Month: November 2015

Autumn Thoughts

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Aster seed puffs.

Hoar-Frost

Amy Lowell

In the cloud-grey mornings
I heard the herons flying;
And when I came into my garden,
My silken outer-garment
Trailed over withered leaves.
A dried leaf crumbles at a touch,
But I have seen many Autumns
With herons blowing like smoke

Across the sky.

Serenity

Serenity

Edward Rowland Sill

Brook,
Be still,—be still!
Midnight’s arch is broken
In thy ceaseless ripples.
Dark and cold below them
Runs the troubled water,—
Only on its bosom,
Shimmering and trembling,
Doth the glinted star-shine
Sparkle and cease.
Life,
Be still,—be still!
Boundless truth is shattered
On thy hurrying current.
Rest, with face uplifted,
Calm, serenely quiet;
Drink the deathless beauty—
Thrills of love and wonder
Sinking, shining, star-like;
Till the mirrored heaven
Hollow down within thee
Holy deeps unfathomed,
Where far thoughts go floating,
And low voices wander
Whispering peace.

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Christmas Cake.

Christmas Cake is one of our family traditions, brought over from the “Old Country.” Well not so old, as we have current connections to England. It’s a solid good Fruitcake. By English standards, we’re too late. Should have set this up a year ago for proper aging.

In any case here’s the recipe:

  1. Cream 2/3 cup butter or margerine. Add 2 cups sugar and 2 tablespoons molasses. Cream.
  2. Add 5 eggs, one at a time. Then turn the mixer up and cream the lot.
2015-10-31 15.17.53 It should look like this. Then add:

  1. 4 cups plain flour.
  2. 1 tablespoon baking powder
  3. 1 teaspoon salt
  4. 1/2 cup brandy, doesn’t have to be the best grade. VS is fine.
2015-10-31 15.23.21 Add a couple of pounds of candied peel, a cup of raisins and a pound of candied cherries.
2015-10-31 15.27.06 After mixing, it will be rather stiff. You’ll need to stir it with a spoon. Traditionally everyone in the house should take a turn giving it a stir.
Then put it in a greased springform pan. The beer can is for scale. 2015-10-31 15.31.43
Bake at 350F (200C) until done. It might take 1-2 hours or more. I often leave it overnight, after turning the oven off.  It should look like this: 2015-11-01 07.58.32
2015-11-01 07.59.49 Poke holes in it, and then “feed it” with about 1/2 cup of brandy. Cover it with foil and store in a cool, dark place to mature. I’ll feed the cake every two weeks or so until Christmas.