Let’s talk about the weather.
No, let’s not. It’s raining. Again.
Is it really July? Without the endings that bring expectations of holidays and sunshine – the end of ballet classes, the end of the school year, the end of chorister duties …
– we could easily be hoodwinked into building bonfires and counting down the days to Christmas.
The BBC called us ‘deluged Devon‘ today. Apparently, a month’s worth of rain – up to 80mm – fell in the past 24 hours and more bad weather has been forecast. Thanks.
This eternal drizzle makes everything difficult. Bookbags and papers get soggy, hair turns frizzy, cooped-up children become grumpy. Okay, that’s probably more a description of my own problems with the weather than of anyone else’s … but I’m sure you know what I mean.
What’s that saying …? When life deals you something-or-other, make something-or-other? Fry fish? Make bagels? There’s a saying there on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t quite get hold of it.
Never mind. Here’s another I’ve just made up on the spot: when it rains instead of shines, make apple and plum pie.
Which is made just like Gooseberry pie really, only bigger. But if anyone wants the exact recipe, give me a shout.
Mirem més ensota que endalt; de peixos, no en plouen.
amerrierworld.com 
Nicole Rolland
/ July 8, 2012Morning Kate! I know how you feel: woke up to the silky sound of pearl rain this morning- a beautiful sound, but very unwelcome. Went out to feed my hens: uncomplaining but very bedraggled looking in their mud bath of an enclosure. With all these eggs I feel like trying out souffles: I want to make some which can be done ahead of time ie the mixture all whisked, folded and waiting in ramekins ready to bake for dessert. After all, who wants to see their hostess noisily beat egg whites between courses. If you have any experience or advice, I’d be most grateful!
In the meantime, where are you getting all these plums from?? Your beautiful plum chutney from months ago and now this gorgeous looking tart – are the plums unseasonably early in Devon?
amerrierworld
/ July 8, 2012Hi Nicole 🙂 I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never made a souffle – sorry. We very rarely have puddings or desserts after a meal (so that’s my excuse – nothing at all to do with my fear that they’ll all flop and I’ll fail, fail, fail of course 😉 ). If you come up with any foolproof, make-ahead method though … would you like to write a guest post …?
As for the plums – shockingly unseasonal but purely therapeutic. I bought up lots for my ongoing chutney project … 🙂
Nicole Rolland
/ July 9, 2012OK, will report back once I have had a big play with the souffle. We always have desserts after meals, but certainly not souffles! I meant for at the end of a dinner party – yes, we still engage in that exquisite form of masochism!
I have recently enjoyed 2 excellent souffles after restaurant meals when quite full up; a sweet souffle seemed the perfect choice. One was a lemon one and the other an amazing raspberry one with coulis poured into it at the table. The texture was at once bouncy, melting yet totally satisfying without taking up non existent room in the belly. I have a funny feeling that rainy weather isn’t the best for souffles, meringues etc…. No more excuses, will get whisking.
Hey, you never gave us the recipe for your plum and apple pie!
Failure is not trying, after all, how did you come up with Kate flour?!
Nicole
amerrierworld
/ July 10, 2012Touché 🙂 (but kate flour was different – no-one was expecting me to succeed!)
Here’s the recipe for my apple plum pie …
Charlotte Martin
/ August 4, 2012When life gives you lemons, make lemonade? I think that’s what you were after! This looks yum as do all the other recipes I just read… I’ve been in America for 2 months now and cooking experience has been limited to making brownies with the little kids (I’m working as a nanny at a summer camp.) looking forward to doing some real cooking when I get back home! Hopefully see you all some time in September – Im starting my real life job in octoberM love to you all. Charlotte xxx
amerrierworld
/ August 4, 2012That’s the one! Thanks 🙂 I could have made vats full of lemonade by now …
Had a lovely day in Weymouth with your Mum and Greg this week. Didn’t see much Olympic sailing, but the fish and chips were good (got to get your priorities right, no? 😉 ). x