Welsh Leek and Potato Soup

     Hello, viewers.


     I haven't blogged for quite a long time.  Life has been...interesting.  But enough of that; here is a delicious soup recipe for you. 

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons butter
• 3 or 4 leeks, sliced
• 1 2/3 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped (if you're using red potatoes, which I recommend, peeling is optional)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup cream
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• salt and pepper to taste (I opted to leave out the salt)
• 3 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, or soup pot.  Add the potatoes, leeks and onion, and cook until the onions are transparent.  Add the stock and simmer gently until the potatoes are tender.  Blend the vegetables with the stock (if you prefer a thicker consistency, remove some of the stock before blending).  Stir in the cream and seasonings.  Garnish with parsley before serving.


Tip: Besides the parsley, I added a bit of chopped bacon, and some shredded cheese.

Easy Tiramisu

     Good evening, viewers

      I would like to inform you all in advance, that the recipe I am about to present to you does not follow the classic, time-honoured instructions established for the preparation of tiramisu, so, for any baking-traditionalists who may be reading this, I offer most humble apologies.

     This make-shift tiramisu was actually engendered by a cake gone awry.  My mum and I are preparing to make a fancy cake for a friend of ours, and we were experimenting with different sizes of cake pans.  One of the pans was too deep, and thus, the cake perforce cooked more slowly than it should have, and came out a bit brown about the edges.  We pondered for a moment as to what we should do with this tall, dark and crusty cake, and then the answer came to us: Make tiramisu.

• a prepared white cake (cook a bit longer than directed, or do as we did and bake it in a deep baking pan, until golden-brown)
• a 5 oz. box of vanilla instant pudding
• an 8 oz. container of mascarpone
• a few Tbs. of brandy
• a few Tbs. of brewed espresso
• a cup of whipped topping
• unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Begin by slicing the cake into 1/2" pieces.  In a medium bowl, prepare the pudding mix as directed for pie.  Once the pudding has thickened, whisk in the mascarpone until smooth.
Arrange a layer of the cake pieces in a trifle dish, or deep glass baking pan.  Using a small spoon, drizzle desired amounts of brandy and espresso over the cake layer (drizzle lightly, or the cake will become quite soggy).  Spread 1/3 of the pudding admixture over the cake, add another layer of cake, and twice-repeat the afore-mentioned process.  Spread the whipped topping over the assembled tiramisu, and use a flour sifter to administer the cocoa powder.  Let chill 1-2 hours.

    So, there you have it; a dessert with all the decadent richness of traditional tiramisu, and preparing it is but a trifle (pun intended).

Day-Trip to Montgomery Creek

     Good evening, viewers.

     Yesterday, I went on an outing with my mum, and my friends Lissa and Marlow.  Lissa told us of an apple orchard in Montgomery Creek, which she used to frequent with her family, and she invited us to take a drive with her to visit it once more.

     It was unseasonably warm yesterday; between 80 and 90 degrees F. and not a cloud to be seen.  Very pleasant weather for our drive.

     Before we left town, we got coffee from my favourite café, and then stopped at World Market.  Whilst Mum and Lissa looked at some pretty cabinet knobs, Marlow and I tried on hats.  Fun fact: Solemn wood nymphs love hats almost as much as they love shoes.  When Mum and Lissa were finished, Marlow and I bought a couple of Ramune (a Japanese carbonated beverage).

     We then stopped at a tea house to pick up a box of white rose tea I had ordered, and bought some sandwiches to eat on the way.

     The drive was lovely.  As the elevation increased, the autumn colours grew in intensity.  The foliage seemed a series of watercolour landscapes, blending lemon yellow, cardinal red, and burnt orange with the remaining verdant tints left over from summer.

     About forty-five minutes later, we reached our destination.  The orchard itself was a lovely place, with a pretty white farm house nestled behind apple trees and spruce groves, with a fine view of the mountains.

 

     When we stepped out of the car, we were first greeted by a fluffy calico cat (the true owner of the place, I suspect), whose name, I later learnt, was Sassy.  She was a dear, sociable little thing, and Marlow and I remained several minutes in the drive, paying our respects.

