Silent On The Moor Part 34

A Recipe for Baked Mushrooms.

In 1861, Isabella Beeton published the seminal work, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management. More than just a cookery book, it offered the wife or cook-housekeeper recipes, advice, and gentle admonishment. Each recipe was given with seasonability, price, and yield so that the most discriminating home-maker could be certain of receiving good value for money. She further included suggestions for serving the various dishes, with Baked Mushrooms designated as suitable for breakfast, luncheon, or supper. It is a perfect dish for invalids, being soft and easy to digest, provided the mushrooms are fresh and wholesome. It is a favourite dish of Lady Allenby's and this is the recipe used by Mrs. b.u.t.ters at Grimsgrave Hall.

Baked Mushrooms.

16-20 mushroom-flaps.

b.u.t.ter

Pepper to taste

For this mode of cooking, the mushroom-flaps are better than the b.u.t.tons, and should not be too large. Cut off a portion of the stalk, peel the top, and wipe the mushrooms carefully with a piece of flannel and a little fine salt. Put them in a tin baking dish, with a very small piece of b.u.t.ter placed on each mushroom; sprinkle over a little pepper and let them bake for about 20 minutes, or longer should the mushrooms be very large. Have ready a very hot dish and serve with hot gravy. Sufficient for 5 or 6 persons.

DEANNA RAYBOURN.

Silent on the Moor A Reader Group Guide We hope you enjoyed this novel

by Deanna Raybourn.

See the discussion questions on the

following pages to further enhance

your reading enjoyment.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.

Although Julia and Nicholas are a Victorian couple, they have a very modern problem: his career versus their relationship. In what ways does his work complicate their future?

Hilda Allenby speaks bitterly about how difficult it is to be a woman and subject to the whims of men. What are some examples of this in the book?

The Allenbys have let down the villagers of Lesser Howlett by not fulfilling the responsibility they have toward the locals. How do they fail in their role and what impact does this have on the family and the community?

Jane gives up her relationship with Portia in order to a.s.sume the more traditional role of wife and mother. Is she right to do so?

Nicholas and Julia both rely to varying degrees upon intuition. How does this play into their decision making?

The Allenbys are devoted to the memory of their ancestors. How is this pride manifested in the inhabitants of Grimsgrave Hall?

Hilda Allenby chooses employment and uncertainty over marriage with Valerius March. Why?

Julia Grey is not a traditional Victorian woman. Discuss the qualities that make her unconventional and whether these qualities make her relatable to a modern reader.

The tragic story of Mariah Young has repercussions into the next generation. Discuss.

Will Julia and Nicholas be able to sustain a working relationship or will they find this problematic?

Acknowledgments.

One of the loveliest aspects of being a writer is having the opportunity to acknowledge the debts I owe. Great appreciation and tremendous thanks: To my family: my daughter, who provides endless companionship, laughter and very often food, my mother, who tidies everything up-including my ma.n.u.scripts-and my husband, who makes it all possible.

To my agent, Pam Hopkins, a woman of tenacity and good humor whose skills at hand-holding, negotiating and talking her writers down from ledges is unsurpa.s.sed.

To my editor, the stylish and demanding Valerie Gray, who never rests unless she has my best.

To my friends, particularly those who traveled great distances, hosted me, shepherded me through their cities, or made multiple trips to events, most especially Vanessa, Sherri, Kim, Stephanie, Jerusha, Suzanne, Kristin, David, Tyler, Sali and my beloved G.o.dfather, Billy.

To those who have given technical a.s.sistance and shown exceptional professional generosity: Chris Wallbruch, Dr. Sandra Hammock, Shea t.i.tlow and Dr. Gregory Davis.

To all the unsung heroes and heroines of publishing, the many hardworking people through whose hands my books pa.s.s and are made better and who work so tirelessly to get my books into the hands of readers-editorial, marketing, sales, public relations and production. Most particularly, I would like to thank Emily Ohanjanians and Nancy Fischer for their elegant and attentive contributions to the editing process, and Michael Rehder for the exquisite new covers.

To the many booksellers who have shared their enthusiasm with their customers and converted them to readers.

To the readers of blog and books who have been so generous in their praise and kind in their compliments. I have shared my stories with you, and in return you have shared your stories with me. Thank you.