Writer, interior designer, and former model India Hicks has several ties to royalty. As a descendant of the Mountbatten family and goddaughter to Prince Charles, she was even one of Princess Diana's bridesmaids.
Now, Hicks lives somewhat apart from the British monarchy, residing in the Bahamas with her family. But she's still royally good at entertaining. In her new book, An Entertaining Story, Hicks offers her take on celebrating at home, from charming table settings to recipes, paired with personal anecdotes about Hicks's unusual life and upbringing. Below, find an excerpt from the book about breakfast in bed, and a porridge recipe that's just perfect for fall.
Every morning, a breakfast tray is brought into my mother’s room. It’s a proper tray with legs, so it stands correctly. The breakfast itself will have been decided the night before, and it can range from a boiled egg to fish cakes to half a grapefruit. There is always toast regardless, with the crusts cut off and placed in the toast rack. There is a tiny china dish that holds the honey and the butter; the dish is divided because you would not want your honey running into the butter. My mother has always been impeccably dressed, and breakfast is no exception. Without fail, she will wear a bed jacket, and there is a selection of them: lighter for summer, warmer for winter. My mother reminds us all that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And she is a professional.
Sometimes I am invited to give a talk at a design show. I usually include a picture of my mother’s breakfast tray. It’s always very popular. I talk a little about her upbringing and the extraordinary homes she spent her childhood in. I once also told the story of my grandmother, who left my mother and aunt in Hungary, thinking they would be safe with their nanny and governess as she went on her merry way exploring Europe. But then she discovered that she could not remember where she had left the children, and it took her six months to retrace her footsteps and find them. Two young mothers in the front row of that talk had their mouths wide open as they listened. Afterward, they came up to me. “Oh no,” I said. “Were you very shocked by that?” “Not at all,” they replied. “We were trying to work out where we could drop off our children for six months.”
I will often sit beside my mother on her bed whilst she has breakfast and we chat. She has an encyclopedic mind and is fascinating as a result. When my business was up and running, I would join conference calls with the office in L.A. from my mother’s bed. It was nighttime in L.A. and breakfast time in Oxfordshire. I once jumped on a video link to join the CEO and several lawyers. Just as we were starting this important call, my mother appeared in her nightie from the bathroom. “Have you borrowed my hairbrush?” she asked. I desperately tried to find the mute button on my computer as she continued, “You really are an annoying child.”
India's Porridge Recipe
Serves 1
Ingredients
1/2 cup (50 g) rolled porridge oats
1 1/2 cups (350 ml) milk
Salt
Toppings
Directions
1. Put the oats, milk, and a pinch of salt into a heavy bottomed saucepan.
2. Stir with a wooden spoon.
3. Bring to a steady simmer for about 5–6 mins. Stir it as often as you can. This will help to stop it from burning and also give you smooth, creamy porridge.
4. If you like a runnier porridge add a bit more liquid.
5. Put into a bowl and add your favorite topping.
An Entertaining Story is available wherever books are sold.
