Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Icing
Let’s start at the beginning. Several months ago, spotting a cost-friendly Norwegian Airlines package to London/Edinburgh on Travelzoo Top 20, I clicked three times and magically owned an October trip across the Pond. For the past 15 years I’ve received Travelzoo’s weekly “amazing” offers and lived the dreams. Obviously I considered it time to play out my fantasies.
The view from my hotel room in London, the Tower Bridge. The historic WWII battleship HMS Belfast is moored on the far side of the bridge.
My reality became an international trip by myself on an airline I’d never flown. Buyer’s remorse? Uhhh, kinda. For me, whether it’s a project, party or voyage, I’m a planner. Realizing this would be the first trip abroad I’d taken alone without Michael or without the destination being the Institut de Francais or meeting a tour group, my motto became Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail. Here’s how it rolled…..
BOSTON
Betsy and I saw the vibrant and colorful Takashi Murakami special exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Having been in a plane crash, I don’t fly well. I short-circuited a long non-stop flight by stopping in Boston to visit my blogging colleague, Betsy Pollack-Benjamin. During my 30 hour-layover we not only cooked dinner together, but also spent the next day visiting the Lexington Community Farm and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I walked in to Flour’s Bakery & Cafe only to be surprised by Tricia Stormer, our French Fridays with Dorie colleague, who drove from Pennsylvania to see me.
NORWEGIAN AIRLINES
Let’s Go…
About Norwegian Airlines. NA’s twin-engine Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is modern, beautiful and fuel-efficient. Now I like comfort as much as the next gal but riding in economy with 300 of your new best friends didn’t seem a hardship, more of an adventure. Service was spectacular. (Economy does not translate to riff raff on NA.) I had a touch screen that spewed out amenities galore. A cocktail? Screen. Touch. Order. Within 5 minutes a steward was delivering it, with flourish, on a small, white-clothed tray.
LONDON
I dropped by Foyles Book Store and Cafe to see where JK Rowling wrote her first Harry Potter Book.
JK Rowling hung out on the 5th floor of Foyles and wrote her book. I hung out for about an hour and didn’t feel the inspiration.
My London plans revolved around the British Museum and theatre, Harry Potter & the Cursed Child 1 & 2. A home-town bonus was meeting 6 young people from Aspen at a local pub. Gant concierge Wesy Amour-Cook had told me she, Nathan and their friends were also going to London and suggested we meet for a beer. It’s not for nothing that Wesy is a great concierge. After I arrived in London, she located a pub near my Tower Bridge hotel, e-mailed me and at 5:30pm one misty London evening, I walked into the pub’s noisy bedlam only to be greeted by those 6 smiling Colorado faces.
From 610 S. West End Street in Aspen to a pub near London’s Tower Bridge, Wesy and I are having a beer.
The Portland Vase, Rome. 15BC-25AD. I spent several days at the renown British Museum. Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the first national public museum in the world, protecting and displaying treasures which represent the history of our civilization. (We can have the debate about stolen treasures at a later date.)
EDINBURGH
Edinburgh evolved into an unexpected but glorious three days. Prior to leaving Aspen, I contacted Araminta and Charles Ritchie who I only knew virtually. For the past 7 years I occasionally rented their apartment in Sanary-sur-Mer located in southwestern France. I invited them to have dinner with me when I visited Edinburgh. Instead Araminta insisted they pick me up at the airport to stay with them. Hospitality reigns!
As we drove down a long drive-way I catch my first glimpse of The Grange, their home located just outside of Edinburgh. These are Araminta’s miniature Shetland ponies.
Their exquisite historic home, The Grange, is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Araminta is a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne who is recognized and admired for her charitable work to over 200 organizations. Being a modern-day lady-in-waiting, which is defined as a personal assistant attending to a royal woman, is a life-long appointment. Princess Anne, who Araminta calls, The Boss, has 11 Ladies and Araminta is one of two women who live in Scotland. Charles retired five years ago as a Colonel after a lifelong military career, being posted throughout the world. As you might imagine, I was full of questions and loved our conversations/dinner table talk.
