Richmond Maids of Honour

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 31, 26 January 1940, Page 44

Richmond Maids of Honour

Dear Aunt Daisy, Long years ago, my mother used to make some extra special little cheesecakes, called "Richmond Maids of Honour." I know there was a little mashed potato in the mixture, and some brandy, too; but although I have tried adapting several cheesecake fillings, I have never been able to get the real thing. I wonder if you have the recipe or whether any or our Daisy Chain could supply it? It would be wonderful for me and for my sisters, too, if you could get it for me.-" Richmond " (Hawke's Bay). Well, I believe this is the recipe, for it contains the mashed potato. Try it anyhow, but do not expect it really to taste like the ones your Mother used to make. Present realities. never are quite the same as remembered dreams! Perhaps someone else will send in the recipe. : As a matter of fact, I had a dainty meal at the very famous shop for these little cakes when I was in England in 1938. We went down to Richmond on top of one of those great comfortable buses which run in every direction, from the great Victoria Bus Station in Lon- don, and by which you can go almost anywhere in England — to York, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Bournmouth, Brighton-everywhere. We were going by launch down the River Thames to see Hampton Court Palace-and a memorable day it was. At Richmond, we were hungry; and had our meal at the historic shop aforesaid. I have kept, as souvenir, one of the pretty paper serviettes on which is printed a little picture of the shop, and the words, "The Original Shop for Maids of Honour, Richmond, Surrey." There were old pictures and silhouettes upon the walls; and although the place had evidently been enlarged and renovated, the old staircase remained, I hadn't the courage to ask for their guarded recipe, of course; but try this one. Six ounces of butter; one teacup of cream; four egg yolks; one boiled potato; one ounce of finely ground almonds; one ounce of ground nuts; one ounce of lemon juice; the grated tind of two lemons, six ounces of sugar, and a little nutmeg; and a wineglass of brandy. Mix together the butter and .cream. Rub the potato to a smooth flour, Then mix all the ingredients together, Line the, pattypans with puff pastry, and fill with the mixture. Bake in the usual manner,

I hope some Surrey readers will send us in some information, both about the Maids of Honour, and also any little "bits and pieces" about Richmond and the surrounding district. They will realise how interesting such notes are to homesick Surrey-ites-for who is not a wee bit homesick now and then?