one down

Until now, I've been passionately devoted to The New York Times crossword. It's been a non-negotiable part of my morning routine.

When David Sedaris noted he was spending a fortune on the International Herald-Tribune (the global edition of The New York Times) just to get his daily crossword fix in Paris, I completely understood.

But while I was home in America, a new series of crossword books from The New York Sun caught my eye. And I think it's easy to see why:

These aren't foodie puzzles--just ordinary crosswords--but I'm actually (and I know this is sacrilege) enjoying them even more than their NYT counterparts.

They progress in the same way through the week: from super easy Mondays to virtually impossible Fridays. I stick with Tuesday through Thursday...

but maybe someday I'll reach the Holy Grail of Friday...

particularly if a chocolate bread pudding comes as part of the deal!

gorgeous gooseberry

I was hoping for blue skies for my Gooseberry Ice Cream photo shoot, but we seem to be having nothing but gray lately. Then again, this fantastically tart ice cream could liven up even the grayest day:

This year, I used the recipe from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's The River Cottage Year, which I definitely prefer to the recipe I used last year. It was a bit more work, but completely worth it. The most difficult part was actually picking the gooseberries: those thorns are vicious!

We had quite a big crop this year, so I've also frozen two kilos for later use. After a few hours in the freezer, the gooseberries roll around like big green marbles. Fabulous fun...or perhaps I'm just too easily entertained!

valentine's day

My favorite cheeky chef, Valentine Warner, is back on BBC Two with another series of What to Eat Now:

I've been eagerly awaiting his return for months now. He's simply scrumptious, even if I'm not so keen on grilled lamb's liver...

flower power

Finally, a recipe from Waitrose Food Illustrated to get excited about: Elderflower Cakes with Whipped Mascarpone Icing.

The cakes were lovely: light and airy with just the right amount of elderflower flavor. And the whipped mascarpone and elderflower icing was divine.

The recipe only makes eight, but it seems you could increase the quantities to make a dozen. There was definitely more than enough icing. Then again, the icing was so good, it was quite tempting to eat spoonfuls right from the bowl!

The cakes made their debut at the Allotment Social Committee meeting last night. Hence the slightly rumpled appearance: they were so yummy, I just had to bring one back for a photo...

silky skeins

Debbie Bliss' Pure Silk is splendiferous...

and even more so when it's in the John Lewis Clearance!

daylesford day

Last Friday, we drove to Gloucestershire for a gardening course at Daylesford Organic's new Farm School.

The Daylesford Foundation has just launched a series of courses in cooperation with the Soil Association, covering everything from organic gardening to beekeeping to setting up and managing a full-on smallholding.

The Daylesford Farmshop and Cafe were just as beautiful as you'd expect:

But it wasn't all aesthetics: the course was fantastic. As there were only three of us that day, market gardener Jez Taylor (on the right, with G) tailored the course to our personal requirements. We told him about our allotment, and he provided us with detailed, practical advice and strategies. And his enthusiasm was simply contagious!

The day was cold and wet: an unwelcome break in the heat wave. But we still managed a complete tour of the extensive fields and polytunnels...

where we ran into one of the Daylesford chefs. And indeed, our lunch in the Cafe afterwards was lovely. The offerings were simple, yet so flavorful and beautifully presented, just like everything in the Farmshop:

Jez gave us a tray of salad seedlings and a few cuttings to take home, which we planted in the gaps on our plot. Now looking forward to the July gardening course, and keeping our fingers crossed for sun!

puzzling parasols

Fewer pieces mean quicker assembly, which means another completed Springbok!

Perhaps I could get used to 500 (rather than 1000-plus) pieces. Particularly as I fear my brain is becoming rather addled by the heat.

In fact, a Japanese umbrella would be quite handy right about now: the perfect sun shade for walking to and from the allotments...