"That afternoon, when Laura arrived, a little round table in the hearthplace had already been laid for tea. And what a meal! There were boiled new-laid eggs and scones and honey and home-made jam, and, to crown all, a dish of fresh Banbury cakes. The carrier had a standing order to bring her a dozen of these cakes every market day.

It seemed a pity to Laura that the first time she had been offered two eggs at one meal she could barely eat one and that the Banbury cake, hitherto to her a delicious rarity only seen in her home when purchased by visiting aunts, should flake and crumble almost untasted upon her plate because she felt too anxious to eat."  - Candleford Green, Ch. 1

Though I finished watching the final episode of Lark Rise to Candleford's Season 3 some time ago, my obsession has not subsided in the least. I've read all I could find by Flora Thompson and have spent an inordinate amount of time tracking down recipes for some of the foods mentioned in the book(s) and series. I bought The Lark Rise Recipe Book by Mary Norwak, but found it disappointing (a few of the recipes can be found here). Two things I was especially eager to try were Banbury Cake and Queen Cake.

After those cravings had been satisfied, finally, I launched into a full-fledged baking (and cooking!) spree which has lasted for several weeks now. Nevermind that it's entirely *too hot* to be baking! Here are a few of the favorites that we've tried:
Spanish Cake (from The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie Farmer)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 egg yokes
1/2 cup milk
1 3/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 egg whites

Mix ingredients in order given. Bake in two 9" cake pans for 20-25 minutes at 350°. Frost with  Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream or Chocolate Cinnamon Buttercream. (I'm thinking this cake would be delicious with just a hint of orange too!)


Though the weeding is killing me, our garden is starting to look a bit more cheerful, which makes it so worthwhile. Here's what is currently in bloom:


'Mutabilis' China Rose


'Evelyn' David Austin Rose


'Hot Cocoa' Floribunda Rose




Zinnias


Cosmo


Mexican Hat Flower


Chocolate Cherry Sunflower


'The Dark Lady' David Austin Rose


'Europeana' Floribunda Rose


Nasturtiums




Marigolds


Stock


Snapdragons & Violas


Geranium




Lantana


Hydrangea




More David Austin Roses

In the Medieval Garden:


Flax


Calendula / Pot Marigolds


Borage

According to a recent article in The Wichita Eagle, this has been an unusually good year for wildflowers due to the long cold winter and then immediate summer-like (hot!) weather. We seem to have skipped spring altogether, but I won't complain since the flowers have been so beautiful and prolific this year. Here's what's been blooming around our house this past week or so:


Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)


Unidentified


Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)


Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)


Buffalo Bur (AKA 'Kansas Thistle') (Solanum rostratum)


Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)?


Flower-of-an-hour (AKA 'Venice Mallow') (Hibiscus trionum)


Goat's Beard (AKA 'Western Salsify') (Tragopogon dubius)


Meadow Flax (AKA 'Norton's Flax') (Linum pratense)