 

 

     It was not the sort of orchard at which the customers pick for themselves; the apples were stored and sold in the little white bard next to the farm house, separated by variety in wooden crates.  Quite a wide variety there was.  Mum selected some little dark ones called Arkansas Blacks, green speckled ones called Ozarks, big pink ones called Wine Saps, and little pink and yellow ones called Pink Ladies.

 

     After the purchase was made, we went out and took some photos together.  Here are a couple of them.

 

 

     On the way to the orchard, I had seen a large sign reading "Gift Shop and Local Honey" so on the way back, we stopped there.  What we saw, however, was a small, out-of-the-way house, across from several locked storage sheds fashioned after old-time buildings (post office, mercantile, black smith, etc...).  It all looked rather deserted, and at that point we rather doubted the existence of the advertised gift shop, but Lissa and I decided to walk over to the little house and see if the confusion could be explained away.

 

     Our knock was answered by a darling-looking elderly man and his two dogs.  When we asked about the sign, he explained that the place had been previously owned by a different elderly man who had passed away, and left the buildings, and his very large supply of antiques in his care, and he simply had not been able to remove the sign yet.

 

     He had no objection to our looking things over, however, and kindly unlocked all of the little buildings for us to examine their contents at leisure.

 

     We saw some fascinating things; old Avon perfume bottles and china, antique framed pictures, and the like.  One of the sheds was full of old books, among which I spotted a German dictionary marked for seventy-five cents.  I knew that it would interest Marlow, so I brought it out to show her,  and the man kindly let her have it for free.

 

     And then we went home.  It was quite a lovely day.   We all agreed that we must take such another excursion together before long.

 

     After Marlow settled into my room, we drank our Ramunes.  Since there was no postcard, or anything of the sort to be purchased for my year board, Marlow suggested that I cut off the label fronts from our ramune bottles, and use those for the day's remembrance. 

 

 

 

     Good night, or gute nacht, as Marlow might say.

 



 

A Couple of Oatmeal Recipes

     Good morning, viewers.

     Now that cooler weather is setting in, my thoughts naturally turn to the colours, and scents, and tastes of autumn. 

     When I remember things I used to associate with autumn as a child, I instantly think of the oatmeal my mum used to make for me.  I made it for myself for the first time the other day.  I enjoyed it quite as much as I used to, and shall now share this simple recipe with you, that you may enjoy it as well.

     Spiced Apple and Nut Oatmeal

 

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons molasses (more or less, according to taste)
• Pinch of salt
• Spices to taste (i.e. cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, pumpkin pie spice, etc...)
• 1 or 2 peeled, chopped apples
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I prefer walnuts)
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

       Add water, salt, molasses, and spices to a medium saucepan, and bring to boil.  Add oats, nuts, and dried fruit (if desired), and cook according to package directions (cooking times vary according to variety of oatmeal).  Serve with butter or cream.  Sugar may be added, if desired.  Personally, the molasses is sweet enough for me.

 

 

 

     Now here is a porridge recipe that I tried for the first time this morning.  I found it in a Jane Austen cookbook online.

 

English Breakfast Oatmeal

 

• 4 cups water
• 4 English Breakfast tea bags (other teas such as Earl Grey or Chai may be used if desired)
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 to 4 TBS sugar or honey (more or less, according to taste
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup cream

      In a medium saucepan, bring water to almost a boil.  Add tea bags, remove from heat, and let steep for a few minutes.  Remove the tea bags, add the salt and sugar, and bring the mixture to a boil.  Cook the oats as directed.  Stir in cream before serving.

 

 

     The taste of tea gave a subtle, interesting hint of flavour.  According to my preference, I'd use a bit more tea, and a bit less sugar.  I used a tea cup-shaped soup mug for my own amusement.

 

     Well, I hope you enjoy these recipes, viewers.  Inasmuch as it's cooking/baking season, I'm sure I'll soon be posting several others.





Austenland

     Good morrow, viewers.

     I shall now discuss the film Austenland based on the novel by Shannon Hale.

     Initially, when I heard about this book/film, I was prepared for some sort of rubbish along the lines of Lost in Austen (I vehemently dislike that miniseries).

