The Grimbriar Gazette | Issue No. VII | Special Edition
Updated: Sep 21
An exclusive Grimbriar Kitchens recipe is included at the end of this issue!
Weather
The weatherstone is dry and warm, therefore it is sunny out. Three toads have gathered in a row along the weatherstone's West side, so it should be a sunny week ahead. Two snails have crossed slime trails over the top of the stone, so it'll also be a bit chilly. Best to break out those Autumn sweaters and prepare for a cozy week ahead!
Lost & Found
Found: A flea circus contained in a mint tin. Three have escaped, but I can hear the rest still performing inside. Lots of applause. Will leave inside the student library.
Found: A grumpy left sock. Keeps muttering about "kids these days" and taxes. Left outside the East Dorms. Smells poorly.
Lost: A vial of ectoplasm, last seen in the afternoon Potions classroom.
Gossip
Late Night Digs & Ghostly Correspondance
Bronwin Fitz has been seen skulking around the grounds late at night. The fourth year student, known for mischief and the occassional rude gesture, was spotted thrice this past week on the North Lawn. Cloaked in a black hood with a small, green-hued lantern, Bronwin has been seen by fellow students digging up small holes throughout the lawn as if searching for something. When approached about her late-night activities, she became pale and retorted, "if that were any of your business, you'd know, wouldn't you?"
In spite of her attitude, students have started raising concerns about the surly student's well-being. Baxter Gerald, a first year, offerered this, "I swear I saw a ghost leering over Bronwin's shoulder outside. I didn't recognize it, but it had big, glassy eyes and long fingers."
A survey amongst Grimbriar students reveals that this ghostly figure is, indeed, a new face here at the Academy. Is this ghost making Bronwin search for something? Is it all a trick to stir up seasonal spookiness? Given Bronwin's recent pallor and subdued attitude, we're worried she's been put up to something. Any insights about the matter should be reported to Headmistress Hennenthorpe.
Rumors
Love & Loss in the Grimbriar Greenhouse
A student has recently found a book in the library titled Mauralee & Lucky Me by author Baldron Tane. While memoirs are not often selected by students for free-time reading, this one has caught the attention of several students for its glaring similarities to a familiar face here at Grimbriar. Often seen floating through the Greenhouse, the ghost known as Baldron the Gentle is speculated to be the very same Baldron Tane. No one has dared approach him about the book yet, given its sensitive topic. A dedication to author Tane's late wife, Mauralee & Lucky Me has caused a rousing round of sniffles amongst readers. While students continue to whisper amongst themselves, Baldron continues as he always had: lovingly tending to the Greenhouse and its leafy occupants.
Familiar Faces
Meet Bingwit the II, the Good Luck Snail
Bingwit the II stands at a mere 4 centimeters tall, likely because he is a snail. Our swirly-shelled friend doesn't speak or really even interact with anyone, but he's a well-known member of Grimbriar's community. Often seen stuck to the wall outside of the Arts classroom, Bingwit has become part of a beloved and somewhat odd tradition. Of the many students who partake, Patricia Hally was the first to offer her take.
"I rub his shell three times before every class. My drawing has improved so much because of it!" she says, holding up a self portrait that more resembles an upset cat.
While we can't interview the snail himself, we did offer him a slice of cucumber that he seemed quite content with. Students curious about Bingwit's daily schedule report that he starts in the planter pot a few doors down from the Arts classroom, makes his way to said Arts classroom, receieves shell rubs from superstitious students, and then returns home. Upon close inspection, you can see the spot on his shell that has been rubbed shinier than the rest. It's safe to assume Bingwit enjoys the extra attention and strict schedule. That leaves only the question: who was Bingwit the First?
Word Search
This Week’s Menu at Grimbriar Hall
As always, every meal can be altered to meet the dietary needs of any student upon request.
