I need to think up my New Year's Resolution - any of those on this poster would work!

Need Some Inspiration? Try Cherries & Almonds!

Black Forest Cheesecake

Food on Friday: Cherries & Almonds came up with an awesome array of dishes using cherries and/or almonds.  I have chosen a few to inspire you today.  If you would like to check all of them out at a glance,  just head on over to this Pinboard.

Thanks to Raymund of Ang Sarap for the fabulous Black Forest Cheesecake at the top of this post.

Salted Nut Cups by Sus of Rough Measures  - just scrummy!

Gerlinde of Cooking Weekends excelled herself with this Almond Pavlova with Strawberries

 

It's summer here so this Cherry Ripple Ice cream with Chocolate and Cherry Sauce by Eat Like You Love Yourself would just hit the spot!

Chocolate Cherry Brownie Mousse Pie by Jess from Sweetest Menu – wow!

Bourbon Cherry Cinnamon Rolls by James & Everett -  that icing is so lickable.

More Letters of Note compiled by Shaun Usher

You may remember that I posted about Lists of Note – a fabulous book.  More Letters of Note features  letters rather than lists.   It is a great read nevertheless.

It is a compilation of letters written by a variety of people – all of which are interesting.  Some use bad language which is to be regretted.

As a taster I thought you might enjoy this letter from Bertha Brewster to the Daily Telegraph in 1913

Sir,

Everyone seems to agree upon the necessity of putting  a stop to Suffragist outrages; but no one seems certain how to do so.  There are two, and only two, ways in which this can be done.  Both will be effectual.

1.   Kill every woman in the United Kingdom

2.   Give women the vote

Yours truly,

Bertha Brewster

I've never seen these before - would make a great gag gift!

Spice of the Month - Allspice

The spice this month is Allspice.  Dark reddish brown berries similar to peppercorns in size - part of the myrtle family

It is also known as Jamaican pepper - but is not a pepper. Jamaica is the most prolific producer of allspice.

From West Indies, central and South America

This spice is called allspice because it tastes like a combination of cloves cinnamon and nutmeg - but it isn't.  It has a sweet but peppery flavour.

Allspice used to be used by pirates in leaf form to treat toothache.  It was also used by seafarers to preserve fish and meat.

Allspice was used by the Aztecs to flavour their daily chocolate drink

Allspice is at its best when freshly ground.  It keeps well in whole dried berry form as long as you keep it away from light and air.

Try adding allspice to soups and stews in berry form or add a pinch of ground allspice to pureed root vegetables.  But be warned it is very potent and needs to be used sparingly.

Allspice is an ingredient in Benedictine and Chartreuse and is a popular ingredient in mulled wine.

In English cooking its main use is in marinades and pickling mixtures for herrings, salt beef, pickled pork etc

Try popping a few allspice into your peppermill.

BIBLIOGRAPHY - with thanks to Auckland Libraries

Cook's Encyclopaedia of Spices by Sallie Morris & Lesley Mackley

Discovering Vegetables, Herbs & Spices by Susanna Lyle

Spice Market by Jane Lawson

Spicery by Ian & Elizabeth Hemphill

Spices & Natural Flavourings by Jennifer Mulherin

Spices by Sophie Grigson

Spices Condiments and Seasonings by Kenneth T Farrell

Spices, Salt and Aromatics in the English Kitchen by Elizabeth David

The Cook's Companion by Stephanie Alexander

Lovely unexpected things are so often so much better than anticipated events!

Quiz: Questions about things that happened in 2015

This month's quiz marks the end of the year.  All the questions are about things that happened in 2015.  Enjoy!

1.   In which month was Princess Charlotte of Cambridge born?

       May

2.   Who is the worlds No 1 female golfer and where does she come from?

          Lydia Ko, New Zealand

3.   Who was elected Prime Minister of Canada?

          Justin Trudeau

4.   In which month did Liverpudlian Cilla Black die?

          August

5.   Why have Hoverboard scooters been in the news?

          Some have been bursting into flame

6.   Which country's Prime Minister was found to have a predilection for pulling women's ponytails?

          New Zealand

7.   What major event happened on Friday the 13^th of November?

          Paris terror attacks

8.   Which country won the Rugby World Cup?

          New Zealand

9.   What is the name of Adele's just released new album?

          25

10.   Who were the singles champions at Wimbledon?

          Serena Williams & Novak Djokovich