     I am exceedingly fond of the works of Jane Austen, though not in a fan-girl, squeals-during-the-Darcy-in-a-wet-shirt-scene sort of way.  I appreciate the romance of her stories, but, more than that, I love the satiric wit, clever conversation, and beautiful words of a time before the English language became a sad wreckage of incomprehensible slang and poor grammar.

     My friend Marlow and I decided to go see it at the cinema, if for no other reason than to laugh at it.  Thus, last Friday, Marlow, Daisy and I went to the local theatre, and, whilst we did laugh at it, it was from genuine amusement.  We were quite agreeably surprised to find that we actually enjoyed it.

       Keri Russell was amusing as the overly-Austen-obsessed woman who comes to find that living ones own life is perhaps better than living vicariously through a novel, and J.J. Field played his role as leading male very well, though I had rather a hard time disassociating him from his role as Henry Tilney in BBC's Northanger Abbey. 

     It was a trifle silly, and there were a few scenes that seemed a bit inappropriate, and would have been better left out, but aside from that, it was a cute movie.  Perfectly adequate for passing an afternoon with friends, and amusing for one who is prodigiously fond of Pride and Prejudice.

   

    

    

Day-Trip to Dunsmuir

     Hello again, viewers.

     Today, I shall share with you the day-trip to Dunsmuir, CA. I took with my family a few weeks ago.

     Dunsmuir is another tiny town we've driven through many a time, yet never stopped to explore.  And, inasmuch as this seems to be a summer of new experiences, we decided to go ahead and have a look.

     The town has a sort of "arts" section, which we mainly focused on.  Unfortunately, most of the art galleries were being renovated, and were therefore closed.  There were, however, several diverting little antique shops, and at least one open art gallery in which we amused ourselves.

     At the first one, an amazing little shop of old-fashioned curiosities called "The Brown Trout," I found a beautiful, scarcely worn, vintage-style dress in my size, and on sale for only $5, due to a tiny little tear above the zipper, hardly visible, and very easy to mend. 

     It's a rich chocolate brown rayon, with bishop sleeves, silk neckline, hem and long cuffs, and these said cuffs held together with several buttons.

     There were also the most beautiful pair of vintage grey suede pumps, also in my size, which I wanted terribly.  Unfortunately, they bore no tiny defect to reduce the price, and were therefore out of my price range.  Such a pity...  (fun fact:  Solemn Wood Nymphs love shoes).

     At another antique shop, this one privately owned by an elderly music-lover, my mumzie and I got my brother Ace's girl Lina a hand-painted sunflower tunic and a little antique sunflower-bead pendant, while the shop owner cornered Ace and kept up a steady stream of music-related conversation, after learning that he has musical talent.

     After we'd done enough shop-hopping, we returned to our car and drove a very little ways to Hedge Creek Falls, which, incidentally, is the waterfall I visited earlier this summer (see post "Anwen's Hen Weekend").

 

     Does not Lina look fetching amongst the falls?  Quite like a pretty water nymph.

 

     After we'd picnicked, we lazed about with our feet in the water, collecting pretty little stones, and such.

 

     At some point, Ace found a little water-dog.  After a bit of a chase, he finally caught it, and the little thing quickly seemed to grow used to him, and didn't struggle a bit as he examined it, showed it to us at all angles, put it in and out of the water, and passed it to me to hold for a moment.

 

     After Ace had let it go, and went off exploring with Lina, it continued to swim around our feet, and several times let me reach into the water and pet it.  I thought it a cute little creature.  It reminded me of a mix between a puppy, a seal, and a salamander.

 

 

 

     After passing a few hours at the Falls, I inevitably grew very tired, and a trifle over-heated, and, as it required a bit of trecking uphill to get back to the car, my mum and I headed back up first.  I was in quite a state when we at last reached the car.  My grandma handed me a beach towel which she had dampened with the cool spring water, and my mum wrapped it around my neck like a scarf.  I felt like Ford Prefect from Hitchhiker's Guide, sporting my towel.  "Always know where your towel is," right?