Paul, quite the chef, is buttering the pastry just before cooking the pot pie. I think, in this photo, the American in the room had just blurted out, “Puff pastry from scratch? Who does that anymore!”
Mom is obviously in charge of the flour.
Recognizing that we had never actually met each other, Araminta got me settled while Charles popped the champagne cork. (Bubbly is a relaxant, don’t you think?) Paul, their son who was visiting, withdrew to the kitchen to make a delicious venison pot pie with a homemade pastry crust. Salmon to begin dinner, fruit tart to end it.
Venison Pot Pie with a Puff Pastry Lid.
Note the AGA (I had stove envy.)
Now get this, when the Princess is in Edinburgh unofficially, she often stays in the bedroom where I slept. (I know that because I saw her name in their guest book.) The Ritchie’s were amused I loved the idea of that but I suggested it was as close as I would ever get to the Lincoln Bedroom!
How delicious does this look. And, it was. Note the steam.
What a beautiful table.
I was sorry to leave England. This journey, a mission to broaden my horizons and expand my knowledge also enhanced my desire to ‘Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.’ as Frozen’s film director Jennifer Lee suggests. That’s exactly what I needed to do.
Our last photo before Araminta took me back to Edinburgh: Paul needs to get to work. Araminta has a tennis game in town. And Charles is off to a meeting. The portrait above our heads was commissioned after his retirement and painted by our mutual friend, artist Jean Miller Harding, one of Canada’s premiere portrait painters.
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PUMPKIN SPICE BUNDT CAKE with BUTTERMILK ICING
To celebrate my safe arrival home, I baked a sublime pumpkin spice bundt cake. This recipe is from a 2005 issue of Gourmet Magazine. Being a loyal subscriber I faintly recall making this recipe. My memory suggests I didn’t realize at the time that canned pumpkin pie filling and canned pumpkin (pumpkin puree) are two different animals! Please dear Readers, canned pumpkin, please.
PUMPKIN SPICE BUNDT CAKE with BUTTERMILK ICING, GOURMET MAGAZINE, 2005 via Epicurious.com
12 servings
EQUIPMENT: 10-inch nonstick bundt pan (3 quart)
INGREDIENTS
CAKE
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups canned solid-pack pumpkin puree
3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs (room temperature)
ICING
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons well-shaken buttermilk
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
PREPARATION
1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter bundt pan generously, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.
2. Whisk together flour (2 1/4 cups), baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt in a bowl. Whisk together pumpkin, 3/4 cup buttermilk, and vanilla in another bowl.
3. Beat softened butter (1 1/2 sticks) and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add eggs and beat 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour and pumpkin mixtures alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until batter is just smooth.
4. Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top. Softly band your bundt pan against the counter to eliminate air bubbles. Bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 15 minutes, then invert rack over cake and re-invert cake onto rack. Cool 10 minutes more.
5. While cake is cooling, whisk together buttermilk and confectioners sugar until smooth. Drizzle icing over warm cake. Sprinkle chopped nuts over the top, if desired. then cool cake completely. Icing will harden slightly.
TIPS:
1. I spray my bundt pan with Pam’s Baking Made with Flour just before pouring the batter into the pan. This eliminates the spray from pooling at the bottom of the pan. It also allows your batter to “rest” a few minutes.
2. Cake may be made 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
3. For a variation to the pure pumpkin taste, add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup of chopped dried cranberries. (Do NOT use Cranraisins.)
Oh Mary, I just love this post. (as usual) You have no doubt inspired many to take the plunge to travel abroad solo. We all wish we could sleep in the same room where royalty have slept. Only Mary could just bumble into bunking with one of Princess Anne’s Ladies in Waiting. What a wonderful combo of experiences you had. Thanks for letting us come along… I’m so happy for you.
Love your travel adventures! Your trip alone was adventurous but you always know someone
Wherever you go which makes life so much more interesting. Shall we call you Princess Mary since you slept in her bed?
