the confectioners, Frederick Nutt's cookbook, The Complete Confectioner.

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Keyword Biscuits, Bridgerton, Cookies, Netflix, Regency

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12 biscuits

Ingredients

• 3 large whole eggs
• 4 oz sifted powered sugar (approx. 1 cup)
• 1 1/2 tsp caraway seeds more or less depending on preference
• 4 oz sifted all purpose flour (approx. 1 cup)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 2 sheetpans with parchment and set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the eggs on medium speed until bubbly and light yellow, approximately 5 minutes. Add the sifted powered sugar and whisk for another 5-7 minutes until thick and light yellow. The consistency should reach ribbon stage and leave a trace on the batter for a few seconds before blending back in with the rest of the batter. If the batter doesn't reach this stage, it will pool out to thin discs when scooping it out onto the parchment.
• Add the caraway seeds and fold in the sifted flour until well combined.
• With a small portion scoop, scoop the batter onto the prepared sheetpan. Generously dust the top of each cookie with powered sugar. You may also top the cookies with a few more caraway seeds. Bake for 12-15 minutes until it's light golden brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before releasing it from the parchment.

The post Bridgerton: Judges Biscuits appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

It has come across this author’s ears that the ton has been buzzing about the popularity of the new Netflix show, Bridgerton, starring Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, and Jonathan Bailey to just name a few of the amazing cast. I’ve been a huge fan of Julia Quinn for years and it’s so exciting to see the success of the show and book series again. After taking a long and much needed break from posting recipes, I’m so happy to be back creating recipes for the Bridgerton series which has provided such a great source of distraction and escapism for this tough time.

Daphne: I’m quite parched.

Anthony: I shall fetch you a glass of lemonade.

Daphne: No, you have already done so much for me tonight. I shall return in a mere moment.

Berbrooke: Small glasses.

Daphne: Lord Berbrooke

Berbrooke: Tiny little things, are they not?

Daphne: The glasses? I suppose.

Berbrooke: Then the matter is settled.

Daphne: I’m not entirely sure the matter in which we discuss, my lord.

I’m starting off this series with a recipe for classic lemonade. This drink was mentioned in the book series, as well as the Netflix series when we were introduced to Nigel Berbrooke. Lemonade was popularly served at these events as a refreshing, non-alcoholic beverage and the recipe I used came from the cookbook of one of the confectioners from Gunter’s Tea Shop.

How does it taste? Well, it tastes like a refreshing cup of lemonade! Although the recipe dates back to the Regency era, the ingredients and methods are the same. Enjoy a nice glass of this drink the next time enjoying an episode of Bridgerton.

Find the recipe in The Complete Confectioner by Frederick Nutt at the following link, https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Complete_Confectioner/hPkpAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

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Bridgerton: Lemonade

Bridgerton: Lemonade recipe inspired by the Netflix series and Julia Quinn's best selling book series about the Bridgerton family.

Course Drinks

Cuisine British

Keyword Bridgerton, Lemonade, Netflix, Regency

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 minutes minutes

Total Time 23 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 6 large lemons
• 5 cups water

Simple Syrup

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

• To make the simply syrup, combine the 1 cup water and sugar in a saucepan and place it over medium heat. Bring to a boil until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool to room temperature.
• Zest two of the lemons and place the zest in a bowl or large pitcher. Add the 5 cups water, juice of 6 large lemons, and simple syrup to taste. Strain and serve.

The post Bridgerton: Lemonade appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

First off, I’m very sorry about being so inconsistent on the site. I’m sure everyone understands when I say that there are moments when life occasionally throws something difficult in your way that demand all your time and attention. Well, I’m having one of those periods in my life and I just needed to start prioritizing things that were more important. Thankfully, I had a moment today to finish up my afternoon tea series for Downton Abbey. I’m very sorry but I hope you enjoy it.

We’re finally at the top tier of our afternoon tea menu and quite often this is usually my favorite section. There are sometimes really elaborate and dainty sized pastries and cakes on top but I kept this fairly simple and easy to put together. The recipe I have for you today are these fantastic mini fruit tarts. This is a great recipe to make use of what’s seasonal while bringing in a wonderful pop of color from the fruit you use on top. The recipe for the tart crust and custard comes from, The Book of Household Management, by Mrs. Isabella Beeton. It’s one of my favorite books to look through for inspiration so that a peek through some of the many recipes when you get a chance.

Depending on when you make these tarts, use whatever fruits are in season. I would image segmented citrus in the winter would look fantastic on these tarts. Please enjoy the recipe!

