I’m feeling a bit like that today Sonja! Not sure if it is the weather (beautiful hot sunny day here in London), my new “Friends of the Zoo” membership (Tuesday is Zooday from now on) or just general joyfulness for no apparent reason. I’m not going to knock it though. Wonder how I hang on to this feeling?
The month of Joan Crawford testing has stalled a bit but intend getting back into it tomorrow. So until then here is a report from a test cook that has been languishing in the inbox for aaaaaaaaaaaaaages. There must be something very nice about people who live in Wisconsin as this is another person there who I have never met who has been kind enough to test cook a recipe. “Shirley” writes the Supper Seed blog and way back in September 2009 (to my horror – where does the time go?) she had a bash at Sonja’s Cookies and made them with homemade raspberry jam and pecans. Oh YUM! There is a picture on Shirley’s blog and here – don’t they look delightful?! I loved Shirley’s comment in her email to me about her chums’ reaction: “I took these as my contribution to dinner with friends. For what seemed like a long time, there was silence while everyone considered and enjoyed their cookies. The consensus was, “not too sweet” and “like a better Fig Newton cookie”.
Now I am on a mission to find out what a Fig Newton cookie tastes like!
I’ve just had a little adventure around Shirley’s blog and was really excited to see the photograph of the aisles of an American supermarket in her piece on grocery shopping in Wisconsin! I really think I am becoming obsessed with obtaining all the American things I can’t get in England. If any readers know where I can get Bisquick (for 2 Joan Crawford recipes), Fig Newtons, Graham Crackers and A1 Sauce in London please let me know!
You do know Fig Newtons. They’re just what our chums across the puddle call fig rolls: funny little fig jam fille pastry/biscuit affairs that look like slices of dog bone but are oddly tasty for all that.
Can’t help you with the Graham crackers though, and the only place I’ve seen A1 Sauce is in the Clint Eastwood film True Crime (it’s a major plot point).
As for bisquick – would Nesquick do?
I could be wrong, it happens every now and then, but I feel like I have read somewhere that Graham Crackers are just like Digestives.
Matthew – Oh yes, fig rolls – Clara loves those. Gawd, now I’ll have to watch True Crime. Joan Crawford uses a whole bottle of A1 Sauce for her meatloaf…. I used to love Banana flavour Nesquick.
C. Aubrey – you are absolutely right! I have used Digestives in both Hattie McDaniel’s Cracker Cake and Margaret Sullivan’s Peanut Butter Hermits. But being the pedant I am I’d really like to try the recipes with the real McCoy. I shall have to save up to get myself out to the States I guess.
Eek! Through the power of the internet I have just discovered the following: American Food Store, 2 Ladbroke Grove, London W11 3BG! Right. A trip to Notting Hill is in the offing then.
Graham crackers are like digestives but digestives taste better. Jenny, give me a list and I’ll pack what I can at Christmas. I can’t bring back A1 sauce as I never check bags so I can’t bring liquids but the rest are easy.
Don’t tempt me my dear – you’ll have no room for frocks! When are you coming over next?