Looking forward to seeing you real soon!
You know, Ellen, I’ve always been partial to “Queen,” and that’s how I’m treated at The Gant. However, in light of my visit to the realm of authentic royalty, Princess will do just fine! Incidentally, I can’t wait to visit and hug all you Anthem Country Club friends. It’s been a rough Fall for Las Vegas and I know you and Charley hurt. Me, too.
What a trip … legendary travel. I am so proud of you and inspired. Can I apply for a job as your lady in waiting? Meanwhile I want to know more about Charles’ cute dog.
Also how do you make such great cakes at high altitude?
Thanks for asking, Donna, and I feel badly I left her out. Meet Iris, a sweet-spirited Jack Russell.
What a marvelous adventure, Mary!
How utterly fabulous! You are a constant source of inspiration. I hope this might inspire more across the pon travel… #FFWD meetup in Nérac? 😉
Oh, Mary, I love traveling virtually with you. What a wonderful experience, you brave girl!! Love the recipe, think I’ll try it with gluten free flour. Sounds like something Santos and I would love for Thanksgiving. Well, the others also, but Santos puts cake in its own food group.:-)
Welcome Home Mary! Such a delight to read on about your journey which sounded quite grand. Happy you got to see friends, colleagues, and in all a wonderful experience between all! The airlines looks nice too!
What a wonderful trip! One of the things I admire about you is your ability to make friends wherever you go. It’s a sign of an open, generous heart.
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself, though I had no doubts! Thanks for sharing your trip with us all—and I’m especially delighted that you worked in some Dorista time, too. xo
I love the elegance of a formal dining room and the one where you had dinner is exactly that. Since we have gone totally ‘open concept’ here in the US, it’s seldom seen. Feels so very British.
I love the elegance of a formal dining room and the one where you had dinner is exactly that. Since we have gone totally ‘open concept’ here in the US, it’s seldom seen. Feels so very British.
My what a fantastic trip! London (and the whole of the UK) is my favorite place to be. I admire your adventurous spirit for deciding to CLICK on this opportunity and make it happen for yourself!
Another excellent blog ! Can’t wait to make this cake….Mary kindly brought us a generous amount and it is divine ! Taking it to Thanksgiving Family Celebration . Your U.K. travels sounded wonderful and to share time with dear ones makes a trip very special. Carry on with more exciting destinations ,!
Oh Mary -what a trip and what a visit. It was so fabulous to sneak in a surprise visit with you in Cambridge, MA. I still can’t believe it not only worked out logistically for Besty and I to coordinate, but exceeded all expectations! And I am selfishly pleased to hear that Norwegian Air did not disappoint. Following your inspiration I have not only the Scotland spring tour booked….but we are heading to Rome in December !!!! [ That trip cost Betsy my company at a David Lebovitz book event at FLOUR lol but she was a great sport at the reasoning) . You adventures across the pond are amazing and I can not believe you ended up staying with that amazing and royal connected family – wow. Ah yes, because you knew them a la internet ….amazing the relationships you can build online ❤️ Hugs !!
Mary – how lovely! I am glad they were able to keep Tricia as a surprise (and what a lovely one that was).
My Sienna spent two weeks in England and Scotland this summer with her boyfriend – traipsing from house to house of friends they had made via the great wide web. They had an amazing time and it was wonderful to see how the experience opened her up.
Love the British Museum – someday, I would love to back there as an adult and spend days there as well.
Look forward to see where future clicks take you!
Welcome home, Mary, from such a wonderful and fun filled trip across the pond! You go girl! You do have ‘connections in high places!’ Thanks a million for a virtual tour, always always enjoy all that you do. Now, awaiting your next adventure for the coming winter (or is it here already!?).
I made my first ever maiden trip out of my ‘village’ way way back in 1991 where I technically visited London, England twice! First trip on the way (for a couple of days visiting my aunt), before continuing onward to Toronto, Canada; and a second trip for a fortnight upon returning from Canada before heading home to Malaysia.