When I saw that the current choice for Cook the Books was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd my reaction was....finally. I know that I bought this book off the 3 for 2 table at Borders (remember them?) which tells you how long ago it was. I think I also bought Life of Pi at the same time, but I had never read any of them and the books didn't survive a book cull. I still intended to read it one day, and it turns out that now is that day.
To an outsider, the 1960s feel like a hugely significant period in history, specifically US history. From JFK, the moon landings, and so much more. One of the most significant series of events related to the changes in race relations, which is where this book focusses. It's fair to say that the gains made during this period came at great cost, great personal cost for many individuals, and that even today, there are still instances of this happening.
14 year old Lily lives with her father T. Ray in South Carolina in 964. He is a violent man, but he is the only family Lily has since her mother died, an event that Lily only kind of remembers. The only real love that she receives is from Rosaleen, her substitute mother who is black.
Rosaleen is determined to register to vote in upcoming elections, the first time in her life she has ever been able to do so. Lily accompanies Rosaleen on the long walk into town, but it all goes wrong when Rosaleen insults three white men in town, and ends up in jail. T. Ray begrudgingly comes and gets Lily released but he leaves Rosaleen in jail. Lily is furious and decides the only thing to be done is to spring her from her cell, but she needs a plan.
There are a few items in her deceased mother's possessions that Lily treasures, one of which is a picture of a Black Madonna with the words Tiburon SC written on it, and it is this that guides the direction that Lily and Rosaleen take. Little do they know but that they are heading to a place which will provide Lily with solace, joy, heartache and the answers that she is desperate for in relation to her mother.
Lily and Rosaleen are taken in by three black women who are named May, July and August Boatwright, who are beekeepers and honey producers. Lily has been drawn to bees so this is her chance to learn more. It isn't all sunshine and roses, but for the most part it is what Lily needs. She also gets to meet other members of a loving community, with all the quirky individuals who make it up. But this is 1964 and race issues are never far from the surface, and the local town's people are not necessarily pleased at the idea of a white girl living with the black women.
Whilst the race issues provide the framework for the story, there is so much more, especially as Lily comes to understand the events leading up to her mother's death which have shaped her so much despite her limited memories of that day! She also knows that T. Ray will eventually find her and she needs to be ready.
This is a book that shines a light on important events, but it is also filled with heart, and I am glad to finally have read it!
With bees and honey being such an integral part of this story, I knew that I wanted to make something featuring honey but when it came down to it, I had a hard time choosing a recipe. I even have a cook book called Honey but there wasn't anything calling out to me. Let me clarify, there was nothing sweet calling my name. There is a Cardamon Basque Cheesecake that I want to make but it didn't feel honey forward enough for my purpose. In the end I narrowed it down to 3 options and my husband picked a chiffon cake. And then I did something completely different.
I ended up going back to an old favourite recipe which is relatively simple and very, very tasty!
I am sharing this review with my fellow Cook the Books participants and also at Foodies Read hosted at Based on a True Story
Honey Sponge Roll
4 eggs, separated
½ cup (110g) caster sugar, plus extra, for dusting
½ cup (75g) cornflour
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 teaspoon mixed spice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon honey, at room temperature
Honey cream filling
90g unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey
Preheat oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Lightly grease and line base and sides of a 26cm x 32cm swiss roll pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating constantly until mixture is thick and glossy. Beat in egg yolks until just mixed.
Meanwhile, finely sift cornflour, flour, spices and baking powder. Lightly fold into egg mixture with honey, mixing gently until evenly distributed. Fill prepared pan shaking gently to spread mixture evenly.
Bake for 20 minutes, until risen and firm when lightly pressed with a fingertip. Turn out onto a tea towel lightly dusted with extra caster sugar. Quickly peel off paper and trim edges. Roll up immediately in tea towel starting from short edge. Leave to cool completely.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter until pale and creamy. Add honey and beat until well mixed. Add 2 tablespoons water and continue beating until mixture is smooth and creamy. Unroll cake and spread over filling. Roll up again and serve cut across into slices.
Saturday -
Sunday - Zuppo Tuscano
Monday - Steak, egg and chips
Tuesday - Out for dinner
Wednesday - Pork chop, mash and broccoli
Thursday - Butter chicken, rice and roti
Friday - Family dinner
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