Monday
Breakfast: Toasted pecan pancakes, warm maple drizzle, spiced chai
Lunch: Roasted tomato basil soup, herbed breadsticks, peach ginger fizz
Dinner: Rosemary roasted chicken, buttered egg noodles, tart cherry tonic
Tuesday
Breakfast: Blueberry buckwheat muffins, whipped honey butter, morning mint tea
Lunch: Curried lentil soup, warm buttered flatbread, mango lime spritz
Dinner: Seared salmon with dill, roasted fingerling potatoes, sparkling elderflower fizz
Wednesday
Breakfast: Spiced sweet potato hash, soft-cooked eggs, toasted rosehip tea
Lunch: Roasted red pepper and goat cheese tart, mixed greens, blood orange tonic
Dinner: Braised short ribs, creamy polenta, spiced pear cordial
Thursday
Breakfast: Cinnamon apple crepes, whipped cream, warm cardamom tea
Lunch: Wild rice and mushroom soup, toasted sourdough, cranberry spritz
Dinner: Herb-roasted turkey breast, honey-roasted carrots, warm chestnut tea, miso butterscotch banana bread for dessert
Friday
Breakfast: Toasted cornmeal waffles, stewed blackberries, honeyed oat milk
Lunch: Butternut squash ravioli, garlicky greens, tart apple fizz
Dinner: Applewood sage pork chops, roasted parsnips, spiced plum tonic
Saturday
Breakfast: Fluffy ricotta pancakes, warm citrus syrup, toasted hazelnut tea
Lunch: Roasted beet and orange salad, seeded crackers, sparkling raspberry tonic
Dinner: Cider-braised lamb loin, minted pea puree, blackberry cordial
Sunday
Breakfast: Sticky cinnamon rolls, vanilla glaze, warm spiced milk
Lunch: Roast chicken salad with grapes and walnuts, buttered rolls, lavender lemonade
Dinner: Hearth-roasted rosemary beef, herbed popovers, apple cider
Grimbriar Kitchens Recipe
Miso Butterscotch Banana Bread
Total Time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: about 8 servings
Allergens: Dairy, wheat, soy
This autumnal favorite of Grimbriar students is delightfully sticky and toothsome. While the base banana bread recipe is a delight on its own, when soaked in the ooey-gooey miso buttercotch, it becomes a unique dessert to be enjoyed by the fireside. Students often request this dish when the weather starts to turn cold, or at the first sighting of new ghosts of the season. Paired with a goblet of chilled milk, it's the perfect treat for an autumn evening!
Ingredients
Banana Bread
3 medium very ripe bananas
1/3 cup salted butter, melted
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 packed brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Miso Butterscotch
6 T butter
6 T brown sugar
2 tsp white miso paste
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Steps
BANANA BREAD
Preheat your oven to 350F.
In a medium mixing bowl, peel and mash your bananas with the melted butter until very few lumps remain. Add your egg, sugar, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.
Add your flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar. Mix to combine until there are not dry pockets of flour remaining. Make sure to scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl!
Line the bottom of an 8" x 4" bread pan with baking parchment. We like to leave "wings" sticking out on either side. It makes removing the banana bread from the pan so much easier when it's done!
Pour your batter into the pan. Tap the pan a few times on the counter to remove any bubbles and level the batter. Bake on the middle rack of your oven for 55-60 minutes.
At 55 minutes, insert a toothpick or wooden skewer a few inches into the center of the loaf. If it's done, it'll come out clean or with a few crumbs. If it needs more time, it will have sticky batter on the wood.
If extra baking time is needed, tent a piece of foil over your loaf to keep the top from burning. Bake for an extra 5 minutes at a time.
When done, let the pan cool on the counter for a few minutes before removing the loaf from the pan to cool on a baking rack for 10-15 minutes.
While your banana bread cools, prepare your miso butterscotch.
BUTTERSCOTCH
In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, melt together the butter, brown sugar, miso paste, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir constantly until melted and combined, mashing down the miso paste until smooth. When it begins to bubble and froth, remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
Slice your banana bread to your desired thickness and place facedown in the skillet. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may only be able to place 3-4 slices at a time.
Allow the slices to soak in the butterscotch for a minute, and then remove them with a spatula, flipping the slices onto a plate so the butterscotch glaze is on top!
Serve warm and enjoy!
Cook's Notes
What is miso, and why use it?
Miso paste is essentially fermented soybean paste. It's very common in Japanese cooking, considered one of the five core ingredients! It sounds a bit out of place in a banana bread recipe, but it works SO well. How, you ask? Let's go over it!
The flavor notes in miso paste are: umami, earthy, and then mildly tangy. Umami is the important one here! Umami is savory. It gives the butterscotch a depth and richness that's hard to achieve otherwise. Scientifically, it's the taste of glutamate, an amino acid. Umami is a versatile taste! It adds a unique flavor to the sweetness of the butterscotch and banana bread. If you don't have miso paste or it's difficult to find in your area, this recipe can still be enjoyed without it! You can even halve the butterscotch recipe if you don't want to commit your entire loaf.
When you taste the butterscotch, you're first greeted by sweetness, followed swiftly by that deep, umami flavor that makes you go mmmmmm. It's almost involuntary! If you wanted to bring out the earthiness of the miso even more, you could add chopped walnuts to the butterscotch during the melting phase. Cooking and baking are like science experiements! Some might even say they're magick.
Explore, have fun, and be brave. Most of all, enjoy!
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