The Ninth Night

 

For this week's dinner, I really put my heart into the dessert.

My orchard was generous, and I had plenty of apples and pears.

I grabbed a kilogram of each, peeled them, removed the cores, and cut them into small pieces.

They went into a little pot with sugar, vanilla, and a bit of water, where I cooked them down until they turned soft. I added some pineapple chunks, candied fruits, and a bit of maraschino – delicious touch!

I set the jam aside and started on a custard with a liter of milk, another vanilla bean, 150 grams of sugar, and five eggs, all in another pot, stirring constantly until it thickened.

I caramelized a flan mold and alternated layers of custard and jam, one on top of the other, until I filled the mould.

I baked the flan in a baign-marie until everything was cooked through.

Once it cooled, I unmolded it and garnished it with apricots in syrup I had made a few days earlier.

"This is really good!" said Nick.

"See, I found this recipe at the local library, in an old French magazine. For some strange reason it was called "The Portuguese Girl"*, don't know why. Anyway, I can’t say for sure, but I think we're the only ones on the island who’ve tasted this dessert."

"You and your friends. It's not enough that you have your own library, you still go to the public one!"

"Well, there are no bookstores on the island. Especially secondhand ones. I miss those stores so much, with the smell of old paper in the air!"

"I wish I were like you, but all I need is a sofa and a TV to be happy! Not even dancing is that important to me."

"I think you’ve spent too much time looking for someone. I, on the other hand, decided early on not to be lovable, so instead of looking for someone, I just looked for myself. I explored every inclination and talent I had. When I started the macrobiotic diet, my mom said she wouldn’t cook 'those kinds of foods.' I told her it was fine and began cooking for myself. That teenage stubbornness led to this dinner."

"Where I destroyed myself, you built yourself."

“It's one way to look at it, but I think it's wonderful that you're building yourself now. As for me, when I got psychological help and understood the root of my aversion to emotional intimacy, I didn't change. I understood the problem and said, 'It doesn’t seem to me that love, passion, marriage, are worth all the work, confusion, and distress they cost to find and maintain.'"

 "The experiences are deeply frustrating. But I confess I’m afraid of growing old alone."

 “Anyone over thirty seems to have a fear of dying alone."

 "You have your god."

 "I really hope to die among the Holy Family. If that happens, I won’t be alone, but in the best company."

 Nick smiled and said: "I wish I were like you."

*"La Portugaise" in the original - Cahiers du jardin des modes - N°137, cuisine 8 - octobre 1958 - 13éme année - plats simples et habillés - diner de fête ou diner imprévu . Francine, Collectif