A Country Vet

I discovered All Creatures Great & Small at age 12. The book transported me to a different world. I avidly followed the joys and sorrows of James Herriot, a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s. Herriot was born in Glasgow in 1916 as James Alfred Wight. As a veterinary surgeon, he lived and worked in the small town of Thirsk, called Darrowby in his books. Herriot's first book, All Creatures Great & Small, was published in 1972. All Things Bright & Beautiful and other books followed. James Herriot's Treasury for Children introduces younger readers to these sweet stories with beautiful, warm illustrations, such as this one, by Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett.

Herriot's tales range from funny to heart wrenching. Many contain descriptions of hearty Yorkshire food. "...the table was loaded; ham and egg pies rubbing shoulders with snowy scones, a pickled tongue cheek by jowl with a bowl of mixed salad, luscious looking custard tarts jockeying for position with sausage rolls, tomato sandwiches and fairy cakes. In a clearing near the centre, a vast trifle reared its cream-topped head."

Today's recipe is for almond scones. Be sure to enjoy them warm from the oven!

Mix 3 cups flour, 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cut in 1/2 cup of butter. Add 1 T. almond extract and 1/2 cup half & half. Mix well. On a floured surface, roll dough to about 1 1/2 inches thick. Use a drinking glass or round cookie cutter to make 8 to 10 scones. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush with milk. Sprinkle with sugar and sliced almonds. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden in color.

Royal-Tea

Last year, my book about shoemaker Jimmy Choo debuted. It was a wonderfully fun book to write. I loved describing his shoes "from delicate crystalline colors, like the palest aquas, lavenders, and petal pinks, to daring oranges, reds, and vivid animal prints." Choo's childhood home on the island of Penang in Malaysia was also exciting to paint with words, "He played on the quiet white beaches, fished in the warm turquoise sea, and ate spicy dishes of thick rice noodles."

To women the world around, Choo's dazzling, strappy high heels define glamor and femininity. His career took off when Princess Diana of England discovered his shoes. The artist and the princess spent hours together, sifting through shimmering fabrics and sketching styles. When writing the book, I included background information about Diana--from her royal wedding to her charitable works to her tragic death. Diana's glass carriage and white puff ball meringue wedding dress seemed to come straight from the pages of a fairy tale. It stirred imaginations.

Today, people around the world are waiting for the upcoming marriage of

Diana's son. Many plan to watch the ceremony on television, maybe with a cup of tea and a scone. Perhaps the food is a tribute or a way to feel like a part of the festivities? Dunkin' Donuts is

even baking jelly-filled, heart-shaped doughnuts in honor of the royal wedding. Fairy cakes (cupcakes) and a water tea party would be a fun activity for little ones. A good cup of British tea (with some sugar and milk) and scones would be delicious for adults. Scones are simple to make from scratch or from a mix.

My recipe today comes from my Granny, who was from England. Growing up, we loved to make this rich, mouthwatering molasses toffee, twisting it into a light golden color before we popped it into our mouths.

To make the toffee:

Mix 1 stick of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 1 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of molasses in a heavy pan. Cook over medium heat until it boils. Stir constantly. Cook until it reaches 260 degrees and pour into a well buttered pan. After 10 minutes, push the edges toward the center of the pan. When it's cool, pull and twist the toffee until it's a light golden color. Cut into small pieces (using buttered scissors works well), roll in powdered sugar, and enjoy!

Read 'Em & Eat

Certain characters,settings, and phrases sometimes sing to readers. They draw them in to the story and connect them to the words on the page. It's all there on the pages, waiting to spring to life. Readers young and old often long to be like characters in books. Growing up, I not only wanted to be like certain characters, I wanted to eat like them too. The Little House on the Prairie Cookbook and Nancy Drew Cookbook grace my kitchen shelf to this day. This has led to sampling recipes such as Cambric Tea, Maple Candy, and Invisible Intruder Coconut Custard. Not long ago, a family birthday party featured themed treats from The Very Hungry Caterpillar--from a cupcake caterpillar to fruit with holes like the caterpillar nibbled. It was a fun way for kids and adults to connect with the story. With each post on this blog I plan to tie a recipe to a book, giving new meaning to "tasteful reading."