Your special occasion Heyday Friday newsletter
There's lots to celebrate into in this week's newsletter including a blog related to International Women's Day, a Mother's Day recipe and someone especially memorable
Hello!
This week’s newsletter arrives in your inbox on International Women’s Day, and just two days ahead of Mother’s Day here in the UK. It’s also the week the world became a little less colourful with the death, at 102, of the utterly magnificent Iris Apfel
All of which prompted some musings on the subject of a bias that remains frustratingly ingrained in both society and too many of us, and which relates specifically to two of those events.
Find out what that is by CLICKING HERE
(If you should be unaware who Iris was and quite why she made such an impact - though I’m guessing you can probably work out at least one of the reasons from the pic, which, by the way, isn’t remotely unusual as a way of dressing for her - that’s explained in the blog).
WORDS OF WISDOM
I make no apologies for the multiple appearances of Iris in this newsletter. There’s just too much to celebrate and commemorate about her to confine her to just one mention. So here’s the first.
Bridget is a Heydayer who certainly shares Iris’s determination to stand out from the crowd
Find out why she’s been dressing the way she does since she was fifteen by CLICKING HERE
In recognition of Mother’s Day and the fact that this is one of the recipes my remarkable mum is best known and loved for in our family, here’s her way of making the most outrageously
CHEWY MERINGUES
which is in her, and all our, opinions the only way they should be - with a crisp outer shell and an inside that practically glues your jaw together.
This will make 8-10 meringues
Heat the oven to 110C/ 100C fan/gas ¼ and line two baking sheets with non-stick liner or parchment paper (meringue can stick to greaseproof paper and foil, so don’t use either of those)
Separate 3 large egg whites into a big clean bowl (not plastic). Beat them on a medium speed with an electric whisk - hand or counter-top - until the mixture stands up in soft peaks. (You can do this by hand, but obviously it takes more arm-power)
Continue to whisk adding 150g caster sugar to the whisked whites, one spoonful at a time, making sure each spoonful is thoroughly incorporated before adding the next.
Once the sugar is all incorporated and the mixture forms stiff peaks, pipe or spoon it into heaped circles on the baking paper and put in the oven for one hour. (If you have the two trays on separate shelves, swap them over half way)
Switch off the oven and leave the meringues inside for it to cool down before removing them (it doesn’t take long). This will prevent them from cracking.
To serve, wedge pairs of the meringues together with whipped cream.
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN…..LISTENING TO
I’m sure Angela Hartnett and Nick Grimshaw would approve of mum’s meringue recipe. The pair are the joint presenters of this food-themed podcast where each week a guest, or a pair of guests, are invited to sample Angela’s version of their favourite dish, which she prepares for them, talking through how and what she’s doing, whilst Nick and she chat to their guest/s about food and family, life, loves and everything in-between.
The warmth and ease of the two presenters means the conversation is always entertaining and frequently hilarious (Angela has the best laugh, by the way) and although you’d imagine it’s less than satisfying to hear food being cooked and then people describing what it tastes like, it’s actually strangely enjoyable.
There are loads of episodes to choose from, and whether you pick one because you like the sound of the dish, or because you fancy listening to the guest, you won’t be disappointed.
You can tuck into DISH wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify.
WHAT HAS MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
Obviously I wouldn’t be posting this if Anne Hughes, the woman involved, had been hurt at all, but thank goodness she wasn’t and as the clip has been widely shared across social media, she’s even joking about learning to live with the fame and the fact that she’ll probably “never hear the end of it.”
FRIDAY FUNNY
Of course I had to leave the final word to the inimitable Iris
As I’ve got older I find myself more and more inclined to wear colourful clothes (I only have about three items in my wardrobe that are black and I almost never wear them), what about you? I’m not sure I’ll ever be quite as bold as Iris…..though you never know….or what my girls would make of me if I did, but I am looking forward to spending Mother’s Day with them and with my amazing, 91 year old, mum.
Whatever you’re doing this International Womens’ Day and over the weekend, I hope it’s as colourful and joyous as possible.
See you next time
Both Happy INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY and MOTHERING SUNDAY to you and yours. :).
Wonderful newsletter and amazing Iris!
Happy Mothers’ Day x