Would Poirot Wordle?

What’s the Wordle? Everyone, I have to tell you about my new obsession, Wordle. Have you heard of it? Have you played it yet? Every morning I sit down with my cup of coffee or tea and try to solve the Wordle of the day. It’s a puzzle game to solve the 5 letter word (it changes every day). You have 6 tries and with each attempt you’ll know what letters are in the word and what letters are not. From each attempt, you must try to sleuth the answer. It’s a regular Poirot Problem for the masses. The best part, there is only 1 puzzle a day so you can’t fall into the trap of wasting all your time playing a game. I’m currently on a 25 day streak and I must tell you the heartbreak that will occur once it goes behind the New York Times paywall will be complete devastation! But for now, I’ll enjoy my morning wordle over my cup of coffee. It’s my favorite 2-15 minutes of the day. And in case you’re wondering what my first guess usually is, it’s ‘ghost,’ because eventually I’ll be right and what a day that will be!

I have added two more books to my “Agatha Accomplished” list: “Poirot Investigates” and “The Secret at Chimneys.” As an avid, and I mean AVID Poirot series fan (I literally own a dvd of every single episode, and watch one every night to fall asleep) I know the Poirot stories very well, even those I haven’t read first hand. Reading the short stories that were the original bread and butter of the series felt like going home. I grew up watching the series with my dad, who is also an avid mystery fan, and whenever I watch, or in this case read, “The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb,” I remember being a child watching with my dad and thinking Poirot solved the curse of King Tut. Of course I know Men-Her-Ra was merely Agatha’s version of ripped from the headlines of the King Tut discovery and general hysteria of a curse. But, it remains one of my favorite short stories. 

I read the American version of “Poirot Investigates” which includes three more stories not in the original UK version published in 1923: “The Veiled Lady,” “The Lost Mine,” and “The Chocolate Box.” In each of the 14 stories, Poirot proves his “little grey cells” are up to the task, even as Hastings bumbles around, falling for auburn haired women. I love Arthur Hastings, and specifically love Hugh Fraser’s portrayal of him in the tv series. 

“The Secret of Chimneys” introduces the stolid and intelligent Superintendent Battle, a man of few words but deep thoughts. It follows Anthony Cade as he tries to do a favor for friend, James McGrath, and take a memoir of the late Count Stylptitch to a publisher for print, as well as return letters to a Virginia Revel that had been used to blackmail her. Anthony poses as McGrath, for the journey, and comes across various factions that want control of the memoir and inadvertently steal the blackmail letters by mistake. Anthony seeks out Mrs. Revel and comes embroiled in a murder coverup, a second murder, and a treasure hunt! It’s an excellent thrilling novel with twists, turns, and lots of people under assumed names. It’s a book similar in tone to “The Man in the Brown Suit,” but takes place primarily in the stately home of Chimneys. Who killed Prince Michael Obolovitch? Why was Guiseppe’s body in Virginia Revel’s home? Where is the Koh-i-Noor diamond hidden? Secret passages, secret identities, jewel thieves, and adventures abound!

And what did I snack on while solving the mysteries within? Lemon Poppyseed Scones!! It’s been very foggy and cool these past couple weeks, true PNW days with mist filled trees. (See my own Agatha happily snuggled and warm during these cold days, below.) After the chocolate and sweet of Christmas baking, I was excited for a bright lemon flavor and I wanted to eat a scone with my tea because nothing feels more classically British than a cuppa tea and a scone. 

I took Sally’s Baking Addiction Strawberry Lemon Poppyseed Scone recipe and put in a Tablespoon of lemon juice instead of strawberries. I topped them with powdered sugar and lemon juice glaze. We ate ALL of these, and we rarely eat all of anything here, it’s just the two of us after all. For the original recipe with strawberries, just visit this site.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for hands and work surface

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon zest

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons poppy seeds

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 unsalted butter, frozen

1/2 cup heavy cream plus more for brushing

1 large egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice 

Coarse Sugar for topping

Lemon Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon heavy cream

Instructions:

1. Whisk flour, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, poppy seeds, and salt together in a large bowl. Grate the frozen butter using a box grater. Add it to the flour mixture and combine with a pastry cutter until the mixture comes together in pea-sized crumbs. Place in refrigerator or freezer as you mix wet ingredients together.
2. Whisk 1/2 cup heavy cream, egg, vanilla extract, and lemon juice together in a small bowl. Drizzle over the flour mixture, then mix together until everything appears moistened.
3. Pour onto the counter and, with floured hands, work dough into a ball as best you can. Dough will be sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour. If it seems too dry, add 1-2 more Tablespoons heavy cream. Press into an 8 inch circle and cut into 8 wedges with a sharp knife or bench scraper.
4. Brush scones with remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
5. Place scones on a lined baking sheet and refrigerate at least 15 minutes.
6. Preheat over to 400 degrees F and arrange scones 2-3 inches apart on lined baking sheet..
7. Bake 20-24 minutes until golden brown around edges and lightly browned on top. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes and prepare the icing.
8. Make the icing: Whisk the icing ingredients together. Drizzle over warm scones.