Courgette and Carrot Bread

I love Linda Collister's bread book, it has so many lovely recipes I want to try. This afternoon I made her courgette and carrot bread for work. It will be a nice change from the bought bread we usually have!

A Delicious Dinner

Briar decided this afternoon that she was going to cook dinner. She came out with an apron on and got out her little cookbook and after much discussion she decided to make macaroni cheese. So apart from Mum and I helping a little she did it all. We used some artistic license with the recipe of course, I can see a great chef in the making.

Highest Aspirations

I reread a quote tonight that I absolutely love. It's by one of my favorite authors.

"There in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.

I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty,

believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

Louisa May Alcott.

I need to remember that aspirations are just that. Aspirations! It's so hard not to sometimes...especially when you don't ever seem to come close. So this was an encouragement tonight.

Raindrops on Windowpanes

Rain is so refreshing. After a summer of hot weather it's lovely to have cool rain once again. And it looks like it is going to continue for some days yet.

Things I Am Enjoying This Evening

This gorgeous cookbook that I spied in the 'just returned section' at the library today. It's written by a Parisian and it makes me long to go back to France more than ever.




An almost finished essay for my Suzuki Piano teacher training!


Soft candlelight on top of my desk.


It's been a grey and windy day today. Autumn is definitely on it's way!

"Super" Tiramisu

Two years ago I travelled to Switzerland with a Swiss friend of mine and her family. Early on in my time there we were staying in their cousin's gorgeous old farmhouse turned apartment. On this particular afternoon there were people coming for dinner. It was freezing cold and dark outside but inside it was cosy and warm and they decided to make Tiramisu for dessert with the intent of showing me how to make it the proper Italian way! It is such a wonderful memory, they were chatting away half the time in Swiss-German and mixing up a storm. Of course it was scrumptious. "Super" as they would say! I made it for the first time today. Yes I know, it's taken me a while.

Here is their recipe:
(I double it and so did they! )

Tiramisu

2 eggs -separated
50 grams sugar
Rind of one lemon
300 grams marscarpone
l tablespoon sugar-extra
200 mls strong coffee
3 tablespoons amaretto
150 grams savoiardi bicuits (Italian ladyfinger biscuits)

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and glossy.
Mix in the mascarpone and lemon rind and stir well.
In a separate bowl beat the eggwhites with a pinch of salt and extra sugar till stiff. Fold these into mascarpone mixture.
Dip savoiardi into cool coffee (into which amaretto has been added) on both sides and then layer with the mascarpone mixture into a dish, starting with the biscuits and finishing with the mascarpone. Place in fridge for at least 3 hours and serve chilled with a dusting of cocoa. Bellisimo!

(This can also be frozen, just thaw shortly before serving.)

Rosemary Beside a Red Wall

I looked out the window of my studio this afternoon while attempting (I wasn't succeeding) to practice a sonatina and what I saw was so pretty; rosemary and lemon verbena in the late summer sunshine with white butterflies fluttering about here and there. So I grabbed the camera and snapped away, distracted by beauty.