Thursday 6 October 2016

pink and gold




Summer has just scuttled away from me like a naughty little rabbit and autumn is here, all pink and gold. We spent the equinox in London meeting Hannah and a friend, listening to lovely Icelandic Bjork lament in her gentle way, like some kind of delicate, transparent insect. As she left the stage, the audience stamped their feet and called for more. She came back to serenade us, then again to thank us all. An awesome way to put the season to bed on a balmy London evening. 

As we left the city and headed for the countryside the thermometer on the dashboard crept down. I woke next day to pink skies and golden bales of hay turning the corner, and reminded myself that holidays are over, and that I must knuckle down and do some work.

...but first just an itsy-witsy little bit of making and baking....

In the kitchen:

  • The easiest non-dairy, vegan substitute for cream Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's recipe for cashew cream, the sweet version with a little vanilla extract and maple syrup. I could eat mountains of it. 
  • Rustic spelt, date and walnut individual pies to serve trickled with a smidgen of maple syrup and cashew cream. 
  • Baby carrots with carrot top pesto
  • Fresh fruit. An excuse for more cashew cream. 
  • Making a batch of golden turmeric paste.
  • Lovely French onion soup, also golden.
  • Puy lentil and vegetable, farmer's pie with a grainy mustard mash topping
  • Tomato and aubergine risotto with broccoli and cauliflower 
Elsewhere:
  • Working on the pattern for my fair isle hot water bottle covers made with vintage yarn...
dx

8 comments:

  1. Happy Autumn to you Debbie! I'm so glad you are back. I missed your magical blog! Love, love, love the hot water bottle covers!

    Hugs
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Jane, I'm sorry to just catch up. The plan was to publish the hot water bottle cover pattern in time for the holidays. But I didn't manage to. Maybe next year? I hope that the new year is being good to you and your family. Take care.
      debx

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  2. I agree, so glad you are back! lovely photos and you've been busy in the kitchen and on your needles :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen, I hadn't intended to be away for so long. Things just took over. I'm so glad to be back.
      dx

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  3. I LOVE those fair isle hot water bottle covers--so beautiful and useful and comfortable looking. And, I've always loved your kitchen and the delicious things you whip up. Your new kitchen is no different. I am looking forward to more glimpses of your new place.

    Deb, I have a new blog at: https://birdandstring.blogspot.com
    I had to set my profile to private over the summer and move to a new spot on the web.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for all your lovely comments Susan. Hopefully I will eventually publish the pattern. It's all written out, just wants testing. Maybe it will be ready for next winter.
      Take care, debx

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  4. Hello Debby
    I like to see your pots on the fire again.
    Your garden looks very nice and hot water bottle covers are beautiful.
    Good weekend
















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    Replies
    1. Thank You Montse for your kind comments as always. I'm looking forward to catching up with your blog again too.
      Happy days,
      debx

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