 

     As we were preparing to head home, I realized that I had not purchased postcards, and as I did not with to eschew this little tradition of mine, I requested that we stop at one more shop before leaving town.  At that point, most of the shops were shut, but there was a little gift shop still open, so Ace, Lina and I took a few minutes to examine it. 

 

     I got a postcard for my year-board, and one each for Marlow and Daisy, along with a pair of pretty little glass earrings, blue for Marlow, pink for Daisy.  For Ace, I got a little hand-made bit of pottery he took a fancy to. 

 

     Then, we returned home.  I enjoyed the day.  It was nice to sit leisurely at the Falls, and I always enjoy shop-hopping in tiny towns.

 

     More to come, viewers.  Until then, fare-thee-well.

 

    

Day-Trip to the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farm

     Good morrow, viewers. 
    
     Life has been very...life-like lately; thus, as usual, I'm dreadfully behind on my blogging (among other things).

     Inasmuch as I have the entire day free, I thought I'd backtrack a bit, and show you some of what I've been doing this summer.

     Last month, my mum, my grandma, my brother Ace, his girlfriend Lina, and I went to the Shasta Lavender Farm.  We went last year, and quite loved it.  Since Lina is with us this summer, we were pleased to go again and share it with her.

     It's easy to miss the road and get turned around up there, and we forgot to bring the map, so we...took the scenic route, if you will.  We didn't mind, however; it was a pleasant drive.

     When you do come upon the correct road, you turn again onto an even more unlikely looking road, from which all you can see are rocks and sagebrush.  The first time we went, we thought there surely must be some mistake.  After some patience and perseverance, when you reach the top of the hill, a breath-taking view awaits you.

     A picturesque Italian-style summer house rests quaintly before far-reaching fields of purple-blue lavender, stretching toward Mt. Shasta, which appears nearly close enough to touch.  Down the hill, past verdant fields, and blue mountain haze, appears the slightest shimmery glimpse of Lake Shastina.

    We began by browsing the gift shop, which is quite lovely itself.  Ace and Lina got a bottle of lavender oil and a lavender plant, and I bought them a Shasta Lavender Farm poster.  My mum bought some lavender cookies for us, and bought me a tea-infuser.  I bought some lavender madeleines, and some Shasta Lavender Farm postcards for my friends, and one for my year board.

    After we'd finished shopping, my mum paid for us to take a basket and go out into the fields to cut bouquets of lavender.  It was supposed to be a certain fee to cut a hundred sprigs, but they apparently don't literally mean a hundred, and encourage a lot of lavender-cutting.  So, Ace, Lina and I went out and meandered lackadaisically in the fields, comparing varieties of lavender, slowly filling our baskets, and pausing now and then to take photographs, and enjoy the general splendor.  It wasn't unbearably hot, but it was rather warm, and I finally had a chance to use my parasol.

     After we returned with our fragrant spoils, we settled down at a table in the shade, and had a late picnic-lunch. 

     And then, as the farm's visiting hours end rather early in the evening, it was time to leave shortly after we ate. 

     On the way home, I asked to stop in the tiny town of Weed (odd name for a town, quoi?).  We'd passed it ever so many times in past years on our way in and out of town, but had never stopped there, so I asked if we could take a look.

     We first went into a tiny little art gallery run by a very friendly man.  Apparently his wife contributed much of the gallery's art.

     There were some lovely wood sculptures, which Ace particularly enjoyed, as wood-carving is his forte. 

 

     Then, we went the town's tiny museum.  There was much to look at, and the fellow working there was most obliging, and let us touch things, and try things on, and sit in the refabricated stagecoach, and such.  Lina and I each bought a "Weed" souvenir button from the museum's gift shop. 

 

 

 

     We ended our tour of the town at a souvenir shop.  Ace and Lina bought a souvenir mug, and my mum and I each got an abalone necklace.  Mum's is shaped like a heart, and mine is shaped like Saturn, which, incidentally is my favourite planet (besides Earth, of course).  It reminds me of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  Now I just need a towel to go with it~  Kudos to those of you
who understand the reference.

     Thus concluded our day-trip.  It was a very pleasant day; I think we all enjoyed it.