Time Traveling With Amanda Carmack

I've been fascinated by the Elizabethan period for a very long time!  Ever since one weekend when I was about seven or eight, staying with my grandmother (who loved old movies), and we caught a TV showing of Anne of the Thousand Days.  That made me run to the library to find anything I could read about Elizabeth I and her time period.  It was such an exciting time of courtly intrigue, the growth of the arts (especially theater and literature—think Shakespeare!), exploration and discovery, magic and alchemy.  All led by an amazing, strong, tempermental, fascinating woman.  Getting to spend time “living” in that period, seeing it through the eyes of my own character, court musician and amateur sleuth Kate Haywood, has been like a dream come true.

When I was in college, my love of all things Elizabethan led me to doing community theater, when I went to an audition for a production of Romeo and Juliet.  For a Valentine's Day fundraiser, we decided to do a dinner-theater R&J.  We had the “brilliant” idea to do some “authentic” Elizabethan recipes (even though none of us could cook!), and eagerly dug into some research books like All the King's Cooks.

I was assigned to make some adorable little pastries called “Maids of Honor.”  Confession—the one time I actually tried to make something more ambitious than pasta or chocolate chip cookies, I almost burned my kitchen down.  I am too easily bored by following recipes, too quickly distracted to keep an eye on the oven.  In fact, I started storing books in the oven when I lived in a tiny apartment, and never had to move them!  But making Elizabethan tarts sounded like fun.  How hard could it be???

It turns out—pretty hard.  The dough got made, but was like concrete and refused to be rolled out.  The filling turned to a gel-like substance, then crystallized.  My cat ate some, and promptly spit it out on the floor.  I ended up going to a bakery, which kindly made me a very pretty approximation!  But now I can look back on it as Important Research.  Much like wearing heavy brocade gowns at Renaissance fairs, or trying to distill Elizabeth perfume (another not-so-good idea, BTW!).  I love immersing myself in Kate Haywood's world of courtly intrigue, danger, and excitement.  But I love coming back to my own world of hot showers and microwave meals, too....

Now it's your turn!!  What's your favorite historical period?  If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be?  Do you have any fun cooking adventure stories???  One commenter will win a signed copy of Murder at Hatfield House...

Maids of Honor

1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 c. all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. raspberry jam
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans)

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat until light. Add sifted flour, salt and baking powder.
Form small balls between hands and put into small cupcake pans. Make a deep hole in center by pushing up around edges.
Mix jam and nuts together; fill tarts. Cover with small piece of dough.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 9-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Top with dusting of confectioner's sugar and/or whipped cream when serving. Yields 15-18 

Amanda Carmack
http://amandacarmack.com

***The winner is Connie! Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com***