Rose pink iced fairy cakes seemed just the thing for our Persephone tea for Ruby Ferguson's Lady Rose and Mrs Memmary
Dovegreyreader will tell you all about the book while I serve these pretty confections - I used Nigella's recipe and a light hand with the food colouring, though it occurred to me after I'd made them that I should have put rose water in the icing; (that omission hasn't stopped Mr. C. eating four at one sitting, however).
Early in the story the young Lady Rose wants to reward her pony with an apple and some sugar,
"So a footman brought a silver salver with a rosy apple on a pink plate, and a silver fruit knife, and a small bowl of sugar, and Rose fed the pony, with little cries of joy".
I think I had that image in mind when I was deciding what to make to go with this lovely book, which is set in and near Edinburgh, by the way - the grand but fictitious Keepsfield being based possibly on Hopetoun.
Beautiful cakes!
Posted by: Jennifer | 13 January 2010 at 12:34 AM
Beautiful photos! And from the sound of it, a beautiful book as well.
Posted by: Kate | 13 January 2010 at 03:43 AM
The cakes look so lovely! Must pull this title down from the shelf... K x
Posted by: kristina | 13 January 2010 at 07:36 AM
Such a perfect pairing!
Posted by: Darlene | 13 January 2010 at 01:10 PM
Loved High Wages and now all agog to read more of these forgotten books. Thank you for bringing them to our attention. Love the cakes too, but I think you missed a trick with (out) the rose water
Posted by: Choclette | 13 January 2010 at 07:30 PM
Your little cakes are perfect- I can understand eating four in one sitting.
Rose water is to be one of the top food trends for 2010- or so I hear.
Posted by: blackbird | 14 January 2010 at 03:01 AM
Those fairy cakes look divine! Just right for the book, too.
Posted by: skirmishofwit | 14 January 2010 at 11:36 AM
I'm sure I have this book, but haven't yet checked my Persephone collection yet ... but I certainly haven't read it yet, so you have encouraged me thus! Currently reading Susan Hill's Howards End is on the Landing - comforting autumnal bookish reading.
Posted by: Margaret Powling | 14 January 2010 at 02:47 PM
Bookhound is hoping there are some left:-)
Posted by: dovegreyreader | 14 January 2010 at 08:00 PM
Whenever I see iced buns, all I can think about is Calendar Girls----*We're going to need bigger buns!* heeheehee
These look absolutely lovely!
Posted by: Boo | 16 January 2010 at 05:44 AM