The onions were planted on Friday, together with tomatoes, pumpkin, butternut and peppers, all planted out in small pots. It is still a bit cold to plant direct into the garden. The pots have a further advantage in that I can put a fleece blanket over them at night, until they get established.
More weeds in the lawn, but they are so pretty! These mini flowers are only about 4mm across
I cooked some rusks so I had something to snack on. Both my husband and I love these; they are such a good stand-by for the odd hour when you feel like you just have to nibble on something! I made a whole batch for Nigel before I left the UK, so I hope they will last him until he returns to France at the end of May. He can then take a new batch home with him.
South Africans love these rusks dipped into either tea or coffee, especially in winter. I have to say we like them just as they are. For my recipe click HERE.
The ones in this picture I made with Farine de sarrasin dit Blé Noir. This is a very dark flour made from buck wheat, which is specially for crepes and galettes. The taste is magical, but they did not rise as much as usual. so next time I will mix ½ and ½ with Farine de Blé which is plain whole wheat flour.
I had thought about going for a cycle ride later in the day but I decided that the wind was just a bit too strong. Instead, I went for a short walk down the road where I saw these cows with their calves. The latter were apparently camera shy and I had a good view of their tail ends!
Today the wind is still blowing and although the sun is warm, the wind is anything but! Next week, if this northerly wind is still blowing, I will put my bike on the cycle trainer. I brought the trainer over from the UK this year, so I could get in some exercise on rainy days, but now maybe I can try to get some training in ‘cycling’ in the barn, before I go out on the road. I love cycling in France as the countryside is so beautiful and there is always so much going on around the farms.
Spring is in the air - these are my neighbours.
I am so excited to find your rusk recipe. As a south african living in Brooklyn, NY I never get to taste these favorite treats of mine and for some reason I've never baked them myself.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you think I can use butter instead of margarine?
InnBrooklyn - Good to find another fellow South African. Yes butter is no problem at all, in fact they last better if butter is used. In our house they never get the chance to last though!! They are so easy to make, you just have to have the patience to allow them to dry properly. The smaller you cut them the quicker they dry. I often switch the oven back on for a few minutes before I go to bed (after having dried them earlier) then switch off again, and leave them overnight in the warm oven.
ReplyDeleteYou make your days sound so lovely that I almost forget how hard you are working to make it all happen. I've never had rusk like these but will give them a try when I have some free time.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, yes it is hard work but I love it and try not to do do much in one day. The trouble is once I start in the garden I lose track of time, only when my back says 'enough' do I realise how long I have been at it!!
ReplyDeleteI think if you are not used to the rusks, it may take some time to appreciate them, but as I say most S.Africans are hooked on them.
I also like some rusks in my hot coffee when I get out from the tent in the kalahari desert in wintertime:it's so cold!
ReplyDeleteLast year,on one morning, we woke up with 10 degrees below zero...
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Hi Andrea, People always look at me with a very strange look when I tell them it gets very cold in Africa. For some unknown reason Most people think that Africa means hot!!
ReplyDeleteWe have flowers similar to yours in our lawn, although they tend to be a little closer to purple. It is still too cold here for planting outdoors, and I'm looking forward to the real arrival of spring. I must keep reminding myself that "April showers bring May flowers!"
ReplyDeleteI'm off to peek at your rusk recipe now! Hope you have a lovely weekend!
(And I'm not surprised that South Africa gets cold. It's rather like being surprised that it's cold in France in the winter: You are a long way from the equator, after all!)
Hi Marjie, We are not even getting the April showers! From the day Nigel went back to the UK we have not had a drop of rain! I am now watering.
ReplyDeleteHope that you enjoy the rusks, I am sure that they will not last long with a large family! When Nigel & I first married I was told rusks were baby food for teething - well now in his 60's he must be teething again. LOL!!
Beautiful scenes and the rusk looks delicious! I like your haircut also! Thanks for an interesting post!
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, welcome to my blog. I likeyour site also. This haircut is an English one at Christmas, the next one will be French. I am not so good at explaining what I want but it usually turns out pretty good!! Diane
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