The Old Foodie: Forgotten Foods, Part IV.
Today I want to continue the theme of the 'top ten forgotten foods of Britain', which I picked up yesterday with the story on Rook Pie. Six more to go after today, folks - but these will have to wait until another day.
To remind you of where we are at, here is the list, with links.
I don't know who Mrs Grieve is, or why her fish custard was deemed the best in 2006, but I have a wonderful recipe for you from the Home Hints column of Berrow's Worcester Journal (Worcester, England), on May 18, 1889. This is surely a dish worthy of being un-forgotten? I can see individual servings in small ramekins for a light first course, or a luncheon dish, or maybe even for breakfast?
Three small whitings or haddock or a larger fish filleted, two eggs, one and a half tea-cups milk, pepper and salt, put the fish nicely prepared in a pudding dish; beat up the eggs well; pour the milk among them, add salt and pepper to taste; pour this over the fish, and put it in the oven till the custard gets firm; one dessertspoonful of flour mixed smooth with the milk does pretty well instead of one of the eggs.
I'm generally pretty adventurous in culinary matters, and open minded about things that might not appeal to me, personally. But, fish custard? No ... no.
Could that be the Mrs. (Maud) Grieve, who wrote the 2-volume "A Modern Herbal??
Hi Steve. I wonder if it is the word 'custard' that is the problem? The dish itself sounds good, I think?
It sounds pretty good to me -- the word "custard" has come to mean mostly a sweet dish these days, although there are savory custards and savory tarts and pies. Does it sound more appealing if you imagine a tuna salad or a salmon mousse or quiche?
Hello susanalbert: I considered the Mrs Grieve of herbal fame to be the author of the recipe, but couldnt find it in her books - maybe I need to go back and have another look? Do you know if it is hers?
Hi Paul - I think it does sound better! Like a tuna mornay without the pasta? Silly, our prejudices, arent they?