about molly | art | writings | contact | home

We were watching the beginning of the sunset yesterday and Buster mentioned getting a free turkey, and would I mind cooking it up for him seeing as he has only a duct-taped-together toaster oven and a microwave that sends his sorry fuses into fits and convulsions?

(Deja-vu. Time compression. Realization of my own cultural marginalization.)

Um...didn't we just do this? We just went through a day-long make a turkey event and here we are a month later and we have to do it again? How come? I just don't get this American weirdness, but I'll do it. Although I'm not making gross stuffing or smooshy sweet potatoes; I'm going to make something different.

Like a Nesselrode pie. I considered Nesselrode pudding, but the boyfriend steered me toward pie, as "pie is MORE."

And more is what this crazy country is all about. Happy holidays, peace and love for the new year.

Granny Fanny Nesselrode Pie* (adapted by Molly; requires overnight chilling)

- one 9 inch baked crumble crust pie shell (a purchased chocolate one would be swell or make your own with Hydrox cookies)
- 1 package unflavoured gelatin (Ičm going to find the kind not made from trotters...ew)
- 1/2 cup icing / powdered sugar
- 4 eggs, separated (youčll use both yolks and whites)
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup rum
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 10 ounces nesselrode sauce (recipe follows)
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
- some good chocolate such as ScharffenBerger for making shavings and curls

Blend the gelatin and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a large saucepan; beat in the egg yolks and the milk. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is dissolved and the mix is thick. Pour into a large bowl and add the rum. Place the bowl in a pan of ice water to encourage setting, or pop it into the refrigerator. Chill until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.

Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until foamy. Beat in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until the meringue forms soft peaks.

Blend nesselrode sauce (see below) into the chilled gelatin mixture. Fold in the whipped cream, and then the meringue. Pour into the pie shell and chill overnight.

Before serving, decorate with more whipped cream and chocolate shavings (use a potato peeler or grater to create shavings).

Granny Fanny Nesselrode Sauce (makes a lot; save some for ice cream or, heck, toast)

- 8 ounces fruit, such as cherries, in syrup (I like the Oregon Fruit products)
- 1/2 cup candied fruit (or fresh / canned pineapple if you dislike candied fruit like I do, besides youčre using the syrupy Oregon stuff anyway)
- 1/2 cup good orange marmalade (like Robertson's or your own homemade)
- 1/2 cup chopped candied ginger
- 1/2 cup dark rum

Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the pineapple is cooked through and the sauce is thick and syrupy (about 5 - 10 minutes). Store sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week (if it lasts that long).

* Hey, I'm not so culturally marginalized that I'm not down with Sesame Street...