A Pot of Tea, A Plate of Scones AND Clotted Cream - Life Is Good

October 29

No, I'm not working on the Business Plan but I AM working on the Business.  At this very moment my third attempt at making clotted cream is under way and I have to stay close by to monitor its progress - for the next 6-8 hours.  I gave up trying to find a supplier here in the U.S. and none of the dairy farms I emailed in Cornwall have bothered to respond.  There are those ridiculously tiny pots they sell in upscale markets for $6 but they aren't even that great, more like butter than clotted cream which should be ever so slightly runny at the edges.  So I've decided to make my own.

Luckily we have an organic Jersey cow dairy farm in the next town over and I popped over there the other day to talk to them about clotted cream.  Like a lot of Americans they'd never tasted it and they're still trying to get regular cream production sorted out, so I left with 2 gallons of fabulous full cream, unhomogenised, raw Jersey milk (the Amish sell this on the black market in New York) to start my own production.  If the mountain won't come to Mohammed ...

There are two different methods and two different philosophies I'm exploring. One involves traditional Cornish ways and fat, happy, local cows.  The other doesn't (and that's all I'm saying.)

First attempt: not so good. The cream layer on top more or less solidified and looked like butter.

But I did recycle the whole thing by making 3 versions of rice pudding (more business research!) and a crab bisque.













Second attempt: a bit tricky because I had to interrupt it to cook Rice Pudding #3 which needed the oven, and this meant I had to set an alarm to wake up at 12.30 am to get the cream out of the oven, then again at 3 to put it in the fridge.  Too tired to look at it then and I had a fitful rest of the night, particularly as I had some flashes of slogan inspiration around 4 am and had to get up to write them down. You know, for all the anciliary merchandising opportunities. The title of this blog is one of them, but my favorite so far is: Go Ahead, Make My Tea.

Anyway, it wasn't until 8 am that I actually took Version 2 out of the fridge and lo and behold, by George, I think we've got it!

This is it straight out of the pot, semi-liquid gold.  And for all you clotted cream virgins, it tastes much better than it looks here.

So of course I had to whip up a batch or two of scones to test drive the clotted cream.  I'm happy to report that it's udderly delicious.  Only problem is, this one was made with  supermarket cream (sshhh) so now I have Version 3 under way using the other method with the local Jersey milk.  I'm committed to using locally sourced products wherever possible.

Then there's the other test drive that's ongoing:  sausage rolls and Cornish Pasties.  Can't get decent sausage in America (sad but true) so again I've decided to make my own.  Mach 1 not bad at all, but a little too dense for optimal sausage roll applications and a touch too much fresh sage perhaps.  I have a bush of it growing in the garden, alongside a shrub of rosemary.  They say you can stick something in the ground here and twenty minutes later you have a garden.  I love having fresh herbs growing year round right outside my door.  And if you're ever stuck for fresh rosemary while shopping downtown you can always pick some while you're waiting for the one traffic light to change.

I have the filling down for the pasties but the pastry is proving to be a challenge.  I've now got Mum's Aussie version resting in the fridge (it has baking powder and lemon juice!) so we'll see how that turns out.

All this to explain why life is busy, busy right now and I haven't had time to update the blog for a while.  I did have time to be taken out to lunch at Fins by fairy godmother/banker extraordinaire Susan last week to celebrate the fact that her bank is going to lend me some dosh.  Isn't that wonderful?  The bank agrees to lend me money and then buys me lunch.  I love this town!  Susan is so well connected that she's probably got my store completely staffed by now (last week she had the manager sorted, and the bookkeeper was all set the first week I was here.  Keep working that wand Susan!)

The building got the once over yesterday by the electrician and the plumber.  The bad news: we don't have enough power for a kitchen.  The good news: it won't be too difficult to get it.  The plumbing is a bit more of a challenge and will involve several substantial bribes to various officials  -  just kidding!  Really!

We also had our first meeting with Eric out at the local restaurant supply store.  A most reassuring chap - he's a former chef (I offered him a job on the spot and he asked if I'd like to buy his store) and knows what we will need in this kitchen, if we can get the plumbing and electric sorted out.  This afternoon we meet with Richard, our architect, to go over the various codes we'd like to violate and/or ignore.

Meanwhile, the house is slowly coming together.  We ran a Moving IN sale ad this week, to get rid of some of the excess stuff we can't fit in this small house.  Sadly, I can't persuade Dan to get rid of any of his white socks.  Honestly, how many pairs of white socks does one man need?  And the only time he wears them is when he plays golf, which is maybe twice a year.  He has a whole drawer full of them, including some not yet worn.  His excuse?  "I might get athletic one day."   Well, at least he promised not to buy any more.

