Steve was very happy when Susan of the delightful Susan eats London gave a bloggy boost to his pressure on Michelle for more blueberry jam. Michelle had been avoiding making more for fear it would once again cook out too thick. But when Steve bought a few “extra” quarts at this Saturday’s market, she made another batch, and some sweet cream biscuits to boot. The chopped fresh lemon verbena in this version adds just a touch of herby tartness that plays up the sweet blueberry flavor.
Steve happily scarfed up a couple of buttery jam-topped pre-photo-shoot biscuits and went off to the chicken yard to share baking scraps with the flock. He returned to find Michelle on the back porch with an afternoon tea set with Gourmandistan’s wedding china, a ceremony never actually performed within our borders. When asked why she was creating the impression that Gourmandistanis not only take tiffin, but do it in this fashion, Michelle (taking the patient tone she usually does when explaining things to Steve that seem obvious to everyone over the age of seven) answered that the pictures are just a fantasy—a vision of a lifestyle most people can only imagine, like “Downton Abbey” or “The Jewel in the Crown.”
One reason Michelle must explain this again and again to Steve is the fact that he stubbornly clings to a lesson he learned from “Schoolhouse Rock” around the age of seven: royalty sucks. Some find this sentiment confusing, given Steve’s penchant for staying in old castles and chateaux, swanning about expensive restaurants and writing as if he’s the poncy old laird of some imaginary fiefdom. However, Steve sees no conflict between expensive tastes, expansive vocabularies and equal opportunity for all. He even entertains the argument that the institution of dynastic monarchies helped foster the arts and sciences he so loves. And he understands that many people around the world in places such as the Netherlands and Britain view their royal families as a kind of menagerie of mostly adorable, mostly harmless (though very, very, very expensive) pets.
But Steve totally fails to understand how so many Americans can buy into this silly nonsense. From the country club dandy detailing his connections in Burke’s Peerage to the Tea Party soccer mom who grows misty-eyed at the mention of Princess Di, in Steve’s opinion, too many citizens of these United States forget something important: While dreaming of princes and princesses may be pleasant, supporting actual princes and princesses makes one a peasant.
So while Gourmandistan certainly wishes those in Britain a wonderful Jubilee weekend, we also wish the U.S. media would give us a break with the royalty-watching. July 4th is only a month away, people, and blueberry season will be over by then. Get busy jam-making now, and spend the rest of the time studying up on your Declaration of Independence.
(adapted from Darina Allen’s Forgotten Skills of Cooking) Put blueberries, lemon juice, lemon verbena, lemon rind and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes. Add sugar. (Note: Allen recommends warming the sugar in the oven before adding. We’ve made this recipe with warmed sugar and with sugar just out of the pantry. To us, it really hasn’t made any appreciable difference.) Stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil until jam is set. Typically, jam sets at 220° on a candy thermometer. This one tends to set much earlier. To determine if set, put a bit on a plate that has been in the refrigerator. If jam wrinkles even a bit when pushed with your finger, it’s set. Place in sterilized jars. We never really “can” our jam, but simply stick the jars in the freezer. It’s much easier that way, doesn’t steam up the kitchen like canning does and we don’t worry about killing someone with botulism or something like.BLUEBERRY-LEMON VERBENA JAM
Gourmandistan 
What?! Steve is NOT a poncy laird?
I’m unsubscribing 😉
Just kidding. Would never unsubscribe because I don’t ever want to miss any posts from Gourmandistan! This looks absolutely amazing. You guys take the best photos and make the best food. Love it.
And it’s good to bust the wedding china out! Happy Jubilee, y’all!
I don’t know where he comes up with this stuff. And you’re too kind!
It was definitely fun to read 🙂
Good to look at too! Made me hungry!
http://bookscupcakescats.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/1-2-3-sunshine-award-time/
Merci, Carine!
I know one Brit who certainly agrees with you regarding your “royalty as expensive pets” theory. They’re loved, indeed, but one does wonder whether one can really afford them any longer. Your lavender tea service (and photos) are oh so pretty! Can’t wait to try lemon verbena in my blueberry jam.
