Is this the famed "Orange juice and cream?"

[rattfan]

Many moons ago, someone mentioned vainly trying to discover what "orange juice and cream" as enjoyed by the young Marlows, had been.  My friend Dr Gillian Polack posted the following on Patreon recently and when I read it, I instantly wondered whether this could be it?  I myself know zilch about cooking, but must admit I'm tempted to give this a go, though putting it in a pan over a hot plate might have to replace the "slow fire."


 ORANGE FOOL.

Mix the juice of three Seville oranges, three eggs well beaten, a pint of cream, a little nutmeg and cinnamon, and sweeten to your taste. Set the whole over a slow fire, and stir it till it becomes as thick as good melted butter, but it must not be boiled: then pour it into a dish for eating cold.

From the 1842 edition of A New System of Domestic Cookery: Formed Upon Principles of Economy; and Adapted to the Use of Private Families.  Mrs Rundell (Maria Eliza Rundell, 1745 – 1828). 

Comments

[jackmerlin]

I think this would set, to be eaten with a spoon, whereas I'm sure they drank the orange-juice-and-cream.
It also sounds quite rich for a children's snack.
Thinking about that meal - didn't they eat bread-and-dripping with the orange-juice-and-cream? The thought of a bite of dripping followed by a mouthful of cream and orange is just bizarre - or is that just me?

[rattfan]

Just had a look at the book; you are of course correct! The planned elevenses snack was bread and dripping with the cream-and-juice. This recipe is for a kind of custard. Of course to me the idea of dripping itself is quite strange. I'm Australian and although my mother is English, she never introduced us to this meal.

[gnr]

I thought it was more like a creamsicle kind of drink, but without the champagne (or maybe with a bit of lemonade, or maybe it's not even needed).

http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a46969/orange-creamsicle-mimosas-recipe/

[vilakins]

I used to mix milk and orange juice for a cool summer drink (50-50, not shaken; just stirred) so maybe it's much the same, but with cream. My drinks never curdled and I imagine cream certainly wouldn't.