Page 38 of Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Good old-fashioned vanilla ice cream, I’d say,’ said Christine.

‘Yes, that’s always lovely, but you could experiment with different flavours depending on the crumble filling,’ suggested Jill. ‘Like a nice butterscotch with the toffee apple we had today, or ginger ice cream with your rhubarb crumble.’

‘Ooh, you’re making my mouth water sooo much,’ confessed Eve.

‘Hah, yes there’s even a bead of drool on her lower lip,’ Charlotte teased, then creased with laughter.

Rachel glanced at her watch. Wow, the time was flying. ‘There’s only fifteen minutes or so left, so I thought we might chat about what you want from the club. Are there any suggestions for future themes, baking workshops, or particular puddings you’d like to taste? I do have one or two ideas, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.’

She gave the group a few minutes to think on it and to chat amongst themselves. A collaborative, inclusive club – that’s what Rachel wanted. A safe haven where everyone could get away from the world. Tea was poured and fresh coffee was gurgled in the new ‘fandangled’ machine as Jill called it.

Maisy was now sitting next to Eve, with a milky hot chocolate in front of her, sleepily propped on plumped-up cushions, bless. It was past eight, an hour later than her usual school-night bedtime, but she was fighting her fluttering eyelids determinedly.

‘We’ve three more sessions up until Christmas,’ Rachel said, ‘as we’ll be holding the Pudding Club bi-weekly, on the first and third Thursdays in the month. I was thinking a Christmas Pudding night might work well, maybe for the first week in December, so any suggestions for the other two evenings would be really welcome.’

‘Ah,’ one of the young mums raised her hand tentatively, ‘I’d really like some help with easy pudding and baking ideas for over the Christmas season. I’d love to be able to make some nice home-baked treats for the family that don’t take forever or need a heap of costly ingredients.’

‘Yes, that sounds a great idea,’ agreed Christine, from the WI.

‘Foolproof festive bakes then, yes,’ piped up Jill enthusiastically, her mind no doubt already mulling over what recipes might work for that.

‘Yep, I always intend to bake for Christmas and then I get stuck for ideas, or I’m in a whirl of last-minute gift hunting and present wrapping and then, oops, it’s Boxing Day before I know it,’ added Charlotte with a sigh of frustration.

‘Okay, so that sounds a really good idea,’ said Rachel, knowing this was her moment to promote some extra business for the Pantry too. ‘And on that note, after every session there will be the chance to buy any of the puddings and bakes we have here, to take away too. We’ll make sure there are plenty of the puddings we’ll be tasting on the night, as well as our other goodies.’

‘That sounds wonderful,’ said young mum, Hannah.

‘Scrumptious.’

‘Can I pretend I made them myself?’ asked Charlotte, cheekily.

‘Well, I’ll not let the secret out,’ grinned Rachel. ‘So, any ideas for the next session …?’

‘What about a tart night?’ suggested Eve, before bursting into giggles and realising the connotation of what she’d said. ‘I mean, as in Treacle Tart, Bakewell and such like.’

‘Lemon tart, French Apple tart,’ added Daniel.

‘There’d be lots to chat about with that,’ continued Jill.

‘Hah, as long as we don’t have to dress up for it,’ added Christine with a naughty glint in her eye. ‘Stockings and suspenders anyone?’

Nigel nearly choked on his tea just then, while Dan blushed and gave a wry smile.

‘Or, we could be “Passionate about Pavlova” for another night?’ said Kirsty.

‘Love it! These suggestions are marvellous. Thank you.’

‘Well, we could run with Eve’s idea first and have “Taming the Tart” for next week,’ said Jill mischievously.

‘Do you think we can get away with that poster-wise?’ Rachel was laughing, yet slightly concerned, thinking about the older generation in the village area who might be affronted.

‘Why not? As long as we mention puddings somewhere in the flyer. It’ll certainly attract attention. Yes, “Taming the Tart” – treacle, apple and lemon. Come along to the Pudding Club to find out more,’ said Jill with a mischievous smile; she was obviously enjoying this evening. It was so lovely to see her relaxing and that twinkle back in her eye. Rachel knew how hard she worked, trying to keep everything together.

‘Tart Week it is then, in a fortnight’s time,’ declared Rachel.

‘Can we book in for it now?’ asked Kirsty, ‘I’ll get my Steve lined up for babysitting duties straight away.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Rachel was delighted. ‘I’ll get the diary out right away.’