Nice work if you can get it, eh? Thanks for stopping by.
Very pretty.
Merci beaucoup. Glad I finally got to use those dishes for something. First time they’ve been out of the cabinet in years!
I use my tea service for soups and custards – expands their usefulness 🙂
This looks so beautiful and classy 😀
Your photos are exquisitie!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
So kind!
You can have no idea how dull it was; the Jubilee pageant that is. However there is a common law that makes all such affairs dull. I wish to declare myself Independent of all self serving pageants:)
Don’t tell Steve, but I did look at some of the photos in the Daily Mail. I just couldn’t help myself.
Funny, I’ve just put in an application to be a poncy laird. Fingers crossed.
Love the photos. And the sentiments. To the barricades!
Need a reference? Thanks much. And spoken like a true Irishman.
I love all of us plebians staging fictional tea parties and elaborate dinner services for our blog photos. Is there *really* someone waiting patiently in the wings while I carefully place my braised artichokes just so in matching blue-and-white crockery and sprinkle the table decoratively, and pointlessly, with thyme? What the heck are hot chilis doing on that napkin, and who the heck is going to eat that plate of five macarons doing wheelies, surrounded by fallen blossoms? Impostors all!
That said (ahem!) I love the ‘tea service’ photograph, and am thrilled that you posted the blueberry jam recipe. As for the Queen? Well I was NOT one of the million thronged on the banks of the Thames, nor is there a single bit of bunting to be found in my flat. But the hat! Did you see the Queen’s hat? It was like an elaborate pastry. I’d eat it with some of your blueberry jam.
My sentiments exactly. I used to scoff at the beribboned cookies, the artfully strewn ingredients and such. Hell, I used to be bothered by flatware placed in unnatural places and even by napkins under plates. But then I succumbed.
And you’re right. The hat was grand. Just don’t tell Steve I said that.
This makes me want to go out for tea!!! Everything looks so good.
Thanks so much. It was fun having a pretend tea party. Just like when I was a little girl!
Love the flavor pairing in this jam! I imagine it would be great swirled into seltzer for a refreshing, summer drink.
What a great idea! Thanks, Emma.
Haha! I was just saying to my husband this morning that you’d think that she was our queen with all of this coverage. Then my daughter exclaimed, “But she *is* our queen!” And then the conversation turned to the Revolutionary War…in six year old terms, of course. 🙂 Lovely china, and even more lovely jam.
What a sweet conversation with your daughter! Thanks so much, Mindy.
Great post, wonderful recipe and beautiful china!
Thanks! (Actually, also, I was thinking of you when I made a goat curry last night. We found some goat at a farmers market this weekend.)
Oh how exciting – I bet it tasted great!
Love the china and if it was in my home I would be using it every chance I got. It is funny how we all save the beautiful things behind cabinet doors because they are the “good dishes”. We will grow old and they will still be like new.
It’s the required hand-washing that I object to. Otherwise, you are exactly right!
I know what you mean about the hand washing. I have decided to use my gold banded china and put them in the dishwasher on gentle. I don’t use them daily but I am at least enjoying them.
Sigh … I wish my pix looked half as good as yours 😦
Oh, so sweet of you!
Oh, give me the anglophile fantasy any time! Laird or plebian, the photos are gorgeous (exquisite china, staging, lighting, the works). If ye must serve up your antioxidants in this grand fashion, feel free. We want more!
Thanks, Jama—I know you know how to throw a tea party!
Your photos are gorgeous!
I have never made my own jam, but I think that I should try it out soon!
Thanks so much! Jam is easy, once you embrace the idea that you don’t really have to can it. Just freeze instead.
We made this yesterday and I think it’s the best blueberry jam I’ve tasted. Many thanks, from a Canadian peasant.
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Hi, I have been looking for a China set just like this! Lavender is my favorite color. My friends and I love getting together for tea. Any suggestions on where I can get this set or something similar?
The china is Haviland’s Imperatrice Eugenie. The miscellaneous pieces, though (pot, cream, sugar) are just things picked up at antique stores way back when. I don’t think they even match.