Bilberries, blueberries, mountains and Lugh
Lughnasadh will be here soon and with it, traditionally, in Ireland at least, the first of the bilberries. In the spring when the birds return, communities would go out looking for eggs. At this time of the year, the search was for the first of these berries. Bilberries look and taste very much like the […]
Continue readingRosewater Honey Handcream
A little while back I created a post on the simple, non distillation method for making rosewater. The next question naturally is, ” what do I do with it?” There are always recipes like the Oranges in Cardamon & Rosewater Syrup and Mediterannean sweets like basboosa and baklava. Beyond cooking, rosewater is also used in […]
Continue readingIf you go down to the woods today….
July 10 is Teddy Bears Picnic Day! and “If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today you’d better go in disguise! For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain because today’s the day the Teddy Bears have […]
Continue readingMinis!
The best kitchen purchase I have made in the past few years was this 4 inch spring form pan. It is great for a couple of reasons. One, community includes people we are living on their own. People who do not have a need for a cake that serves ten but still enjoy the occasional […]
Continue readingHot! Frozen Hot Chocolate Pie
Chocolate Day is Tuesday, July 7th and unless you have an air conditioned kitchen at your disposal it is just too hot where I am to temper chocolate. So instead I was thinking along the lines of a cold pie and the idea of adding a little kick began to bubble. I am not a […]
Continue readingBlueberry Cinnamom Cheese Tarts
When I hear numbers like over 30% of our food ends up in the garbage I am concerned about what that says. What are our levels of respect for the food products we use and the energy it takes to grow, harvest, transport, process and deliver nutrition to our tables. ” In my kitchen filled […]
Continue readingCream of Wheat Pudding with fresh fruit
During the hot European summer months of old, women avoided sweltering kitchens by cooking early in the day and then shutting everything down before it got unbearable. This dish is for one of those ” I do not want to be cooking in the kitchen” days. I spent years cooking for young male boarders and […]
Continue readingWhat do I do with my herbs? Chopped in cooking and Pizzaish!
Having fresh growing herbs that are easy to reach is a bonus. Hiking out to the back 40 in the middle of preparing a meal is not going to happen regularly. You are more likely to use your herbs when they are easily reachable. Remembering to use them is the important part. They are full […]
Continue readingRose & Raspberry Profiteroles
Cream puffs, profiteroles, buns or “windbags” as they are known in Germany, are an alternative form of “pastry”, known as choux pastry. “Choux” is French for cabbage, which is what the individual cream puffs were said to look like once baked. The first record of this style of pastry dates back to the 13th century […]
Continue readingRosewater
With the abundance of roses this week, rosewater seemed like another wonderful way to keep the memories alive as the months move on. Gather rose petals. They can be a variety of colours but the petals are best when they are herbicide/pesticide free and intoxicatingly aromatic. Gently and thankfully separate the petals and place on […]
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