Not good enough, according to my banker.  Her husband kept buying pick up trucks until one day she'd had it.  He promised not to buy any more, but she knew better.  She made him sign an affidavit.  Don't you love it?  Now whenever he gets that pick up look in his eyes she whips out the legal and the subject is closed.

We're hoping to have an open house in a couple of weeks for our neighbors and new friends.  Dan wanted to put it off until after his weeklong trip to New York but I know that will mean we'll never get finished unpacking.  Better to have a deadline.

 This has not been doctored in any way, I promise you.  This sunrise  was taken from our deck.

In addition to perfecting and costing my menu I'm also engaging in ongoing P.R. efforts, especially on my dawn beach walks when I meet the most interesting people.  I've started to tell everyone I'm opening a Tea Room, which may be premature as we haven't had the commercial appraisal results yet, but I just can't help myself.  And I'm happy to say that everyone is very responsive to the idea.  Gene, the interim school superintendent, even offered to help out with the renovations in his spare time - just for the fun of it.

One thing there's no shortage of in PT is woodworkers.  Everyone's a woodworker here.  We'll be meeting some of them next weekend at the Annual Woodworker's Ball.  Dress is "Black Tie and Carhartts" - should be interesting.

And now I think my latest batch of clotted cream is almost done.  And the second batch of scones, which I made with slightly less butter in order to facilitate more guiltless piling on of said cream, is ready to be tested.  Maybe I can persuade Salome who's coming over shortly for the sofa bed to take some scones and cream home with her.  I'd hate to have to eat it all myself.

Some Fall scenes from our house in PT:

Hardworking spiders are decorating the house for Halloween.

And schooners sailing past the living room window.

The Pillsbury Bake-Off (Lite)

Sunday, October 17

After spending way too much time fine tuning the Caramel Apple Bread Pudding recipe for today's Food Co-Op Apple Festival Dessert Competition, and having to eat Machs 1 through 4, I was dismayed to see so few entries.  There were 3 categories - Best Overall Dessert, Best Organic/Local, and Best Alternative (vegan, raw, gluten free) and the Organic and Alternative could also win Best Overall (unfair advantage, especially as mine was only eligible for one category.)

There were only around ten entries.  Dan thought that was good news but to me it was awful.  I wouldn't mind losing if there were dozens of entries - you could easily get lost in the crowd - but imagine losing with so few competitors.  No way to slink off unnoticed with the remnants of your dessert stuffed in a brown paper bag. No, it would be the Pudding Walk Of Shame all the way.


We killed time watching kids bob for apples. listening to a local jazz quartet, drinking hand cranked apple cider, eating warm apple donuts (I'm ready to explode) and trying not to watch the judging too obviously.

Now I know why I was never good at sport - I hate competition.  I don't like to lose.  I get upset when I don't win the lottery especially when I've gone to all the trouble of remembering to buy a ticket and everything.











I won!

Or rather I shared first prize with a lovely woman who baked a pie.  We each received a $25 gift card.  Thank goodness that's over and I can walk tall again down the streets of Port Townsend.  But it has made me think twice about naming the store Pippa's Tea Room.  If it doesn't succeed my name will be synonymous with failure.  Aaargh!    New name suggestions welcome.

And in closing, I'd like to thank my husband, Dan, who ate his way through all the versions without complaint, the makers of Alka Seltzer, and of course the sponsors - the wonderful people at Pillsbury for all their fabulous products ...........

Pippa's Co-Equal First Prize Winning Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored and cut into quarters
3 oz unsalted butter
5 tbsp sugar
2 eggs and 2 yolks
2 tbsp sugar
300 mls heavy cream
half a vanilla bean
3 or 4 croissants
2 - 4 tbsp golden raisins
applejack brandy (or regular brandy or rum)

Melt butter in large non stick fry pan.  Remove from heat and sprinkle with 5 tbsp sugar.

Cut apple quarters into 2 or 3 slices and lay them flat in the fry pan.  Cook over moderately high heat for about 5 minutes until the caramel starts to turn golden, checking the bottom of the slices to make sure they don't burn.  When they are deep gold turn the slices carefully and cook some more until nicely caramelized.  Remove from heat and let cool a bit in the pan.

While the apples are cooking, place the raisins in a microwave safe small bowl and cover with applejack brandy.  Zap for 20 seconds or until the brandy starts to bubble, then let raisins sit and get plump (my favorite activity.)

Split the vanilla bean and scrape into a saucepan with the cream.  Heat gently until bubbles start to form around the edges.  Remove the bean.

