April Fool's Day
Apr 1
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"She had bought red currants slightly damaged (or they would not have oozed so speedily), in order to make that iced red-currant fool of which she had so freely partaken at Miss Mapp’s last bridge party. That was a very scurvy trick, for iced red-currant fool was an invention of Miss Mapp’s, who, when it was praised, said that she inherited the recipe from her grandmother. " ~ Miss Mapp, E.F. Benson, 1922
Fooled you! The classic puree of fruit and custard, the fruit fool (whether it be strawberry, gooseberry, raspberry, rhubarb, or blackberry) has nothing in particular to do with April Fool's Day! And although food historians do not agree on the origin of its name, fool/foole is first mentioned as a dessert in 1598 with recipes beginning to appear in cookery books by the mid 17th century. There are even two classic fruitless fools dating from the 17th and 18th centuries - the Norfolk Fool and the Westminster Fool (which have the addition of cake, similar to trifles, with and without the addition of sack sherry). Regardless of ingredients, these are fools to suffer gladly. Be a dancing fool today! Recipes included!
Strawberry Fool
The classic puree of fruit and custard, the fruit fool (whether it be strawberry, redcurrant, gooseberry, raspberry, rhubarb, or blackberry) has nothing in particular to do with fooling anyone or fools!
Although food historians do not agree on the origin of its name, fool/foole is first mentioned as a dessert in 1598 with recipes beginning to appear in cookery books by the mid 17th century. There are even two classic fruitless fools dating from the 17th and 18th centuries - the Norfolk Fool and the Westminster Fool (which have the addition of cake, similar to trifles, with and without the addition of sack sherry).
A "fool" is a classic British dessert generally made by folding pureed stewed fruit into sweet custard. Modern fool recipes often substitute whipped cream.
For a strawberry version with homemade shortbread, click here!
And for a classic raspberry and rhubarb version, click the "Strawberry Fool."
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
