In the Summer Kitchen

Memories of childhood summers include the intense fruity fragrance of jam making on a hot summer's day. Stirring the bubbling cauldron of sugar and berries. More stirring. The caution to "stand back, it's hot," as the pot is removed from the stove. The sound of jar lids popping as they cool and seal.

I learned how to make jam from my mother and have made it for years with commercial pectin. However, I've been experimenting with recipes other than the ones that come with the pectin packets or the companies that have a vested interest in pectin. I took a book out from the library recently called Food in Jars, by Marisa McClellan. She has a blog, also called Food in Jars. Her recipes call for a little more cooking of the jam and fruit and a bit of liquid pectin at the end. But the ratio of fruit to sugar is much, much higher. Both the raspberry jam (Simple Raspberry Jam) and the Rhubarb Jam (Rhubarb Vanilla Jam with Earl Grey) are from her book. 




So. Delicious. I licked the jam pot after both. Yum. Yum. Yum. The Rhubarb Jam is made with a whole vanilla bean that is scraped out and all the bits added to the jam. If you look closely you'll see the dark flecks. And, instead of water she adds double strength Earl Grey tea for just a hint of bergamot. This takes rhubarb to a whole new level. One thing she forgot to mention is to remove the vanilla bean carcass before pouring the jam. But most cooks can figure that one out.
Do you make jam? I find it so simple to do and it tastes so much better than commercial jams.
 

Last fall's garlic planting shot up garlic scapes this week. I likely waited a bit too long to clip them for tenderness, but I'll just cut off the woody bits and sauté the tops in a little olive oil or butter. 
 

Another version of infused water - melissa (aka lemon balm) and cubes of watermelon. So refreshing! 

A question for you. What is your favourite picnic food? I don't mean food to grill, I mean food to pack in a cooler and take along to a park or a picnic site. Potato Salad, Quinoa Salad, Deviled Eggs? I'm looking for some new ideas in the portable picnic range. I know you'll have wonderful suggestions.

Now I"m off to watch a Little Miss while her mother goes to her own eye appointment. My own appointment, last week, went well. I just need to order the new prescription. And choose new frames.

On Putting Myself Out There

Today's a day for catching up. The campfire-scented bedding is washed and drying outside although I'm keeping an eye on the sky. It's humid out there and I wonder if more rain will fall. I collected some white rocks from French Beach. While emptying pockets last night I put them onto the tray on the kitchen table, along with the shells and driftwood bits I collected the week before. 

I read all kinds of blogs - cooking, slice-of-life, writing-focused, gardening, and fashion. I'm no fashionista, but like most other people, I wear clothes and derive inspiration from seeing what others wear and how each one presents herself. So here's my selfie (what a word!) and I'm being brave in posting it. Grey cotton pants and a navy and white striped tank top with snaps down one side. My usual watch and a pair of silver earrings. Around the house I'm always barefoot, but I'll slip into a pair of ballet flats for running errands. 

There are several fashion blogs that I'm particularly enjoying these days. Vivienne of The Vivienne Files is writing a series of posts on wardrobe planning that are brilliant. Building a small but useful wardrobe is one of my perpetual goals. I never seem to quite reach it, but with these posts, I may. 

Another blog I enjoy is A Femme d'un Certain Age, written by Tish Jett, author of Forever Chic. She lives in France and is currently in a rehab centre after knee surgery. She's writing about the food she's enjoying while strengthening her knee and it's a revelation. I've been blessed with a trim figure but have had to begin watching what I eat. I've let my weight creep up a little and it's time to be strict with myself and cut back. I'd love for the extra weight to settle on my skinny ankles or knees, but alas, it goes straight to my middle. 
  

Water is my preferred summer drink. I usually infuse it with mint and or lemon, but have been reading about flavouring water with fruit (no sugar or sweeteners) and would like to try that soon. Do any of you flavour your water in the summer in any particular way?

I planted nasturtium seeds in front of the lemon tree. They've grown into a colourful tangle of green and pinky-coral that makes me smile to see them. I mean to try them in a salad soon, too.  Do you eat flowers in your salads? Do tell.

 

Clear Sailing

Mr. Sun plays peek-a-boo these days. He shows up for just a few minutes or seconds, then slips away again. A week ago he lingered awhile. Bundled up with wind-proof warm coats, scarves and mittens, we took a bracing walk along the water.

Harsh crow caws contrast with wind-ruffled waves lapping against the rocks. Pink-tinged mainland mountains glow softly in the distance. 
 

White against blue, a sailboat motors past. 

With cheeks and nosy red from the chill wind, we turn back, anticipating wrapping our hands around mugs of steaming tea. Mr. Sun, please come back. We miss you.

Linking with Sunlit Sunday, hosted by Karen of My Little Home and Garden. 

Water: A Personal Photo Challenge

rushing waters of the Robson River below Mount Robson which runs to the Fraser River and the Pacific Ocean

Donna, at A Personal Photo Challenge, is a wonderful photographer (whose photos can be seen at her personal blog Cottage Days and Journeys.) Once a month, she offers a challenge to photographers or want-to-be photographers like me to hone our skills. She puts up links and suggestions for great photos. 

This month the challenge was water. I wish I had read the links before I went on my trip to the Rockies. I know some things I would have done differently. 

All of these photos were taken with my Nikon Coolpix, without a tripod. For editing, I added in a tiny bit of shadow to highlight the contrasts which are hard to capture on sunny days.

 

calm Lake Agnes, above Lake Louise

 I crouched low to take this photo, trying to capture the expanse of calm water below the glacier.

a boulder and tree strewn glacier fed stream on a cloudy day - the stream feeds Lake Louise

The roar of this stream filled our ears as we hiked along the trail to the Plain of Six Glaciers above Lake Louise. I can only imagine what it must be like during the spring melt.

sparkling ocean waters off Vancouver Island

I'm always amazed at the different looks water offers. From ocean to mountain streams to glacier fed lakes water takes on so many characteristics.

Linking to A Personal Photo Challenge hosted by Donna.