Primavera...Springtime...

Lots of lovely rain has made our landscape so nice and green,  and while I have been known to enjoy gardening in the rain, it makes for the most perfect time for cooking and baking...

In Attesa Di Primavera... Waiting For Springtime...

Longing for winter weather which will never happen... but,  it's not nice to complain.  Our weather is amazing, many  people can only dream of it,  but... I guess we can't always have what we want... I try to create  a winter theme,  but,  it's not easy,,, In the meantime,  I enjoy spending time in my Potted English Garden,  and of course,  my kitchen.

Piaceri Invernali... Winter Pleasures...

No mater how happy I may be to start fresh in the New Year... there is always that little bit of wondering... what to do now.  Now,  during this time of not much going on.  We have had an amazing amount of rain,  which is fantastic,  but in between storms,  it feels a little  like springtime.  A little gardening is always in order and just a little crafting too... and always ,  cooking and baking.  I loved my little Christmas Wreaths on my mirrors so much that I decided to keep them,  but take the Christmas look away... so,  I ended up with little green wreaths,  with a  little bit  of purple,  as that is my color of choice this "winter" ( using that term lightly).  Sparkly Succulents in favorite tea cups add a little garden to my kitchen window.  Priscilla's favorite  Double Chocolate Bark turned into a tart,  a  Lovely Strawberry,  Mascarpone Tart with Chocolate Ganache Drizzle and a Buttery Cookie Crust,  and some adorable Teeny-Weenie sugar cookies... Focaccia,  a regular part of my cooking repertoire along with a Marinated Eggplant and Mozzarella Salad with a fresh Baguette...That should keep the winter doldrums away...

 

Quasi Autunno… Almost Autumn…

Autumn is almost here,  and hopefully our hot humid weather,  which can give us spectacular sunsets,   will give way to cooler temperatures to go along with the subtle changes that  let me know that Fall is near.  In the garden,  the pumpkin plants are big,  the pumpkins however,   are still small… I will keep my fingers crossed,  meanwhile,  in the kitchen,  the flavors of Autumn are beginning to show up… fruits that remind me of the new season… Poached Pear Dumplings,  A Rustic tart with my Fig Jam and Pears,  with Cream Cheese,  and topped with a buttery crumble,  and  Chicken Cacciatore,  just like dad taught me to make at the restaurant… made into a pot pie.  Comfort foods …

Giardino E Cucina… Garden And Kitchen…

 Been spending lots of time in the garden, and in the kitchen on these long,  lazy days of summer.  Sometimes it's just hard to decide which of my favorite  places  I want to be in,  at any given time.  It seems like we've had lots more clouds in the sky than usual… fewer of those "perfect days "without a cloud in the sky.  I actually really like that,  it's different for San Diego,  and I find the sky to be much more interesting with big puffy clouds,  or even some dark,  stormy clouds which we've had a bit of lately.  I think we are all hoping that the El Niño which is predicted,  will in fact bring us lots of good rain.