… even if I say so myself. Image and loaf, Su Leslie 2022.
Six Word Saturday, hosted by Debbie at Travel with Intent
In contemplation of really good bread
Food
Yes, it’s been a while
Whimsical? Doesn’t really make sense? But then, neither does life. Image: Su Leslie 2022
Well the blogging mojo that started deserting me in the middle of last year hasn’t returned, but I’ve had so many people reaching out with inquiries after my health and general good wishes, I’m feeling slightly ashamed of my long absence from ZimmerBitch.
The course of chemotherapy that I was prescribed post-surgery for ovarian cancer is completed. A CT scan showed the chemo had managed to shrink a residual tumor (and presumably kill off a few of the microscopic cancer cells that remained) The cancer is still present, and will grow and spread — we just don’t know how fast. I’m due to see the oncologist in a couple of weeks, so I may have a better picture after that.
In the meantime, I’m feeling quite well and am trying to just get on with life. Covid — and the emergence of arthritis in my right knee (I now have a matching set) — have put limits on my activities a bit, but I’ve still visited a few art exhibitions, taken a solo trip to Wellington, and enjoyed a couple of long weekends away with the Big T. My garden remains a source of incredible joy (not to mention quite a lot of food), and I’m having fun figuring out new ways to cook our harvest.
Latest discovery; kohlrabi works really well roasted alongside squash and carrots then turned into a soup. No photos I’m afraid; I was too busy enjoying it.
This is about the most creative I’ve been photographically — portraits of my garden produce.
Portraits of the harvest. Images: Su Leslie 2022
Thank you everyone who has got in touch; I really do appreciate your kind thoughts and concern.
Last shot on the card, April 2021
Brian at Bushboy’s World had the fun idea of posting our last photo of each month, without editing or explanation.
The rules are simple:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card and/or last photo on your phone for the 30th November.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to Brian’s post or link in the comments
5. Tag “The Last Photo”
Virtual Afternoon Tea, April 2021
Image: Su Leslie 2021
Wherever you are, and whatever is happening in your world, Kia ora koutou katoa (Greetings. Hello to you all)
I’m on the road this month; a visit with my Dad, an eco dye-making workshop, and a chance to catch up with a few friends.
It’s a trip that’s taking me through some favourite landscapes …
Mt. Ruapehu, from the Desert Road. Image: Su Leslie 2021
… and to a much-loved cafe.
Almond croissant and a flat white, Creel Lodge Cafe, Turangi. Image: Su Leslie 2021
I first stayed at the Creel Lodge in Turangi almost a decade ago, and return when I can. The lodge backs onto the Tongariro River and offers fishing gear and instruction — which I’ve yet to take them up on.
Delicious. Image: Su Leslie 2021
I do visit the on-site cafe though — even (especially) when I’m not staying in the Lodge. The coffee is consistently excellent, and the almond croissants are flaky, almond-y perfection.
Whanganui River at Aramoho, Whanganui. Image: Su Leslie 2021
It’s now late afternoon in Whanganui. Despite Met Service forecasts of heavy rain, it’s been a glorious autumnal day.
Not quite warm enough for a dip in my hosts’ pool, but perfect weather for a glass of wine, a few figs and some of my favourite Kikorangi blue cheese.
Image: Su Leslie 2021
Care to join me?
About Virtual Afternoon Tea
In these Covid-crazy times, we’re missing not only the big things, but a also the small joys and rituals of sharing a cuppa with friends. Virtual Afternoon Tea will never replace that, but it is a chance for bloggers around the world to connect over the simple sharing of food.
I post some images of my afternoon tea, along with musings on whatever’s on my mind.
You can tell me about your afternoon tea in the comments, or add a post of your own. Take a shot of your cuppa, tell us about your favourite tea-time snack — maybe even share a recipe.
Tag your post Virtual Afternoon Tea and link it to this one so others can find it.
I’ll update my post with a ping-back to everyone else’s in the same way as I do with The Changing Seasons.
#virtualteaparty2021 for anyone on Instagram who wants to post images (or video?)
Update
Aggie at Nomad is moving house, and probably really needs a few cups of tea to keep her going.
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind is enjoying her cuppa with toast and homemade fig marmalade. Pop over to enjoy the gorgeous colours of a Canberra autumn.
If you love cheese, pop over to visit Irene at My Slice of Mexico for a delicious-looking recipe for baked cheese with oregano.
Join Deb at The Widow Badass for banana oatmeal muffins and some hilarious chat on her snazzy balcony.
Ladylee Manila is enjoying a cuppa and some fresh fruit while she’s working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Once again Ju-Lyn has baked something delicious and shared the recipe. Pop over to Touring my Backyard to check out her cinnamon streusel cake.
Monday macro
Scarlet runner beans. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Last shot on the card, March 2021
Brian at Bushboy’s World had the fun idea of posting our last photo of each month, without editing or explanation.
The rules are simple:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card and/or last photo on your phone for the 30th November.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to Brian’s post or link in the comments
5. Tag “The Last Photo”
The colour green
Fern frond. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Green is the colour of the month at Jude’s Life in Colour photo challenge.
It’s a colour heavily encumbered with association; denoting renewal, nature, harmony, freshness, and the environment — while at the same time being associated with money, greed and jealousy.
Seen from space, New Zealand looks like a series of small jade islands in the vast Pacific. It would be easy to fill a post with the landscapes and flora familiar to me, but instead I’ve sought green in other realms of life.
