Going home

[osprey_archer]

Did my last load of laundry, made my hotel reservation, turned in my paper, bought my ticket to London, bought my brother's Christmas chocolates, packed all the things I won't need between now and Friday -

My goodness. I'm actually going home this Saturday, aren't I?

And I have nothing to do between now and Friday. (Except Yuletide. Does anyone know when they're going to open uploading? I'd like to get my story in before attempt my transatlantic flight. Assuming I finish it before then.)

I suppose I will have to make some posts of Deep Thoughts About Studying Abroad. I will start by saying that Yorkshire pudding, although not even an Englishman could call it a pudding in good faith (it's not even sweet, man), is actually quite delicious with turkey and gravy.

Are there any classic English dishes that I absolutely must try before I leave?

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Curry is a new English classic--have you had any curry?

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a little afraid of curry, possibly because the first time I had it I was eating with my Bangladeshi friends and...I'm pretty sure their mouths are made of cast-iron. It's the only possible explanation.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there are much more mild versions! --But understood.

Christmas pudding, which is a little like fruitcake but much, much nicer (richer and moister and full of all kinds of things), is very English--but I'm not sure you'd be able to get *before* Christmas.

My mother-in-law gave me her recipe. This year I didn't make it (you have to make it a month in advance and let it soak in brandy and stout for a month), but I have in the past, and it's fun to make as well as eat. Her recipe has a grated carrot and a grated potato in it, as well as raisins, dried currants, other dried fruit, orange peel--well you get the idea. It has to be boiled for hours, and then you light it on fire when you serve it up :-)

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, that sounds a bit like my grandmother's fruitcake, which has molasses and orange peel and piles of dried fruit and is soaked in enough madeira to make a baby walrus giggle. (I'm pretty sure the madeira is the only alcohol she ever kept in the house, which makes it even more exciting.)

But we never thought to light it on fire. Yet another sign that my childhood was blighted!

There's a restaurant/speciality food store close by that has Christmas puddings in their windows, but I don't know if it only sells whole puddings, or if they're available by the slice. (Preferably brought to the table flaming.) But I'm going there this Thursday, so we shall see...

[silksieve.livejournal.com]

Did you have trifle? It's the perfect time of year for it, too!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I've had multiple versions of trifle! There's trifle with jam and trifle with Jell-O, which is apparently more authentic, although I preferred the jam.

English desserts in general are marvelous. My favorite is sticky toffee pudding, especially when it's swimming in toffee sauce and accompanied by vanilla ice cream.

[silksieve.livejournal.com]

Sticky toffee pudding is the BEST!

I also love how desserts in general are "pudding." :D

[redskyis.livejournal.com]

I don't know about anything you should eat, but, after reading pretty much every entry you've written since arriving in Europe, I'm glad you've enjoyed your stay so much. I'm really glad you've had the opportunity to travel, and see amazing places, and eat very good food, and, yes, even write papers on St. Katherine.

But I'll be glad to see you in January. :)

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

What? Only pretty much every entry? :p I'm glad one of us enjoyed that paper about St. Katherine.

I should note that this journal is a somewhat expurgated version of My Time In England, because I figured that the world at large didn't want or need to know about things like the evil maitre d' in Harrogate who made me cry, and so forth; I've had a by and large beautiful time but it wasn't always a walk in the park.

And I'm looking forward to seeing you too, birthday girl!