Chapter 38 After The Circus continued

How It Tasted

Cold Sliced Ham

Despite its war torn appearance the ham was amazingly good—possibly the best meat that has ever appeared on a Bettina menu. It was so tasty that DH and Son didn’t insist their portions be warmed up in the microwave—high praise indeed as both have a real aversion to cold meat.

Despite my best efforts the slices couldn’t be described as elegant, but the meat itself was attractively colored and succulent—a dish I wouldn’t hesitate to serve to guests.

Boston Brown Bread

Milomir: Why is it black?

I was pretty embarrassed by the appearance of this bread but, much to my relief, everyone was a good sport.

Popping the slices in the oven for a few minutes did in fact dry them out quite a bit, but I can’t say this bread was a success. It was simply too odd looking and (once over that hurdle) too dense and sweet to be served with the main course. Spread with lots of butter it was edible, but I could tell by the looks on everyone’s faces they really didn’t enjoy it.

Blackberries/Cream

Despite the berries’ incredible tartness they were a genuine success—primarily, I believe, because I added some powdered sugar to the cream served along with them. Eaten together the two made up an unusual sort of pudding and, happily, every last spoonful was consumed.

Spiced Cake

Yet another Bettina brick of a cake apparently hacked from the fireplace. The spiciness was appealing and the frosting excellent, but the cake itself was what I’ve come to expect: dense, doughy, and remarkably un-tender.

This spice cake is probably what was once known as a “keeper”—baked goods that could last the week without growing noticeably stale or moldy. In fact, this cake was so sturdy I'm sure it could survive far greater trials—say, traveling through the Sahara on the back of a camel.

Iced Tea

This really is an ideal beverage to serve with cold ham, and I certainly found it simple to prepare. I also pre-sweetened it, and that seemed to make it more popular with the family. Usually my husband and son don’t show a great deal of interest in the stuff, but this time around they both wanted refills.

Would I Make This Again?

Absolutely—but with a couple of exceptions.

Even a truly delicious frosting couldn’t make that doughy cake more appealing, and DH in particular seemed disturbed by the appearance of the bread.

But the rest of the meal was a success—the meat especially. I’m still amazed that such delicious ham cost less than five dollars. Certainly buying the shanks was a far better deal than an eight- or ten-pound chunk that would take us days to consume.

So hats off to Bettina...for once her promise of both a quick and economical meal came through. Bravo!