Spring is supposedly soon upon us and, although the hawthorn
and wild cherry seem on the brink of coming into blossom, I think there is
still some way to go. This week has rained and poured and, well, more rain (at
one point there were even a few out-of-place flurries of snow) until the ground
was sodden and puddles abound. I feel like I spent the most of the week staring
at the rhythmic puttering of rain drops on the window sill, watching them
slowly form into miniature streams running down the pane.
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| The last withered echinaceas |
I guess because although it seems like months of cold and wet weather, most of it has only been a kind of cold, miserable drizzle with the little actually rain. So for all this I think it did the garden good, with everything feeling decidedly more verdant and refreshed.
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| A first attempt at 'chiaroscuro' photography |
For the photography, I did some usual shots and then, for the overhead photo I tried 'chiaroscuro' style. Basically this (I am told)
involves using a much darker shot with a few highlights to give
emphasis on things. I was trying to emulate the style of photographs on Desserts for Breakfast, particularly the over-head shots, although in comparison they seem much... lighter. I quite like the shot but I think I need to angle the light
better, which is surprisingly difficult to do with the lack of it, but it was fun
giving it a go (and also trying to balance a black sheet and a reflector at
the same time as holding the tripod steady).
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| Rain droplets on a leek |
So, not quite ready to open-armedly
welcome spring, and ice creams and fruit tarts and chilled soups, I
decided to stick with a comforting and ever so slightly stodgy cake. Unlike a traditional carrot cake this is much lighter and without a cream cheese frosting, taking inspiration from Scandinavian style spice cakes.
Serve it warm with a dollop of crème fraiche as a dessert or have it cold as a cake.
