Easter Feasting

I felt it was appropriate that I spent my SECOND Easter in the UK at Cambridge. You see, my first one was in Oxford, that O so fateful Easter when I met my husband for the very first time. I didn't know that at the time of course. I just enjoyed talking to Daniel's best friend and then went on to have a lovely visit in England with Brooke. But here we are, two years later, and we are spending our lives in this country. So, to have our second Easter together at the other great institution that makes up the term "Oxbridge" was rather poetic. And the weather seemed to agree with us.
It was gloriously warm--so warm, that Brooke and I went barefoot most of the time and I got my first sunburn. Do explain to me how England can get up to 78 F in APRIL, while back in the Northwest, people are just happy to see sunshine? Hmmm? I don't quite get these weather things. Maybe it's global warming. Ha! :) Of course, I blame global warming for most of the daffy political things that happen too, so maybe it's not. Maybe it's just God being generous with fantastic weather at the most important church event of the year.
We punted on the river Cam (again appropriate as we punted the Isis in Oxford two years ago) and toured various Cambridge institutions. We went to Ely Cathedral for Maundy Thursday and I was staggered again by the glorious architecture all over this small island. AND I accomplished perfect macarons for Easter! Yes, due largely to Brooke's convection oven, small little buttons of joy came out perfectly and we devoured them in a shameful manner for tea on Easter Sunday.
We had roast lamb, I got to wear my first Easter hat since 12 years old (by golly, someone's got to bring hat's back and when is a better time than Easter??? No answer? That's what I thought. :)) colored brown eggs for the first time, and we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord in style among English and American friends. So here are some glimpses of our magnificent time in Cambridge!

inside the lovely grounds of Ridley Hall

Someone decides to be as cute as possible

Loving the punting

We let the guys do all the work

Brooke making good things

and with the final product

Aren't those just lovely? We had so much fun seeing the way the brown shell affected the color

My beauties

Daniel made this pavlova!

After church in the garden. Mark got a new tie, I got a new hat! :)

Macarons: ALMOST ecstasy :)

So, batch three was so bad, I couldn't even face posting pictures. However, I was more than obscurely pleased to discover today that my oven is badly off base. We called in a professional who informed me it is indeed 30 degrees higher than its stated temperature. Given this bit of information, I am quite pleased to present batch number FOUR which I made yesterday and literally sat in front of the oven to watch so as to ensure quality. They were a smidge too sticky inside, but that is due to this oven business and you wouldn't know they stuck a bit unless I told you. Which I just did. So I will make ONE more batch next week to see if I can do this consistently. I also switched the recipe I used and I like this one more as it seems to produce a sturdier and smoother cookie. So without further ado, I give you batch four:

See the little crumbly looking part at the bottom of each one? That is called a 'foot' and is EXACTLY what a  proper macaron should do. :) Also that beautiful smooth shiny top is what a proper macaron should do. I almost kissed the tray. :)

And this is how the French serve them--in sandwich form. 

Macarons: The agony and the ecstasy

So in my quest for the right macaroon recipe and tips, I came across this blog which I LOVED! There are so many inspiring ideas and creative things that she does, so I thought I would share the link. I think my sister, Kathryn, will particularly like this. :)  Here it is: giverslog.com. And also, here are the results of my second macaroon trial. Still not perfect, but that's why we practice. I discovered that I need to reduce my oven temperature a bit (it gets too hot and hates me) and move the rack down one to avoid the slight browning which is great in meringues, but not in macarons. They definitely have a smoother top and formed the right 'skin', but because I didn't have a plain round nozzle, they did crack and aren't pastry shop smooth. But there is promise for them to be with the right nozzle!! (which I shall get this weekend) The flavor is still great and I messed around with the filling and frankly came up with something decadently fabulous!! (I won't tell you how much butter and cream I whipped, but it was WORTH it.) I have also discovered how much I love almond flavor and I messed around with color combos and I think I'll go with this. Next week: Batch three in ocean green and blue! :)

See the one at the far bottom right? Almost perfect. :)

Flowers and Food!

I can tell that Spring Fever is upon me. I have this deep urge to clean the house REALLY thoroughly, I want flowers consistently and I am trying new recipes and looking for 'springy' foods. So, I have begun what some term 'spring cleaning', but mine actually involves spring cleaning, spring cooking, spring shopping and spring fitness. That last one is important if I'm going to be making all the things I want to make! And I've got a good start on some of these categories. I spent a good part of Saturday vacuuming weird and wonderful cracks and crannies throughout the house as part of my regular clean. Mark and I made an epic journey to buy our first cordless drill so we could hang newly framed pictures and I had to buy a few spring decorating touches as well as several organizer boxes the other day!

In the cooking department, I have made round one of French macaroons and intend on at least two more attempts before I tackle them 'for real' at the Newman's for Easter. :) And because my husband likes them, I made stuffed peppers for dinner the other night. A great spring dish and I can have it too, because I substituted portabello mushrooms for some of the peppers. Necessity is the mother of invention... So I thought I'd share a few pics of what I've been up to!