I was brought up to believe that whining was the 8th deadly sin, and the only one which was reliably punished in this lifetime. Apparently, mother was not always 100%, absolutely right. Sometimes a person is very lucky, and is rewarded, despite shameless self-centered complaining. That would be me.
I was intrigued by June's recipe for a "lemon posset", wherein cream is magically thickened and mutates into custardy goodness with the addition of lemon juice, and no eggs whatsoever. I speculated (well, actually, sniveled) that the clotted cream called for was unavailable in the Greater Pittsburgh Area, and that the recipe probably wouldn't work with the more ordinary stuff I can find.
Shortly thereafter, I received a tidy little container of real clotted cream in the mail (!) from June, who I cannot thank enough. It was gorgeous, and traveled beautifully, probably as a result of the nearly unfathomable extent of the butterfat which is its primary reason for being. Wow.
After a few sneaked samples, I made the recipe and it's so cool. It works like a charm and the posset (which resembles a lemon curd that died and went to heaven) thickens up nicely.With this lot, I prebaked two little tartlet shells (ordinary pie crust dough), and layered the posset with some raspberries- glazed with a little melted jam, and shared with my friend, I., who came to dinner, and approved.
I really will have to try this again with some ordinary local cream, to see if it translates at all. It couldn't possibly be as gorgeous, but perhaps it will still be nice. I love magic tricks with food.
Whine and you shall receive... Although I'm amazed and impressed that June was able to ship clotted cream from Britain to Pittsburgh.
Your tart is beautiful and lemon posset sounds sinfully delicious.
Posted by: Julie | August 31, 2007 at 12:09 PM
That is unreal: the lemon posset sounds like the most amazing thing ever and that you could get clotted cream from England. Unreal.
Never thought of whining as a sin anyway.
Yes, I love magic tricks with food also.
Posted by: Tanna | August 31, 2007 at 10:40 PM
Food bloggers are the worlds nicest inhabitants, now I am sure! How come that English terms sound so unbelievably British, I mean: posset. Taste the word: Posset. Magnificent!
And now I want to make this, our raspberries keep on coming.
Posted by: baking soda | September 02, 2007 at 12:56 PM
I've been thinking about lemon posset ever since I read June's post. After reading yours I just had to plunge ahead with what was available. I used supermarket whipping cream and it came out fine, perhaps not as set up as yours, but delicious. I had a plan in case it didn't set up to just go ahead and whip it when it got cold. Sometimes extra heavy whipping cream is available and perhaps that would be even better. I'm thinking about a savory version, cream steeped in herbs, to serve with poached vegetables and salmon. Good stuff.
Posted by: Lynn D. | September 03, 2007 at 02:27 PM
I have a recipe around here someplace for making clotted cream at home. I don't have time to dig it up now (gym, commute, work) but I can later. Shoot me an email and I'll pop it over to you this evening!
Posted by: ann | September 04, 2007 at 07:54 AM
A lemon curd that died and went to heaven? And here I thought life couldn't get any better than homemade lemon curd. I will definitely have to try making some posset with the thick Jersey cream I skim off the top of our jars of milk. I think it just might work. And that tart looks SO good.
Posted by: farmgirl | September 06, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Margaret's Fine Imports
5872 Forbes Ave
Squirrel Hill
Pittsburgh PA 15217
margarey154@yahoo.com
412-422-1606
http://www.margaretsfineimports.com
http://www.teapittsburgh.com
Margarets Fine Imports ells Clotted Cream in Pittsburgh. You can also buy British teas like Earl Grey, PG Tips, Yorkshire Gold and many loose teas.
Posted by: Margaret | June 06, 2008 at 07:53 PM