Reads #4: The Review…

With only a day to spare I finished Wuthering Heights.

Elizabeth Abbey

Elizabeth Abbey…

“I first devoured Wuthering Heights back in 2003 and I honestly can’t say why I enjoyed it - but I did. It’s a very dark, bleak and somewhat depressing book which follows the doomed love affair of Cathy and Heathcliff, describing their passion, betrayal, heartbreak and eventual redemption, and how their toxic relationship affects those around them. A pinnacle of the Gothic novel genre, it’s got violence, a brooding, dark “hero” and a passionate, wilful heroine with oodles of the supernatural throughout.

Adding an extra dimension to the book for me, since reading the book I discovered that my great-grandparents once lived in Top Withins, the now derelict house on the moors above Howarth that inspired the location of Wuthering Heights!”

Liam Goldstein

I Say…

Despite being yet another classic on the reading list I was looking forward to reading Wuthering Heights to see how it compared to a play I saw about a year ago.

Most adaptations focus on a tormented Heathcliff and his struggle to cope with the death of his beloved Cathy - his depression, mania, and constant visions leaving him a crippled and defeated man - whereas the book takes a very different angle.

The book focuses more on the offspring of Cathy and Heathcliff and how their struggles against the tyrant that is Heathcliff lead them from despair, depression, cruelty and illness to freedom at the death of their tormentor.

Although I enjoyed reading Wuthering Heights I’ll admit that I found this read particularly difficult. The language and structure of the book isn’t something I’m used to and I often found myself lost in the pages not really knowing what had happened. If it wasn’t for the play I’d seen previously I’m not sure I would of been able to follow the majority of the storyline.

Wuthering Heights definitely fulfils the challenge part of my reading list and at least I can say I’ve read another of the the classics - would I read it again, perhaps not, but I enjoyed it none the less.

Shoots #137: After Work Tipple! Lovely sunny afternoon. Food, drink and Wharf quiz… Yes please!
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Shoots #137: After Work Tipple!

Lovely sunny afternoon. Food, drink and Wharf quiz… Yes please!

Shoots #136: Chilling in my PJ’s Monday is done… What more to do but put the PJ’s on and chill!
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Shoots #136: Chilling in my PJ’s

Monday is done… What more to do but put the PJ’s on and chill!

Eats #20: Summertime Tagliarini

This weeks number is 68, Summertime Tagliarini.

I’m not a huge pasta fan and I’ve never heard of Tagliarini so this dish is going to be an interesting one…

Eats #19: Sticky, Gooey, Goodness…

Ingredients: [Flavoured Butter] 75g unsalted butter, pinch nutmeg, pinch cinnamon, zest large orange. [Other] good quality bread, 5 egg yolks, 1/2 egg white, 70g caster sugar, 250ml whole milk, 284ml double cream, vanilla pod, 4 tablespoons fine-cut marmalade.

Note: I reduced the ingredients by half to serve 2 people.

Difficulty: 2/5
Rating: 4/5

Create the flavoured butter by mixing unsalted butter, nutmeg, cinnamon and the zest of an orange.

Cut as many slices of bread as needed to fill your bowl. Butter the bread on both sides with the flavoured butter and stack in the bowl leaving the tips protruding.

Mix the egg yolks, egg white and sugar until smooth. Gently heat the milk, double cream, vanilla seeds and vanilla pod and pour slowly into the egg mixture while whisking continually.

Then pour the mixture over the bread and leave to soak for 20 minutes. Once soaked cook in a bain marie for 40 minutes until the custard has set. Meanwhile, melt the marmalade in a saucepan and spoon over the bread and cook for a further 20 minutes until sticky and golden - serve!

Review

Despite parts of this recipe being unknown territory (custard and marmalade glaze) it was fairly simply to make and I’ve always loved bread and butter pudding so I was very happy to finally taste this dish.

The flavoured butter was lovely and aromatic and adds a hint of spice to the dish and the marmalade has created a sticky, gooey toffee like texture which is delicious!

The custard and bread has formed a smooth, light sponge which works really well with the other textures.

My only criticism of the recipe is it’s sweetness. I don’t personally have a sweet tooth and at times the dish can be a little sickly. I’d also like to add some dried fruit such as raisins or currents to this dish as, to me, bread and butter pudding isn’t complete without them.