by Alex Brown
75g caster sugar
Method
1. Heat milk in a small saucepan until just warm. In a large bowl (or in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook) mix flour, sugar, yeast and a pinch of salt. Add the milk, egg and butter, and mix to bring together into a dough, adding another 1tbsp milk if looking a little dry. Shape into a ball, then knead by hand for about 15min (or about 6min in a stand mixer) until you have a soft dough that springs back when pressed. Return to the cleaned-out bowl and cover with oiled Clingfilm. Leave to prove for 2hr until about doubled in size (or leave at room temperature for 1hr, then transfer to the fridge overnight and complete recipe the following day).
2. If dough was kept in the fridge overnight, set aside at room temperature while you make the filling. Grease a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with butter and line base and sides with baking parchment, leaving an overhang to help get bread out of the tin later.
3. To make the filling, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, stir in the chocolate, sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon. Set aside to cool briefly.
4. Place dough on to a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle about 50 x 30.5cm. Spread the filling over the dough, covering it completely. Roll up tightly from one of the longer sides into a sausage shape. Carefully lift dough on to a piece of baking parchment and chill in the fridge for 15min to make it easier to cut.
5. When chilled, cut the dough in half lengthways so you have two long pieces with the inside exposed. Turn each piece so filling faces upwards. Starting from one end, lift one piece across the other, twisting together but keeping the filling exposed, to make one long twisted braid. Push ends of the twist together to make the length shorter, then squeeze the dough into the loaf tin (it will seem too big but it will fit!) Loosely cover with oiled Clingfilm and leave to prove in a warm place for 1½-2hr or until doubled in size.
6. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Bake loaf for about 50min-1hr until deep golden, loosely covering with foil towards the end of cooking time if it is getting too dark. When the babka is almost cooked, make the syrup. In a small pan, gently heat sugar and 75ml water and stir until dissolved. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat. Remove loaf from oven, brush sugar syrup all over the top to soak in. Leave to cool completely in the tin before serving.
READ ON FOR A Q&A WITH ALEX …
What inspired you to write A Postcard from Italy?
I’ve always wanted to write a book set in Italy, ever since my husband and I went on a cruise soon after we got married fifteen years ago. Our ship stopped at Santa Margherita for the day and so after exploring that part of the beautiful Italian Riviera for the first time, we hopped on a bus and went along the coastal road to Portofino, just as Grace and Ellis do. I was so enthralled by the beautiful, unspoilt scenery combined with the timelessness glamour and so the memory of that day has stayed with me ever since.
What appealed to you about the dual narrative? You did something similar in The Secret of Orchard Cottage?
The present colliding with the past is very appealing to me – a modern-day woman discovering how a woman in the past lived her life, with all the similarities in experiences and emotions, even in very different social eras is quite incredible. I like being able to commemorate women and men from years gone by, to celebrate them and acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices they made so that we can live more freely today. I think I’ll always be in awe of women like Winnie in The Secret of Orchard Cottage and Connie and Jimmy in A Postcard from Italy.
The Second World War period seems to hold a fascination for you …
It sure does. I love all things vintage, such as the décor, furniture, clothes, make up and perfume during that period from the 1930’s through to the end of the 1950’s, but more importantly I’m in awe of how ordinary people lived and in some cases, did extraordinary things during wartime. I have fond memories of my nan, Edie, telling me about her experience working as a Nippy in the Lyons Corner House on the Strand in London and so it was wonderful to be able to immortalise her in A Postcard from Italy with a mention on VE Day when she takes Connie’s friend, Bunty, through to the staff room to fix her victory roll after it becomes dishevelled in the celebratory conga. It is these little anecdotes that appeal to me, and the nostalgia of a different time where people seemed kinder and more inclined to come together to help one another; or maybe this is just fanciful thinking. Either way, it appeals to me to keep alive the memory of those extraordinary times during WW2 and then the enormous social change that happened in the aftermath of war and beyond.
The idea of finding treasure in an unexpected place is so compelling, have you ever done that yourself, like Grace does at Cohen’s?