Whisk the eggs and yolks with the 2 tbsp sugar then slowly add the hot cream, whisking all the while to form a custard.

Split the croissants and put the bottoms in a smallish buttered round oven dish.  Cut and paste if necessary.  Transfer half the apple slices onto the bottom layer and then sprinkle the raisins on top.  Add the top halves of the croissants (I like them cut side up)  and carefully pour the custard over (I use a strainer.)  Lay the rest of the apple slices on top and let the whole thing sit for about 10 minutes while the oven warms up to 350.  If there's any caramel left in the pan, either eat it or, if you have self-discipline, put it on top of the apples.

Use a water bath with hot water to halfway up the baking dish.  Bake uncovered for about 30 - 45 minutes until the custard has just set.  Let stand for 30 minutes or just go ahead and dig in. If your arteries can stand it a little more cream drizzled on top is good, and if there are leftovers they are great zapped for breakfast.

Grey Gulls and Green Rocks

Wednesday, October 13

First of all, I should be either working on the World's Best Business Plan or unpacking the alarming number of boxes that are still stacked to the rafters in the garage, but I'm not.

Instead I'm taking a break from refining my Caramel Apple Bread Pudding recipe for this Sunday's Apple Festival Dessert Competition and writing this blog, so will you all stop nagging me already?

Last Thursday's Girls Night Out was a big hit.  I manage to squeeze myself into the Liberty of London red silk vest I bought 20 years ago thanks to a judicious application of Spanx, not bending at the waist and only breathing in, found my Aussie Akubra hat, donned my red boots and off I went to meet up with Susan, the lovely Linda and Sarah for some cowgirl shopping fun.

Spanxed up from neck to knee (and still only got 2 buttons to close)

We met a real Texan cowgirl - she's in the white Stetson of course.

But this cowgirl took the best outfit award - yes, there was free wine and chocs at every store.

We met up afterwards with Susan's hubby Nathan and his parents, Whit and Judy and Dan for dinner at the Silverwater.  I got a big kick out of Whit, a real curmudgeonly type.  He may be a man of few words but the ones he directed my way cracked me up.  At one point during dinner he turned to me and said "Earl. Grey. Tea." And his parting words to me were "High Tea."  Got it Whit!

On Saturday I went to help out at the huge Rotary Garage Sale held annually at the fairgrounds.  I snagged a brand new tall filing cabinet for $20, you know, for the files I should be filing for the Business Plan I should be writing.  When the doors officially opened at 9 I thought the first two guys in were joking around with their pushing and elbowing each other, but they weren't.  They take garage sales very seriously here.  There was practically a stampede (should have worn my boots and carried a whip) but it eventually calmed down and the place was pretty much picked over after a couple of hours.  Amazing the stuff that people will buy - all for a good cause of course.

We spent the rest of the day in Sequim (pronounced Skwim for all you foreigners so you won't get shot when you visit) at the big box stores - yes, Max, there is a Costco here - getting bathroom cabinets, mirrors because there's not one full length one in this house for which I should probably be grateful but sometimes you just have to know the ugly truth, blinds, hinges etc.  My best purchase?  A 12 foot extension rod for the window washing wand which I fully intend to use some day very soon in the not too distant future (once I've finished writing the WBBP of course.)  Only problem with that is that I'll destroy the web of the hardest working spider in PT.  He's working a 12 foot span here, thankfully on the outside.

Sunday was the building inspection.  Pete and Patrick, a terrific team of experienced builders, restorers and contractors showed up at 10 o'clock and spent two hours going over every inch of what looks to be a basically sound building.  It was originally a bank after all so I guess it's no surprise that walls are solid sandstone about 18 inches thick and the floor has a layer of concrete over the floor joists to prevent drilling through to the dosh (although, interestingly enough, a saloon operated in the basement during the bank's occupation of the building.)

There are some areas of concern - rotting window sills upstairs, some chimneys that need proper capping, some brick work that needs repointing, but all in all nothing too terrible.  We do need to get an electrician in to check the wiring and capacity, and on Friday we'll meet with Richard, the architect, to find out if we need to have an ADA (wheelchair) accessible loo and how hard it will be to put in a small commercial kitchen.

The daylight basement where we hope we can squeeze a kitchen.

The current store.

"Our" building is part of the Historic District which in turn has been designated a National Historic Landmark.  PT itself is one of only 3 Victorian seaports on  the National Register of Historic Places, not to mention #24 on National Geographic's List of the World's Most historical Destinations (really!) so there are lots of regulations about what you can and can't do.  Fortunately Richard has served on the board of the Historical Preservation Committee (known to the more irreverent people in town as the Hysterical P.C.) and should be able to give us a good heads up on what we might be facing.

