This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Eccentric, colourful, moccasins. Three words that describe 75-year-old Django McCabe.
But there are three words, three names, each containing three letters each, which describe him best.
Pip, Fen, Cat.
Pip, Fen and Cat have their own stories. Each has their own novel, which came to a happy conclusion four years previously. Cat is married to Ben and they’ve had four wonderful years in America before returning home. Fen is with Matt. They now have beautiful Cosima, their daughter. And Pip, the clown, the one who looks after others, she has a husband, Zac, and a fabulous step-son. Their lives are settled. Happy.
In Home Truths their stories continue, and we find out more about this Django. He is the girls’ rock. Their core. Their mother and father. And he is fiercely protective of them.
These three girls, who he was suddenly responsible for 30 years ago (bringing his travelling to an abrupt end), not only fill Django’s heart with joy, but they also make him feel so incredibly blessed.
But then a family secret is revealed before further news comes, which rocks Pip, Cat and Fen's stable world. And they reluctantly return back to Derbyshire, to the family home. To Django.
Django, of course, has prepared a spread. He firmly believes their favourite desert, Eton Mess, sugary sweet, crushed meringue, colourful fruit and great spoons of billowing cream (following the curried trout course – maybe not quite as mouth-watering) will break down the barriers of their hearts and mend their relationship. Foolish man! we think. Food cannot do that.
But it does.
The Eton Mess, an apt metaphor for the family at that moment, brings the little unit back together. The pudding is a beacon of love shone by Django as he demonstrates just how much the girls mean to him, in the way he knows best – by feeding them their favourite.
It is such a simple thing.
But do not underestimate the power of puddings.
Equipment
Electric mixer (for meringue making and cream whisking), mini blender, serving bowl.
Ingredients
Approx 6 meringues – bought or homemade (recipe here)
300ml double cream
400g punnet strawberries
Method
- Divide the strawberries into two halves. Take one half, reserve four whole ones and chop up the rest.
- Take the other half, place into blender and puree.
- Whip the cream until stiff.
- Crush the meringue into a serving bowl, mix in the whipped cream and chopped strawberries.
- Drizzle with the strawberry puree mixing in a little.
- Decorate with the remaining strawberries.
- Place in the middle of the table, like Django, and wait for the "oohs" of appreciation.