A Warm Welcome
Rachel’s Pudding Pantry by Caroline Roberts is a deliciously wonderful feel-good contemporary offering. It will warm your heart and soul.
The novel is a real assault on all your senses, with much of the action around puddings. The reader can almost ‘taste’, ‘smell’ and ‘see’ the delicacies. My taste buds were awakened as I read. It is very pleasing to have recipes included at the back of the book.
The characters are as warm and welcoming as the kitchen they cook in. The majority are female with the nurturing touch that wraps around the reader. The characters are multi-generational as three generations try to recover from a tragedy.
Much of the action is set on a Northumberland farm. Comprehensive descriptions enable the reader to ‘walk’ through the landscape.
There is the theme of trust. Past events mean that caution is exercised in affairs of the heart.
Friends are important. A small close knit community ensures that your business belongs to everyone. The upside is that people care and band together to offer love and support when needed.
I adored Rachel’s Pudding Pantry. I ‘felt’ included in the novel. The characters were not just characters in a book I gained friends along the way. I cannot wait to read more from Caroline Roberts.
Pick up Rachel’s Pudding Pantry, where a warm welcome awaits, today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Jill’s Sticky Toffee Pudding
For the sponge:
200g soft pitted dates, finely chopped
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
200ml boiling water
75g butter, plus extra for greasing
50g dark muscovado sugar
2 tbsp black treacle
2 large free-range eggs
200g self-raising flour
For the toffee sauce:
100g butter
150g dark muscovado sugar
1tbsp black treacle
150ml double cream
Preheat the oven to 180C/160 Fan/Gas 4. Lightly grease your dish (9 x 9 in/1.2l baking dish or similar).
Put the dates, boiling water and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl, stir and leave for 10 mins.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the treacle and eggs, a little at a time, and blend until smooth. Add the flour and blend at a low speed until well combined.
Using a fork, stir the soaked dates, squishing them a bit, and then pour the dates and liquid into the pudding batter and beat gently to mix in.
Pour into your prepared oven dish, and bake for 35–40 mins until a cake tester comes out clean.
To make the sauce, melt all of the ingredients in a pan over a low heat, stirring occasionally until bubbling.
Leave the pudding to stand for 20 mins then skewer all over and pour over half the sauce. Leave for another 15 mins then serve drizzled with more sauce and a scoop of good quality vanilla (or honeycomb!) ice cream.
Prepare to be taken to sticky toffee heaven!
About the book: Primrose Farm is Rachel’s very own slice of heaven. Come rain or shine there’s always a pot of tea brewing by the Aga, the delicious aroma of freshly baked puddings, and a chorus of happy memories drifting through the kitchen. But the farm is in a spot of trouble. As the daffodils spring, Rachel must plant the seeds of change if she wants to keep the farm afloat, and it’s all resting on a crazy plan. She’ll need one family cook book, her Mum Jill’s baking magic – and a reason to avoid her distractingly gorgeous neighbour, Tom . . . Swapping their wellies for aprons, can Rachel and Jill bake their way into a brighter future? The proof will be in the pudding!
About the author: Caroline Roberts lives in the wonderful Northumberland countryside with her husband and credits the sandy beaches, castles and rolling hills around her as inspiration for her writing. She enjoys writing about relationships; stories of love, loss and family, which explore how beautiful and sometimes complex love can be. A slice of cake, glass of bubbly and a cup of tea would make her day – preferably served with friends! She believes in striving for your dreams, which led her to a publishing deal after many years of writing.
‘Cosy and uplifting – a real treat!’ Debbie Johnson
‘Family, friendships, farming and fabulous food. The Pudding Pantry is perfect!’ Sunday Times bestseller Heidi Swain
Step inside Rachel’s farmhouse Pudding Pantry, a place where love, laughter and scrumptious bakes bring everyone together.
For more information, including interview and feature opportunities, please contact emilie.chambeyron@harpercollins.co.uk / 0208 307 4132