Food for example (unexpected I know!)
Eat your greens. Image: Su Leslie
Feijoas. Image: Su Leslie
Making tarragon vinegar. Image: Su Leslie
Mint slice al fresco. Image: Su Leslie
And of course art …
Glass chandelier. Image: Su Leslie
Art class. Image: Su Leslie
Light sculpture. Image: Su Leslie
Taking it outside. Fence at artist’s studio. Image: Su Leslie
And life’s small treasures
Vintage water glasses. Image: Su Leslie
A kiwi classic, Fun Ho! toy truck. Image: Su Leslie
The intersection of art and nature. Image: Su Leslie
Morning walk. Image: Su Leslie
If you’d like to join in, pop over to Travel Words and read Jude’s introduction.
Virtual Afternoon Tea, March 2021
Cup of tea and a slice of cake? Image: Su Leslie 2021
Wherever you are, and whatever is happening in your world, Kia ora koutou katoa (Greetings. Hello to you all)
After our recent see-sawing in and out of lock-down I’ve been feeling the need for a wee celebration cake. And in our household, that means banana cake with (lashings of) coffee buttercream.
Banana cake with coffee buttercream icing. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Do you have a go-to cake (or other sweet treat) that’s your family favourite? What is the story behind it? How does a particular cake cake come to take on the mantle of “celebration”?
In my case, I have my late mother in law, Joy, to thank. My mother didn’t bake banana cake, so my early memories of it are from cake stalls and “ladies a plate” events (see below).
Joy made banana cake for the Big T’s birthdays, and then later for mine. They were unfailingly moist and tasty, had a generous, but not overwhelming, application of coffee-flavoured buttercream, and were often decorated with walnut halves.
First attempt at candied walnuts to top the cake. Image: Su Leslie 2021
For me this is the perfect banana cake, and I’ve never understood why other people’s versions seemed to be coated with anemic and thoroughly unappetizing chocolate icing.
Until last week.
I always bake banana cake from the recipe in the Edmonds Cookery Book — something of a cooking bible in NZ. What I had never noticed before is the last line of the recipe — “When cold ice with Lemon or Chocolate Icing or dust with icing sugar.”
Well, as you can imagine that got me thinking (and quizzing T) about his mother’s coffee buttercream, and about the history of banana cake generally.
Is banana cake a “thing” where you live? If so, what sort of cake is it. Is it iced? Coffee buttercream???
Sorry to bombard you with questions; I really want to know.
My banana cake is basically a butter cake with mashed bananas folded into the mixture. Practically all banana cake recipes in New Zealand are variations on this, and have been for many years. However, one local recipe — from (the delightfully named) Bush Advocate in 1906 — included currents and coconut, while one published in Britain’s Daily Mail published a recipe in 1928, was more of a sponge. In several early recipes from both Australia and New Zealand the banana component is basically sliced banana between layers of cake.
What’s really amazed me about this is a) how old some of the recipes are (1891 in both New Zealand and Australia); and b) how often NZ newspapers printed recipes for banana cake: 136 times between 1891 and 1950, which is the last year for which newspapers are available online through Papers Past.
Image: Su Leslie 2021
But enough of my Musa musings. Pull up a chair, grab a plate and help yourself to some cake.
Tell me what you’ve been up to? What’s happening in your world? Your comments make blogging so much more interesting.
And if you’d like to contribute a post of your own — even better. Maybe a shot of your cuppa and/or whatever you’re having with it. A recipe if you like.
I’ll update each of my posts with a ping-back to everyone’s in the same way as I do with The Changing Seasons.
#virtualteaparty2021 for anyone on Instagram who wants to post images (or video?)
The term “ladies a plate” was ubiquitous in New Zealand when I was growing up, and referred to the convention that catering for social gatherings involved all of the women bringing food. As a new immigrant to this country, my mother suffered the embarrassment of arriving at her first such gathering carrying — literally — a plate, having assumed that the hosts must be short of crockery.
Update
My lovely co-host Del from CurlsNSkirls has baked soda bread, in honour of St Patrick’s Day. You can find her recipe here.
Pop over to see Margaret at Pyrenees to Pennines for a slice of lemon drizzle cake and a cashew nut butter cookie.
Irene at My Slice of Mexico has baked banana bread and shared her recipe. Please check it out.
Have some chicken pasta salad with Ladyleemanila.
Carrot cake is particularly popular, and Ju-Lyn from Touring My Backyard has not only made one (and posted the recipe), but shares a new perspective on what “carrot cake” means in Singapore.
Deb at The Widow Badass has made some fabulous blueberry lemon oatmeal muffins (with recipe).
Save the date: Thursday 18th March
Yep, it’s coming up to that time again. Del (Curls n Skirls) and I are hosting another virtual tea party next week.
Although I bake a lot, I seldom make cakes— birthdays and Christmas being the main exceptions. But having just baked our family’s old favourite, the sociologist/historian in me got thinking about how recipes evolve, and the ebb and flow of their popularity. Naturally, I’ve now wasted spent far too much time reading old recipe books and newspapers.
Curious? I’ll tell you all about it next week (and share a slice or two of cake with you).
We hope you’ll be able to join us. I’ll kick off at 3pm next Thursday (Kiwi Time = GMT+13), and Del’s post will be up a bit later.
Wordless Wednesday
Image: Su Leslie 2021
Zimmerbitch 