[Leica] Glorious weather in the garden - the continuing story, a culinary reportage

[douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp)]

Thanks everyone for looking and commenting,

It's now midday Sunday and it looks as if it's going to be another 
scorcher :-)

If any one can get here within the next 15 minutes - there's still some 
cake left. :-)

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9369.jpg.html

Its like a Black Forest Cherry Cake, but the cake mixture is made of 
crumbled black bread, 8 eggs and ground almonds. Personally, I think 
it's better with ground hazelnuts - but don't tell the missus. The icing 
is a mixture of whipped cream, mascarpone, thickened cherry juice and a 
shot of rum, sprinkled with almonds and chocolate flakes.

But back to yesterday, and following on from the first three shots:

while the ladies and our son were outside, I had to carry on in the 
kitchen but with short breaks to get some fresh herbs for the kitchen

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9379.jpg.html

have a pause for a drink and shoot our cherry tree, which is now in full 
bloom

 http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9398.jpg.html

stroke the cat - always calming when things are stressful

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9399.jpg.html

Then back to the kitchen to check the main course: cubed belly pork 
fried in seasoned flour, then very slowly braised overnight in beer and 
stock with onions, tomatoes and tiny Turkish peppers

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9373-Edit.jpg.html

put the spuds (potatoes) on to steam and warm the soup through (yellow 
and orange lentils with fenugreek, coriander, ginger and coconut milk 
and a dollop of my homemade apricot and peach chutney with chopped 
Scotch Bonnet peppers)

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9380.jpg.html

The final touch - after liquidising -  add very finely pared, fresh 
Chinese garlic (no separate cloves, it's all in one piece)

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9389.jpg.html

Bring it out into the garden and serve sprinkled with fresh coriander 
and parsley (see herb garden)

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9392.jpg.html

After the soup, a beer and, dare I admit it - a quick Gauloise. Then the 
main course.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/1_MG_9395.jpg.html

The beer is called Turmbl?ser and is a brand sold by the Netto 
supermarket chain in Germany - mild and slightly sweet, a bit like 
Belgian beers.

I refrained from taking pictures of the washing up :-)

Cheers
Douglas












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