We celebrated our wedding anniversary on Tuesday - and thanks, Peter, for the photos and for thinking we'd made it through our first decade already (and trust me, there were times when it felt a lot longer than that) but it's only 8 years so barely worth mentioning really, except for the fact that we got to celebrate it here instead of in NY.

How young and cute was Hilary then? 

And how skinny was I? (Pre-Spanx days too!)

Went to the Silverwater which is part owned by Patrick's wife Allison (it is a small town after all) and then came home to admire our anniversary present which by a happy coincidence actually arrived on the big day.

Note the pillows, Lucy!  Well worth the schlepp from England.

Given my erratic sleep patterns these days, and given that Dan is snoring more (excuse me, he doesn't snore, he makes barely audible nocturnal noises) it was time to spring for the king size tempurpedic - the alternative was separate rooms which begins to seem like such a sensible arrangement the older I get, but we're not quite ready for that yet. We didn't get to actually use it last night as we couldn't get it set up in time (those damn bedskirts take forever to iron, especially when you can't find the box the iron is in and have to go out and buy a new one) but maybe tonight-  if I ever finish this blog and can find the box the hardware for the bedside tables is in.  Oh and the lamps - where the heck are they?

And perhaps you're wondering if I'll ever get to the point of the title of this endless blog.  Well, on my dawn walks with the dogs I've been collecting some of the glorious green rocks from the beach to fill the clear glass vase in our entrance (with the fake flowers I bought at the store currently in "our" building on Girls Night Out - kind of weird that, but 20% off is 20% off.)

Only problem is once they dry out the rocks tend to become a dull, uninspiring grey, not at all luminous and lush as they are on the wet beach.  So now I carry a prospect in my hand until it dries out and only keep it if it's still interesting. This one is my favorite - looks like a whale's eye, don't you think?

And the grey gulls - they're larger and noisier than the prissy little white ones, and are a wee bit thuggish.  There's one that guards neighbor Jay's lawn.  He's out there every day marching around, pecking at who knows what, and charging after any other bird that happens to land. 

Reminds me of the head gander we had when we were growing up - Mussolini he was named and he, too, was a real thug.  Used to hole me up in the hen house for hours if I was stupid enough to go out without a broom handle to fend him off and my brothers were too "busy" to hear my calls for help.  I'll have to ask Jay if his attack gull has a name yet.

There is so much to love about this little house even if we're never going to finish unpacking.  Its location is perfect but these signs around town do tend to act as a reality check when it comes to waterfront living.

We are, after all, in an active earthquake zone, not to mention in sight of two active volcanoes.

Mt. Ranier, one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes AND one of 16 Decade Volcanoes 'identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) as being worthy of particular study in light of their history of large, destructive eruptions and proximity to populated areas' according to Wikipedia.

Mt. Baker, the youngest volcano in the Cascade range, and the second most active after Mt. Saint Helens - not exactly a reassuring statistic.

Hey, it's all part of the willing suspension of belief that we are heartily embracing now.  I think the dogs have it right. Relax on the deck and enjoy the sun.

Eeek!

Wednesday, October 6

We have a signed contract!  Now the fun REALLY starts.  We received word from Michelle yesterday afternoon and promptly cracked open the bubbly, even though this is just the first step in a long process that may or may not result in Pippa's Tea Room being located at 810 Water Street.

The inspection is the next step - and that is happening on Sunday. After that comes the all important commercial appraisal which Susan is already working on, but that will take upwards of 8 weeks.  In the meantime I have to write the World's Best Business Plan so enough money will be thrown at me that I can actually start this business.

With so much excitement in the air I decided to brave my first PT haircut, a nerve-wracking experience as all women will understand. Finding a new hair cutter is more fraught than finding a new gynaecologist AND a new dentist.  Michelle steered me to Dawn, a PT born and bredder.  Okay, all my NY pals, how does a permanent hair color PLUS some snappy blonde highlights ("for pizazz" says Dawn) PLUS a haircut for $86 sound?  Pretty bloody good, right?  And when I found out they didn't take credit cards the lovely Dawn says "Not to worry, just drop it off next time you're by."

But back to 810 Water Street.  We called our neighbors, Les and Janet, and they popped over to share the bubbly which somehow made it feel more official.

