Page 58 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘No, you’re right, Jan,’ said Rachel. ‘Enough of the speculation, so let’s move on with tonight’s “baking ourselves better”, shall we? And to start, I’m going to pop the kettle on, make us a big pot of tea and pass around those blueberry and lemon muffins.’

‘Now that sounds a grand idea,’ said Frank with a warm smile. ‘They’ve been making my mouth water ever since I arrived.’

Bless him. Rachel wondered how well he had been faring at home in the kitchen since his wife died. He had always put on a brave face and said he was managing fine, mentioning that he made sandwiches for himself, but he always enjoyed the home baking here at the Pantry, eating heartily; perhaps he hadn’t had an awful lot for supper. Maybe she should pack him off home with extra snacks or a dish of soup now and again. Rachel made a mental note for the future.

‘Oh my, these are wonderful. I love the fruity berries and then you get that zesty zing,’ commented Hannah after taking a big bite.

‘The sponge is delightful, very moist,’ added Jan.

‘Definitely a hug in a paper case,’ Alice grinned.

‘And perfect with a cuppa.’ Rachel passed the hot drinks around. She took her seat again, ‘So, folks, spill, what are your favourite bakes when you’re feeling a bit blue?’

‘Well, I do enjoy a spot of baking if I’m feeling a bit off,’ admitted Brenda. ‘I think it’s having to concentrate on the ingredients and the process, the weighing out, mixing. And then, it’s like alchemy what happens in the oven, and next … hey presto, you have, hopefully, a gorgeous cake. And it can cheer other people up too, something to share, so it’s not just for yourself.’

‘Brownies are my go-to,’ confessed Eve. ‘It has to be something chocolatey and they are just the most comforting thing ever.’

‘I’m with you on that,’ agreed Hannah.

Denise sighed. ‘Do you remember our old Labrador, Barney?’ she said fondly. ‘The day we had to have him put down, we all went home and made a big chicken pie, in his honour. Chicken was always his favourite. His defining moment was stealing the leftover half-chicken from the kitchen counter top while we were eating our roast dinner one day, the monkey!’

‘Aw, bless him.’

‘Mine would be crumble with plenty of custard,’ said Christine. ‘Great to eat and to make. It’s simple to do and I just love the feel of the mix on my fingertips, you know, when you rub in the flour and butter – definitely therapeutic. Way back, I remember my mum used to make it for me when I was revising for my A levels to keep me going.’

‘Mum’s sticky toffee pudding has to be one of mine,’ added Rachel, remembering poignantly that special night with Tom, sharing sticky toffee pudding with him in the early hours of the morning, in the lambing shed.

‘True, that stuff is amazing. Heaven in a dish, that is.’ Frank gave a grin.

‘Rice pudding, made with really good double cream and then baked oh-so-slowly. The smell and then the taste …’ chipped in Nigel. ‘Reminds me of home.’

‘Oh, I really am in pudding heaven. Thank goodness we have these muffins to munch on,’ said Charlotte.

‘They are delish. Love the lemony tang.’

‘Yeah, I add the grated zest as well as the juice of a lemon. The recipe’s there typed up for you all to take home too.’

‘Brilliant, I’ll be making these with little Amelia very soon.’

The chatter continued over tea and cake, and Rachel watched her Pudding Club family. And it wasn’t the muffin that was cheering her up, though that did help, it was her fabulous and supportive friends from the Pudding Club. This baking-loving group were just the best tonic for those blue days. They were going to support her in the battle against the troll online – could it be Caitlin? – and they were going to play a huge part in making a gorgeous feast for the wedding. They had hearts of gold, the lot of them.

Something Blue

Blueberry and Lemon Muffins

A perfect pick-me-up for those feeling-blue days

Ingredients

220g (7½oz) plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

Pinch salt

125g (4½oz) unsalted butter, softened

220g (7½oz) caster sugar