Yes, many times. I love rummaging through old second-hand shops and have found many interesting items. My most treasured find is an exquisitely, glamorous swing coat and whenever I wear it I wonder what kind of woman it belonged to in the 1950’s, what was her life like, her dreams and aspirations.
The depictions of Italy are wonderful, it feels like the perfect escape, why do you think Italy is such a good location?
Because Italy really does have it all. It’s such a beautiful country steeped in history with glorious weather and passionate people. The sense of timeless romance is appealing too, as is the sumptuous cuisine, breathtaking landscape and architecture.
A Postcard from Italy is going to be right at the top of people’s reading wishlist, but which of your books gets the most fan mail?
Oh, definitely Cupcakes at Carrington’s, my very first book and the start of the series set in Carrington’s Department store and then The Great Christmas Knit Off, the first of my books set in the fictional village of Tindledale. It’s always an honour to hear from readers, when they take the time to tell me how they loved being swept away into a different, but relatable word that often makes them laugh or cry and sometimes even helps them through a difficult period in their life.
How do you decide what to write about?
I really don’t know for sure. But thankfully, I always have a new story percolating away inside my head and the ideas come from all kinds of things – it could be hearing something on the news, reading an interesting article in a magazine or simply being nosey and earwigging other people’s conversations in a coffee shop. I’m a very nosey author. But the stories always start with a character, usually the main character and once I know their name I can spend months, sometimes years, thinking about them and wondering how their story will unfold on the page. Then, when I’m ready to start writing a new book my editor and I get together and brainstorm the storyline for the character and work out who she needs around her and it goes from there … a new book begins, which is always exciting.
A Postcard from Italy is the perfect holiday read, what do you think makes the perfect holiday, apart from a good book?
Spending time with loved ones. We all work so hard these days and so to have precious time away with family or friends to chat, laugh, explore new places or just relax contentedly in each other’s company always feels like such a lovely treat. Of course, delicious food and a jug of sangria on a balmy evening watching a glorious sunset sure helps make a holiday perfect too.
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
There are so many things, but the two I appreciate the most are making up stories for a living and chatting to my readers. I love hearing from readers and being part of the wonderful community on my Facebook page and in the Alex Brown Books Reader Club. I love seeing pictures of my readers’ pets, their current crafting projects or simply knowing what they are up to as I settle down to write for the day.
What are you going to be doing this summer?
Apart from keeping my fingers firmly crossed that everyone enjoys A Postcard from Italy, I’ll be writing a new book for next year and then going on holiday to Spain with my family. We go to the same villa every year and I love the anticipation of looking forward to having a wonderful time in the sunshine with my
husband and daughter.
About the Author
Alex Brown was born in Brighton, Sussex and ran away to London when she left school at sixteen, where she found the streets she lived on for a while weren’t paved with gold. After twenty years working in a variety of jobs as a live-in nanny, cinema usher, T-shirt printer, telephone operator, bank cashier and sat-nav voice recorder, Alex started writing and found she couldn’t stop.
In 2006 she won a competition to write the weekly City Girl column for the London Paper and her first novel, Cupcakes At Carrington’s, was published in 2013.
Now living on the Kent coast, with her husband, daughter, and two very glossy black Labradors, Alex is working on her eleventh book. When she isn’t writing, Alex enjoys knitting, watching Disney films with her daughter and going to Northern Soul nights, and is passionate about supporting charities working with care leavers, adoption and vulnerable young people.
Alex loves hearing from her readers, so please visit her website – www.alexbrownauthor.com or join her for chats on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alexandrabrownauthor, Twitter and Instagram @alexbrownbooks.
Discover more warm and witty novels by Alex Brown …
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Also by Alex Brown
Cupcakes at Carrington’s
Christmas at Carrington’s
Ice Creams at Carrington’s
The Great Christmas Knit Off
The Great Village Show
The Secret of Orchard Cottage
Short Stories
Me and Mr Carrington: A Short Story
Not Just for Christmas: A Short Story
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
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22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, ON, M5H 4E3, Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
http://www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London, SE1 9GF
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com