douro valley

We were recently in Portugal and spent a day visiting one of the most magical places, the Douro Valley. Row upon row of vines as far as the eye can see towering over each side of the Douro River. It's unlike any other place I have ever been.

Pinhão in the distance

 View from Pinhão looking west

 Looking east

 Looking west

The sky seems to go on for ever...

white chocolate and passionfruit cheesecake

So I love to cook. and bake. Although I do very little of the latter, as once there is baking in the house it needs to be eaten... But here is something I made on Christmas day and again by special request on my husband's birthday. It is absolutely delicious.

White Chocolate and Passionfruit Cheesecake

250g Digestive Biscuits
120g melted butter
6 gelatine leaves (soaked in cold water)
2 tablespoons of hot water
10 passionfuit
300g cream cheese
300ml double cream
150g sugar
150g white chocolate

Line a 22cm round baking tin with non-stick baking paper. I use one with a detachable base, which makes removing the cheesecake easy once set.
Place biscuits in food processor to finely crush them and add melted butter. Press mixture firmly into baking tin. Refrigerate for an hour.
Halve passionfruit and remove pulp.
Dissolve gelatine leaves in the hot water, cool slightly.
Beat together cream cheese, cream and sugar. Add passionfruit pulp.
Melt chocolate in bowl over pan of boiling water. Add to cream cheese mixture and mix quickly. Add gelatine mixture. Mix well.
Spoon mixture over base. Refrigerate several hours to set.

The recipe was adapted from the one here (www.luuux.com/fashion/chilled-passionfruit-cheesecake). I'm not sure that the gelatine adds anything to the recipe. Living in England I can only find gelatine leaves rather than gelatine powder, which is what I'm used to. The gelatine leave packet says never add gelatine to a cold mixture, rather add the cold mixture to a pan of gelatine. I'm not sure why. I added it to the cream cheese mixture and quickly mixed it well and it seemed to be ok.

Enjoy. In small pieces. X

where does the time go...

So after making a new years resolution to start a blog, somehow half the year has gone with minimal blog output. I have excuses...a PGCE course, returning to work, a wedding - my wedding which included making my own dress and a kitchen renovation. So it has been a busy few months. But now with the wedding over and more free time on the horizon I'm planning to make blogging a more regular past time. There is lots to tell.

West Dean College

I have just spent a few days at West Dean College attending a course. I have done several courses at West Dean College and it is a favourite place of mine. It is situated just north of Chichester, part of a large estate, within the South Downs. It is such a beautiful place.

The college provides many short course in arts and crafts disciplines, amongst other things. It has the most amazing gardens, including a walled kitchen garden, and  numerous glasshouses and an arboretum.

Cold frame... oh to have a garden this organised!

Large fig tree in glasshouse

Also there is a beautiful long pergola with climbing plants (including many wisteria) twisting up the supports. The wisteria is just about to flower, maybe in 2-3 weeks. We hope to get back to visit when it does.

There is also a walled garden filled with espaliered fruit trees like this pear tree

This visit was for a course to improve my photoshop skills. Previously I have done courses in photography and textile manipulation. Below is an example of work from the course, my first attempt at using photoshop in a non photographic creative way....

original composition

line drawing

'photoshopped' drawing

I'm back there in August for a textile course. I can't wait.



road to the station

Every Spring the trees lining to road to the train station burst into life...

Pink froth everywhere.

How fabulous!

beach bbq

We are having the most fabulous run of gorgeous spring weather. Hot days, clear blue skies, warm still evenings. The smell of spring blossom permeates everywhere. Such a beautiful time of year. After work we cycled down to the beach for a beach bbq...

There were loads of people on the beach just chilling enjoying the sunshine. Relaxing this way makes work recede far into the distance. We always keep our beach bbqs simple, a few sausages in a bun with fried onions, tomato and brown sauce, along with a glass of wine. Nice.

spring has sprung...

England in the springtime is just glorious. It almost makes up a winter that seems to last at least 6 months. After months of bare trees, barren ground and general grayness, suddenly leaves begin to appear and there are flowers everywhere. Here are a few pics from a park nearby, which has a beautiful walled garden and the largest magnolia tree bursting with blossom.