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Downton Abbey: Fruit Tarts

A recipe for mini fruit tarts for our afternoon tea menu inspired by the television series and movie, Downton Abbey.

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Keyword Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Downton Abbey, Tart

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Servings 12 servings

Ingredients

Short Crust

• 5.5 oz all purpose flour
• 4 oz unsalted butter
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup water

Baked Custard Pudding

• 2 cups whole milk
• zest of half a lemon
• 2 ounces granulated sugar
• 3 large whole eggs
• grated nutmeg
• seasonal fruit as needed
• apricot jam as needed

Instructions

Short Crust

• In a bowl, add your flour and butter. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until you reach the texture of coarse breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and stir to combine. Add a bit of water at a time just until you can press it into a ball of dough.
• Roll it out two to three times, folding the paste over each time. Wrap and refrigerate for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8" thickness. Punch out circles slightly larger than your mold. In this case, I used mini cupcake molds to make these tarts. Press the dough gently into mold. With a fork, dock the base of each tart shell. Bake for 10-15 minutes until it's lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and let it cool.

Baked Custard Pudding

• In saucepan, combine milk together with the sugar and lemon zest. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and whisk in the eggs. Whisk until well combined.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tart shells and freshly grate a bit of nutmeg on top. Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes, until the custard is set on the edges but gives just a slight wiggle in the center. Remove from the oven and let it cool.
• Once cool, nicely arrange your fruit on top. Brush the fruit with the apricot jam to help preserve and finish the tarts.

The post Downton Abbey: Fruit Tarts appeared first on Feast of Starlight.

It’s one of the most wonderful days of the year and, no, I’m not talking about Christmas! This Sunday, September 22, is Hobbit Day! I try to make sure every year to make something special for Hobbit Day and this year I wanted to make something simple yet beautiful and bountiful. The ploughman’s lunch is something I think the hobbit’s in the shire would love to enjoy after a long day out gardening. It’s also especially great when you’re celebrating Hobbit Day with your friends and family because it really feeds a crowd.

All of the components on this spread can be changed to something that better fits your palette. These were just some items I had on hand and that I had access to at the market. Traditionally, the ploughman’s lunch consists of bread, cheese, cold meat, and some fruit. That alongside a nice pint of beer and your Hobbit Day is set! I hope you enjoy the recipe and have a wonderful Hobbit Day!

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The Hobbit: Ploughman's Lunch

The Hobbit: Ploughman's Lunch recipe for this year's Hobbit Day inspired by The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.

Course Main Course

Cuisine British

Keyword Lord of the Rings, Ploughman's Lunch, The Hobbit

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• grilled bread
• Silton Cheese
• Cheshire Cheese
• cherry tomatoes
• assorted fruit berries, plums, cherries
• cold cut meat ham, chicken, roast
• pears sliced into 6 wedges
• cornichons
• pickled beets

Scotch Egg

• 5 hard boiled eggs peeled
• 8 ounces sausage meat remove the casings if it has it
• 2 whole eggs whisked
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• frying oil as needed for garnish

Instructions

Scotch Egg

• Take the sausage meat and divide it into 5 equal portions. Take on portion in your hand and flatter it out into a thin oval. Lay the egg on the middle and wrap the sausage meat around the egg. Gently press the egg and sausage together. Repeat with the rest of the eggs.
• Roll the eggs in the flour and dust off any excess. Roll it in the whisked eggs and then into the breadcrumbs. Set it aside and repeat with the rest of the eggs.
• Heat the frying oil in a saucepan over medium high heat to 375F. Gently place the prepared scotch eggs into the hot oil and frying for 5 minutes, flipping half way through. Once golden brown and cooked through, place it on a paper towel lined tray to cool. Let it cool slightly before slicing in half and serving.

Grilled Pears

• Heat your cast iron grill on high heat. Once hot, lay the sliced pear wedges on the grill long enough to get some grilled marks, 1-2 minutes. Turn on repeat on the other side.

Assembly

• An hour before you serve the ploughman's lunch, let your cheese temper by placing the cheese on the serving platter and covering it with a towel.
• Arrange the larger pieces on the platter first like the bread, ham, scotch egg, pears, and pickles. Fill in the space with fruit and cherry tomatoes. I added chive blossoms to the platter but you can add any herbs you like.

Notes

- The scotch eggs can be assembled a day ahead. Refrigerate until needed.
- I listed two types of cheese but you can use your personal favorite or anything new and interesting you find at the market.
- It's not photographed, but I served this with a side of honey and mustard! It's a very delicious addition.

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