Authors: Alan Kistler
Tags: #recipes, #cookbook, #Game of Thrones
Tommen’s Baked Apple Cheese Tart
As wars rage on and tragedies occur, Cersei becomes more and more brittle from the realization that none of her plans are working out correctly, and she begins to fall into the overindulgence of food and drink that King Robert was known for. But the Queen is not as concerned for herself as she is for her children, and she considers both her enemies and how to deal with them as she spies young Tommen eating an apple tart. (
A Feast for Crows
, Chapter 12 — Cersei)
Serves 8
1 recipe Blitz Puff Pastry (see
The Vale Summer Berries and Cream Tart
, steps 1–4)
1 egg, beaten
6 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
1
⁄
4
cup apple butter
6 ounces Brie cheese, cut into
1
⁄
4
-inch slices
2 Granny Smith apples, cored, and sliced
1
⁄
4
-inch thick
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
A Word of Wisdom
Brie is a cow’s milk cheese that is allowed to age and ripen for as little as a few months to as long as a few years. Brie is best when served at room temperature and can also be baked. Brie baked in a pastry crust is called brie en croute. Jam, fruit, and crackers are popular accompaniments for the soft cheese.
Bitterbridge Blackberry Tart
At his house’s seat of Bitterbridge, Lord Caswell serves an unforgettable meal to powerful and influential characters whose decisions will change the fate of the Seven Kingdoms in unpredictable ways. Such guests must be suitably fed, and blackberry tarts are a welcome side dish. You may enjoy them yourself as a fun dessert to share with friends as you discuss what you think of the events at Bitterbridge and what followed. (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 22 — Catelyn)
Serves 8
1 Short Crust for tarts, unbaked (see
Arya’s Apricot Crumb Tart
)
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons sour cream
1
⁄
4
cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Blackberry Topping:
2 cups fresh blackberries
1
⁄
3
cup sugar
1
⁄
4
teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
A Word of Wisdom
It may be tempting to try to warm up cold butter or cream cheese in the microwave to save time. Taking the time to slowly soften ingredients will ensure that they are uniformly softened. Microwaving can create hot pockets within the ingredient or warm it too much, ruining your creation. Take the time to do it right, warming at room temperature about 1 hour, because it is worth it!
Celebratory Peaches in Lavender Honey
Sansa Stark was locked into a life-altering event that filled her with fear and dread day in and day out. But after an unexpected change, she finds herself free once more and her delight is nearly overpowering. She rejoices with a sweet dish of Peaches in Lavender Honey, a simple, elegant, rich dish befitting her birth and youth. (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 65 — Sansa)
Serves 4
4 ripe peaches
1
⁄
2
cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons lavender honey
1
⁄
4
cup chopped walnuts
1
⁄
4
teaspoon grated ginger
A Word of Wisdom
True lavender honey is produced by bees that have access only to lavender nectar, but you can make lavender-infused honey at home. Just mix 6 tablespoons of fresh lavender buds and 4 cups of honey in a saucepan. Heat over medium until honey feels warm, then set temperature as low as possible for 30 minutes. Pour into hot, sanitized Mason jars. Seal in a water-bath canner for 15 minutes. (See
Last Bite of Summer Blackberry Preserves
for more about this canning method.)
King’s Landing Blood Melon Sorbet
Farmers bring a variety of fruits to King’s Landing — large, sweet, oblong blood melons included. Even when Eddard Stark knows that danger lies around him and dark times wait ahead, such smells and food can bring a sense of comfort and serenity. This cool, summery treat might have given him pause if he’d stopped to find one, but the unmistakably foreboding omen is still tied well to the name. (
A Game of Thrones
, Chapter 27 — Eddard)
Makes 1 quart
3 cups blood melon juice or watermelon juice (see step 1)
2
⁄
3
cup sugar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1
⁄
4
cup mini chocolate chips (for “seeds”)
A Word of Wisdom
Cut the melon in half rather than smaller chunks before removing the flesh. Take extra care when scooping out the flesh so that you make a large “bowl” out of one half of the rind. Once the sorbet has gone through the churn cycle, pour it into the melon bowl to freeze.
Queen of Meereen’s Persimmon Crumble Ice Cream
Closeted in her Meereenese pyramid, Daenerys sits and listens and waits — for her enemies’ next move, for Drogon’s return, for the next betrayal. Bored and frustrated by the Qartheen merchant prince Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Dany can’t help but imagine his nose as a persimmon. Honoring her rare moment of levity and her guest’s unforgettable visage, this dessert would offer relief from ennui, worry, and heat for any young queen. (
A Dance with Dragons
, Chapter 2 — Daenerys)
Makes about 1 quart
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup persimmon pulp, chilled
1 cup crumbled butter cookies
A Word of Wisdom
Wild persimmons are ready to eat after the first hard frost. Pick them when they are mushy. It is fairly easy to squeeze the seeds and the pulp apart. If using store-bought persimmons, try to find Hachiyas. They soften when they are ripe and are preferable to Fuyus, which are crunchy like an apple.