Fresh Peach Cake

This is how my fresh each cake turned out...oh my goodness..it was moist and yummy..I doubled up the amount of peaches....totally filled the middle and then the top.....took 55 minutes to bake..
Here is Ina Garten's Barefoot Countess recipe HERE




This is her photo here....

ironstone pitcher....

On our walk yesterday we met our neighbor who was downsizing and giving away things...I saw some ironstone jugs and commented I would love to buy a couple if they we selling them...next day I got 2 as a lovely gift....today I will bring over a couple of slices of fresh peach cake....playing it forward.....

Some of my family

We are pretty close, this family of ours...and we are brought closer together this week..My brother Harry (standing in the back) has been diagnosed with Leukemia.....we are all waiting to be tested for a bone marrow transplant...missing from this photo are my other 2 brothers, Werner and Steven...7 of us along with our families and friends all have him in our thoughts and prayers for a good outcome...
BTW....Happy Birthday Werner....miss you......

Crafting time...

Happy 13th anniversary Jeremy and Julie..your first year with your darling little Claire!

Spent yesterday making a few new brackets...sitting on the deck..in the sunshine or at times under the umbrella.....to wear and give as gifts...the colors are soothing, stringing them together adds joy to my day......

Down at Cindy's beach

Cindy cooks down at the beach...I asked her to send me some photos of her wine barrels filled with her herbs and flowers...what a treat to cook outside and snip your fresh herbs......and then eat your delicious meals.









her newly found old container....holding some of her primula's that are still alive over the summer...what a find her carrier is!




BTW...Happy birthday to Larry...my wonderful brother in law....I hope you and Caroline have fun playing in the backcountry with your quads today!

Peaches....

The sweet smell of tree ripened peaches...just makes my mouth water.....











These amazing peaches are in season now........tomorrow, some of them will become this recipe...There are all kinds of farm stands selling fruit on the driveways of our country roads..I got these 10 lbs for $5.00....I hope they will turn out as well as Martha's does!



Peach Cobbler...from Martha Stewart
For The Filling
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on sweetness of fruit)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 pounds peaches, halved, pitted, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices, and cut in half again crosswise (about 4 cups)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For The Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
Directions

Make the filling: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Add peaches and lemon juice; toss to combine. Divide filling evenly among four 8-ounce custard cups (or one 2-quart baking dish); transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.

Make the topping and bake: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, blend in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk; stir just until a dough forms. Drop dough onto peaches, using about 1/3 cup dough for each custard cup. Sprinkle dough with remaining teaspoon sugar. Bake until fruit is bubbling and biscuit topping is golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes; serve warm.

Stitching.....

I have taken up my needle again and started stitching......such a pleasurable way to spend a few hours....Here are some things I am working on...this first piece I bought from Pam Garrison HERE...{ hers is the completed piece for reference}.......






















These rabbits are Kaffe Fassett piece that is one of my few UFP! They will be finished this year and become a pillow.






A small piece to carry in my bag and work on when I have time...just adding a few stitches at a time...joy and happiness in creating small things.....

Summer pleasures....

"These are just a few of my favorite things".....doesn't that just make you want to break out into a song?

Mud Frog Studio

My 2 darling sister's, Evelyne and Caroline along with their friend Karen have started working with clay and free forming bird houses, platters as well as various garden critters...thus "Mud Frog Studios" was born..they have had Karen as their teacher...even give a pottery class.....the day the kiln is opened it is always like Christmas...you never know how things will turn out! So far only a lid has been cracked...Good work girls,I am so proud of you for following your bliss!

{vintage} gardening tools....

A collection of {vintage} gardening tools collected over the years...made of heavier metal..they just look better and feel better than the new ones I have.

away from it all....

We were invited to our friends hand built log cabin by the river for Sunday brunch...how peaceful this wonderful property is. Complete with all of their personal handcrafted structures, birdhouses, seating areas, as well as a place to target practice with a bow and arrow....felt like Miss Robin Hood!
Meeting their friends and neighbors....seeing yet another small piece of paradise in this beautiful valley of ours here in BC. Thank you Norm and Marilyn for this lovely shared day with you......
On a side note..but just as special...Happy Anniversary to Carmen and Brad..celebrating their 2nd anniversary! xox

Blueberry Muffins...Focus52...this makes me smile.....

Martha Stewart's Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins....

The first 5 photos of the muffins were made by me...freshly baked in parchment paper, sprayed with Pam....spooned into a regular 12 cup muffin pan...OMGoodness....are they ever good...these make me smile big time....
I am bringing them along for brunch today!

Enjoy:}

Martha's are below along with the recipe!




















Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins recipe from Martha Stewart








Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling
3 tablespoons honey
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup blueberries
Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place a Silpat (French nonstick baking mat) or parchment paper on a baking sheet; place six 2 3/4-by-2-inch pastry rings on it. Cut parchment paper into six 10-by-3-inch strips; use them to line molds (paper will extend above rims).

Place softened butter, 3/4 cup sugar, and honey in bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add eggs; beat 1 minute more.

Whisk flour, cornmeal, and baking powder together in a medium bowl; add to butter mixture in mixer bowl. Beat until combined. Slowly pour in milk, beating on low, until just combined. Fold in blueberries. Divide dough among molds (do not pack too firmly; each will take about 1 cup). Brush tops with cold water; sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over each.

Bake until tops are browned, centers are set, and a cake tester inserted in center of muffin comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool in pans 5 minutes. Tie kitchen twine around muffins to hold parchment. Serve at once.

Mollie Makes....Dagmar Makes

This set of photos are all from issue 3 of Mollie Makes...it is hard to find an issue here and @$13.95 it is a magazine to be treasured.....however...on Zinio HERE you can down load all the issues (so far there are 4) for about $6.72 each....and read them as many times as you like......















This is my take on Mollie Makes as well as one of my lovely crochet/knit flower books...sitting at the beach in the shade, crocheting these little gems was a wonderful way to spend yesterday afternoon!