Les, a fellow foodie, told me about the wonderful blackberries growing wild here.  "I need to get you out behind my garage," he said, which was the best offer I've had in a long time.  This morning he dropped off a tub of newly picked, luscious berries (I think he was afraid I'd take him up on his offer) which I promptly made into peach, blueberry and blackberry crumbles and dropped one off at their house.

See, that's what neighbors do.  Who knew?  I spent most of my time in Brooklyn trying to avoid my neighbors.

Another PT anecdote:  we had to get someone out to look at the garage door which wasn't opening properly.  Gene the PT School Superintendent/garage door repairman arrived while I was getting my PT makeover.  Lovely chap, and a woodworker to boot.  He told Dan I'd met his girlfriend Sheri last week, at her Danskin/dance store downtown.  But I had no recollection of ever being in her store last week.  It bothered me more than a bit - another menopausal memory lapse?  Especially as I am working so hard to remember names now (Finn the poet, Sid with the moustache like my Dad's, Maureen the lovely waitress at the breakfast spot ..)

At 6 o'clock Gene drives up again, with Sheri in the car.  Once I see her I know I haven't met her before, and I'm right.  Turns out Sheri had met ANOTHER couple from Brooklyn who had just moved here.  Eeek again!  And Gene, bless him, drove out with her after work to introduce us.  I'm so not used to this, but I can see how I could be.

New Hormones in Town

Week 1

I LOVE this town.  There's a whole new kind of crazy here that makes me feel entirely welcome and at home already. 

Everyone has been so friendly.  From the lovely neighbors who accepted from my red boots from the UPS guy and looked after them until I arrived, to the other neighbors who left a fabulous bottle of red wine from Walla Walla Washington (!) on the doorstep, to all the others who have welcomed us, including the check out staff at Safeway who not only bag your groceries but offer to carry them out for you (sorry flirty Fairway guy, but you've got serious competition.)

Okay, the crazy part.  Our first weekend here and we get to witness the Kinetic Skulpture Race, an event we've been reading about in the PT Leader for years.  It starts right down the street from us with the water test, goes to Fort Warden for the sand test, then on to the Fairgrounds for the mud test.

These are all human powered vehicles and there are strict rules which participants are encouraged to break by the Kinetic Kops who are entirely bribable.  Mediocrity is key and the winner is the one who finishes in the middle of the pack.

Coming out of the drink after the water test.

Drying off before heading to the sand test.

 The mud test!

A couple of the Kinetic Kops on the lookout for more "encouragement".

PT's downtown hotdog stand.  I had two (spicy grilled sausage with ketchup and mustard) here in 3  days - that's more than I ate in NYC in 20 years.

We missed the water and sand  test parts because we were busy with Michelle, real estate agent and mayor extraordinaire, making an offer on a building downtown.  In fact, the day after we arrived we walked through it again.  We'd seen it back in January but the price was too high for us then.  Now it's back on the market at a more reasonable figure so we made an offer, received a counter offer from the sellers and are waiting to see if we can reach an agreement.  Only snag is there's another couple interested so it's nail biting time.

Commercial real estate works quite differently from residential out here.  If we get an accepted offer we, the buyers, have to pay for a bank appraisal (around $4,000) and if that comes in lower than the agreed upon price we can walk away from the deal with no penalty (if the sellers won't negotiate a lower price.)  I think it's all as a result of the housing/mortgage crisis - banks are much more careful about what they'll lend money on these days - but luckily I have a wonderful banker here, Susan, who is quite encouraging and very astute.

So, it's a bit tense right now but fortunately I have plenty to distract me - namely the endless pile of boxes that doesn't ever seem to get smaller.  Back breaking work but now we've hired Trey, a strapping lad from Chimacum, the next town over, who's coming to do some of the heavy lifting after school today.

Yes, he's 17, drives, works after school mowing lawns and doing odd jobs (and no, Dan, you don't have to ask him if he's done his homework first) and is quite an enterprising fellow.  Are all teenagers like that in Washington?

In the meantime, we wake up to the sun rising over the Cascade mountains and Puget Sound,

walks along the beach in front of the house, the sun streaming in the windows most of the day, and a parade of boat traffic out the living room windows, including a nuclear sub from nearby Indian Point which a retired navy chap we met on the road said we'd never see as they rarely cruise on the surface.

The dogs are in sand heaven, the birds are a tiny bit freaked out by the giant seagulls, and Dan is still dealing with job stress.  He's working mainly on East Coast time still, so the phone starts ringing at 6 am which means we're still early risers and out for the count by 9 pm. 

And me?  I give thanks every day for this new life in this beautiful setting, and even if I end up waiting tables at someone else's restaurant, I think I'm going to be happy here.  Especially if the bathroom scale box never shows up.