I made a Chocolate and Beetroot Cake this afternoon for family arriving this evening. I love the mix when the egg yolks meet the melted chocolate.
If only everywhere welcomed refugees as Glaswegians do.
Blooming roses….
Category Archives: baking
Cake Mix, Glasgow and Roses
Hedgehog, Cake and Open Studio
Last night we saw our Hedgehog! Some time ago I mentioned that we had spotted hedgehog droppings and so knew there was a Hedgehog around. One of my Dear Readers suggested feeding him and as a result of her comments, we found some Hedgehog Biscuits! Now we feed him each evening as we go to bed. Last night we were a bit late and he was waiting!
I baked a Coffee and Pecan Cake today – well, two in fact, a proper sized one to take to a friend this evening and a little one for us.
It was the Crowan Cluster Preview evening for Open Studios in Cornwall and we visited our friend, Nicky Stephenson, potter, who makes the most beautiful pots. The cake is for her visitors over the week.
Just one of Nicky’s displays
Sowing Seeds, Baking and Sea Glass
We’ve been busy in the garden today, planting small plants and sowing seeds.
Nasturtium seeds
I baked some Fruity Flapjacks for the lovely Mr S and Daughter No 1 who will be working on the boat for the next few days and will need lots of refuelling.
Fruity Flapjack
Regular readers will know that I like to incorporate sea glass into my glass pieces (Thank you, Judith!) I came across this poem which amused me – a lovely way to age.
On a fitting room door on Sanibel Island #SeaGlass
Croissants, Placards and The Climate Emergency
The LiveWires cooked their own breakfast this morning – chocolate croissants.
Milking the chocolate croissants
Golden and ready
Our young activists spent the morning making placards for the Climate Emergency School Strike in Truro today.
LiveWire No 2 preparing his placard
On the Demo!
Very proud of our two LiveWires!
Mural, New Recipe and A Poem
Each season the mural on one of my favourite shops, Just Delights, is changed. This winter one has been up for a while ……It shows the main street of Penryn.
by Elizabeth Perry
Our dear neighbour came in for dinner this evening, a late celebration of the lovely Mr S’s birthday. I invented a new cheesecake recipe which has gone down a treat!
Blueberry and Lime Cheesecake
And a poem for you, one that I like
The Weight of Sweetness – Li-Young Lee
No easy thing to bear, the weight of sweetness.
Song, wisdom, sadness, joy: sweetness
equals three of any of these gravities.See a peach bend
the branch and strain the stem until
it snaps.
Hold the peach, try the weight, sweetness
and death so round and snug
in your palm.
And, so, there is
the weight of memory:Windblown, a rain-soaked
bough shakes, showering
the man and the boy.
They shiver in delight,
and the father lifts from his son’s cheek
one green leaf
fallen like a kiss.The good boy hugs a bag of peaches
his father has entrusted
to him.
Now he follows
his father, who carries a bagful in each arm.
See the look on the boy’s face
as his father moves
faster and farther ahead, while his own steps
flag, and his arms grow weak, as he labors
under the weight
of peaches.
Malt Loaf, Feather and Evening Sky
I made a simple and healthy Malt Loaf today. We are enjoying it!
Malt Loaf
Sliced and buttered Malt Loaf
I spotted a feather hanging from the Clematis leaves and went out into the back garden to get a photograph.
Delicate feather
My walk took me down the lane to visit my lovely neighbour at her allotment this afternoon. She drew my attention to the beautiful evening sky behind me.
Early evening sky
For those of you who liked the sound of yesterday’s vegan supper, I have put the recipe on my Recipes – Savoury page. Here is the link https://mybeautfulthings.com/recipes-savoury/spinach-chickpea-and-lemon-pilaf/
Brining Solution, Sausage Rolls and Christmas Letter
Today I have made the beautiful brining solution for the turkey – oranges, onions, cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, cranberries, ginger, all spice, star anise, sugar and salt.
Brining solution
I made a start on other Christmas baking – this afternoon, the much requested sausage rolls.
Mini rolls
I love getting Christmas letters, be they an insert written on the computer or hand written within the card. This poem sums up the sentiment.
The Christmas Letter – John M. Morris
Wherever you are when you receive this letter
I write to say we are still ourselves
in the same place
and hope you are the same.The dead have died as you know
and will never get better,
and the children are boys and girls
of their several ages and names.So in closing I send you our love
and hope to hear from you soon.
There is never a time
like the present. It lasts forever
wherever you are. As ever I remain.
