Tatjana's aristocratic roots crept through many corners of her life. She was proud of her lineage, and she drew sharp lines about what sort of behavior was appropriate for descendants of the noble class. For instance, before I went on my first "date" (an afternoon, picnic outing to Brookfield Zoo), she observed that only a prostitute would hold hands with a man in public.
Tatjana also, like other Russian aristocrats of her era, admired and monkeyed French culture. She insisted, for example, that I learn the French language, and she fluidly quoted French novels and poetry. Tatjana often spoke of Catherine the Great's mastery of French culture. Many years after Tatjana died, I worked with a fellow whose grandparents (or possibly great-grandparents) had found exile in Paris after the Russian Revolution. His experience made me wonder whether Tatjana wouldn't have been happier living in France.
Tatjana's love of French culture, however, did not influence her cooking. French food was rarely on the menu. The only French item Tatjana sometimes made was Pâte à Choux. When Tatjana made choux pastry, she usually filled the puffs with Jell-O Cook & Serve Vanilla pudding (because instant pudding is for unaccomplished cooks). When she made the filling from scratch, she used this recipe:
Cooked Cream for "Petit Schout"
and for Napoleon
Melt one stick of butter with 2-1/2-3 tablespoons flour.
Gradually pout in 1 cup milk and 1 cup half-and-half. Cook, mixing constantly
(like you would for a white sauce), until everything is heated through and
cooked.
Beat together 3 egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar. Slowly mix
this with the cooked cream mixture, and cook again, as you would ice cream,
just until the mixture starts to show blisters. Then cool the mixture over ice,
mixing well, and then adding vanilla, or orange rind, or almond extract.
[At the bottom of the page—in lighter colored ink—Tatjana added the recipe for the choux pastry:]
Slowly heat 1 stick of butter and 2 spoonfuls (tablespoons) sour cream with 4-1/2 cups flour. Mix until the dough starts to hold together. Remove from heat and, mixing with your hands, divide the mixture into six pieces. Place in the refrigerator, then back at 400oF until the pieces are cooked through.
[At the bottom of the page—in lighter colored ink—Tatjana added the recipe for the choux pastry:]
Slowly heat 1 stick of butter and 2 spoonfuls (tablespoons) sour cream with 4-1/2 cups flour. Mix until the dough starts to hold together. Remove from heat and, mixing with your hands, divide the mixture into six pieces. Place in the refrigerator, then back at 400oF until the pieces are cooked through.
