Pure Alchemy

When I joined the Abbey I was attracted by the notion of monastic retreat. Thomas Moore said that it is a mistake to think of the monastic life as a withdrawal from the active world for traditionally the monk is extremely active on a number of fronts.

This Abbey is clearly no exception. There is a palpable sense of industry here and just as the monks were actively committed to a communal style of living so are residents here. No wonder Heather is so addicted to this cyber world. It seems to me that she has surrounded herself with people who are producing words and images of extraordinary beauty. And, all these offers of help in the kitchen! I could turn my farm into a commune yet.

This morning when I was making some bread Dad wandered in. They were playing an old Vera Lynn track on the radio and we spontaneously waltzed around the kitchen table. He is not quite as nimble as he used to be when I was young and we went to the country balls. Dad always loved to dance and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to walk one of his daughters onto the dance floor.

But I am drifting between different realities. I am never quite sure when I am in the Abbey and when I am not. As I stood doing some dishes this morning I found myself thinking of Lemuria. The rich purples of my Asters caught my eye and I wondered if Asters are flowering in Lemuria right now. Is Lemuria in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere? Best not to strain my brain too much I think!

Instead I thought I would pop on my apron and plan some dinner. Now that Sharon is here we can expect some stunning Southern comfort dishes. Her Chicken with mash sounds just brilliant. While she throws all of that together I am going to make a Chocolate Saucing Pudding to die for. The Abbey's wood fired stoves are perfect for this sort of dessert. It is easy really. You cream the butter and sugar and add eggs, milk, chocolate and flour and pour the chocolate cake style mixture into a elongated dish. Then you sprinkle the mixture with sugar and more chocolate and pour a couple of cups of boiling water over the top. The dish sits in a tray of water in the oven and it takes about forty minutes to cook. When it comes out of the oven it has a cake consistency with a rich chocolate sauce underneath. Pure alchemy!

What do you think Sharon?