"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:
- Buttermilk Spice Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting (my favorite!)
- Budapest Coffee Cake (the kids' favorite)
- Orange Yogurt Cake
- Maple-Nut Chiffon Cake
- White Wonder Cake
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Buns
- Carrot and Pineapple Cake
- Banana Coconut Muffins
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!)
Labels: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Baking, Middle Ages, Summer
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
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEqecuHx4I/AAAAAAAAIyI/RK1YGRoqBcg/s400/Picture%20028.jpg)
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEqd15iSLI/AAAAAAAAIxE/Td2PrSHhVXs/s400/Picture%20027.jpg)
Zinnias
Cosmo
Mexican Hat Flower
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEqdGJZ1kI/AAAAAAAAIxw/VTJcQkJH-1c/s400/Picture%20016.jpg)
Chocolate Cherry Sunflower
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEqcVOJt7I/AAAAAAAAIw4/1qRGjqwffsE/s400/Picture%20007.jpg)
'The Dark Lady' David Austin Rose
'Europeana' Floribunda Rose
Nasturtiums
Marigolds
Stock
Snapdragons & Violas
Geranium
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEqcCVXdtI/AAAAAAAAIw0/HxGlddhPp-8/s400/Picture%20006.jpg)
Lantana
Hydrangea
More David Austin Roses
In the Medieval Garden:
Flax
Calendula / Pot Marigolds
Borage
Labels: Gardening
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)
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEoZRw-W7I/AAAAAAAAIwU/rmWB5yXOTqk/s400/Picture%20015.jpg)
Goat's Beard (AKA 'Western Salsify') (Tragopogon dubius)
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_r5xrbqvORfU/TBEoZ6qlWNI/AAAAAAAAIwY/KmkrLhlTfJs/s400/Picture%20021.jpg)
Meadow Flax (AKA 'Norton's Flax') (Linum pratense)
Labels: Herbs, Nature, Wildflowers
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