English Plum Cake Recipe - Bread & With It (2024)

I found this beautiful English Plum Cake recipe in The Captain’s Lady Cookbook – Personal Journal Volume II. In the 1980’s Barbara Dalia Jasmin found original handwritten manuscripts on pages of faded copperplate written in the late 1800’s and compiled them into this book. They are thejournal entries andpersonal recipesof a lovely lady who is the wife of a dashing sea-captain. The journal entries pull you into a time much like The Hutchinson Story where food meant so much more than what it means today.

I debated for some time about whether or not I wantedto begin this series byincluding the writings of The Captain’s Lady on Bread & With It because I didn’t want it to take way from The Hutchinson Story. I was thinking about this while the kids and I were on one of our usual walks when I heard my daughter holler “Mom Look!”. Directly above her was a beautiful cherry tree full of ripe cherries and I knew it was meant to be. This recipe was calling me and I knew this story needed to be told.

These writings touched my heart and I would love to share them with you every Thursday with my usual recipe post. I would like to celebrate her life by making one of her recipes and sharing a journal entry from her book. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.

The Captain’s Wife Episode 01: The Wedding

18 March 1857

“It is a soft, misty, early spring day. The sky is blue, the sun is bright. There seems to be a special radiance wherever I look. I feel that I am walking through a dream. I am now dressed in my beautiful, soft white gown of O’Callaghan lace over tissue taffeta with a myriad of petticoats to make it stand out. My Captain brought the materials from Ireland along with a very special bouquet of white silk Killarney roses: My Golden Celtic Cross and my Claddagh wedding ring he brought back on his last voyage. My long, French illusion veil is caught up with the same roses and looks very pretty against my light auburn hair done up in large curls and waves. My father brought my pearls from the Orient several years ago.
My Bridesmaids (my sisters, sisters-in-law and cousins) look like a veritable rainbow in every shade imaginable – blues, greens, pinks, violet. My little nieces are dressed in white replicas of my own gown.

I arrived at St. Michael’s Church in our large carriage with my father and mother. They looked at me so lovingly and proud. We then all arranged ourselves in a procession; the music started and I, leaning on my father’s arm, walked down the long aisle to the altar. There he stood – My Captain – tall, blond, bearded, handsome, strong, honest and true. The Mass was very special, the music lovely. We made our pledges to each other and sealed them with a kiss. Then we turned and started down the aisle to be greeted by our relatives and friends. May the happiness, beauty and sanctity of this moment never cease. I fervently believe that “Love is Eternal.” May God bless us both and may his bright, shinning light of love encircle and protect us forever.

Amen.”

(The Captain’s Lady Cookbook – Personal Journal Vol. II )

This book can be purchased through Amazon:
The Captain’s Lady Cookbook

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