Thank you all for joining me this month as we read Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs. It sounds like the book was enjoyed by participants and was even a reread for a couple! Way to commit to the group!
First up we have Claudia of Honey from Rock. She says, “ I enjoyed the novel immensely, so true to life, it's close to being a memoir. The characters, flaws and all, are well developed and inspiring. It also helped that the story is close to my own heart for gardening, cooking and finding new uses for the plants and herbs God has so magnificently provided us.” And with that inspiration, she made Soft Sourdough Potato Rolls.
Next up is Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm. She says, “One of the many dishes they prepared was Fried Perch with Crisp Parsley. Since we are celebrating the Lenten Season and Fish Fridays, and I am lucky enough to have some locally sourced perch in my freezer, I decided to make this for dinner tonight.” Here is Wendy’s Fried Perch with Crisp Parsley.
Next up is Marg from The Intrepid Reader & Baker. She says, “I have a potted history with this book, which is also published under the title Miss Eliza's English Kitchen. Originally I tried to read it on an Easter road trip back in 2022. I struggled to keep interested so I put it down, only picking it up again 6 months later. I had to start reading the book again, and this time I thought it was quite good! However, I think it is a book that grows on you because when I started it again for this post, I struggled to be able to put it down. It's a book that seems to get better each time you read it!” She made Egg Curry (Anda Tarari).
Next is Debra from Eliot’s Eats. She says, “A couple of things surprised me about this book. I had no idea that Eliza was a real person, a domestic goddess of the Victorian age. I kind of wish I would have realized this before I read the book; I think I would have enjoyed the tale more.” She made these Lemon Lavender Butter Cookies.
Next up is Simona from Briciole. She says, “Through Eliza, Abbs addresses the topics of marriage, motherhood, and the narrow options open to creative women at the time (Eliza is a poet and playwright), while through Ann, she addresses the narrow options open to poor people, particularly women, and also the care of patients with mental health problems.” She was inspired to make Roasted Carrot, Parsnip, and Apple Soup.
And last up is me from Amy's Cooking Adventures! I always love a good historical fiction, especially when I can learn about a new person, in this case, Eliza Acton. While not much is known about her in real life, this fictionalized account brings her to life. Additionally, I was able to find a digitized copy of her actual cook book online and shared a recipe from the cookbook, Geneva Rolls, in my post.
