Little Lemon and Almond Ricotta Biscuits

Fancy a biscuit? These lovely, light and lemony ones are perfect for afternoon tea. They are quick and easy to make, moist and delicious and lend themselves to a sweet, white chocolate dollop on top.

 Afternoon Tea Time Treat!

I love finding new recipes that are well received by the biscuit connoisseurs in my family. I discovered this recipe by following one of the "crumbs" (links) that Rhonda Hetzel left in one of her Down-to-Earth Weekend Reading posts. 

The "trail" led me to this recipe but, as seems to be my habit, I tinkered with it...just slightly!  I substituted white spelt flour for the plain flour. Instead of 3/4cup of sugar, I only used 1/2 cup and correspondingly increased to 3/4cup almond meal. I also added approximately two tablespoons of lemon juice in addition to the lemon rind. I mixed the juice in a little at a time after beating the ricotta, sugar and butter and before adding the egg. 

As for the icing, I just quickly melted some white chocolate buttons and dolloped that on top when the biscuits were cool. A sprinkle of coconut and they were ready to be sampled by aforementioned biscuit connoisseurs. One exclaimed, "Oh, yum!" and the other didn't lick the "icing" off first (as he's been known to do). Another drooled slobberishly while watching his human companions gobble up "his" afternoon tea. 

All that was left was an empty plate. A sure signal to make these again soon.

Meg

The Very Hungry Caterpillars

Look who I found helping themselves to a free lunch of delicious Pentas leaves in my garden.   Hmmm!

Nibble!  Nibble!

Munch! Munch!

 Free Lunch!

These three caterpillars, and a few more of their butterfly-to-be buddies, have stripped many leaves from these usually lush Pentas plants. All in a matter of days. Fast eaters!

Before.

After.

So, what to do? It would be a lot easier if caterpillars feasted on chocolate cake and lollipops and sausage like the fictional one in the classic children's story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  (If you haven't read this delightful story, then here is a You-tube animation of it.)  Alas, though, these caterpillars are real so no amount of chocolate cake will help:(

Instead, I decided to prune the Pentas because they typically respond well to a good 'haircut'. I carefully pruned each plant, removing stems, leaves and caterpillars. In doing so, the Pentas has a chance to recover and rebound with lush, thick growth. The caterpillars can continue feasting on the leaves of the prunings (and fresh supplements from the Pentas they hadn't quite started munching on) while they 'holiday' in an old fishtank. Through the glass of the tank we hope to be able to observe the rest of their life cycle unfold. 

I wonder what butterfly (or moth) will emerge in the end?

Meg

Here & Now 7

Busy days have governed my Here & Now of late but there is always the long, contented sigh of home. Our place here, atop a hill, that looks out over rooftops and trees and toward a very distant horizon where, on a clear day, a sliver of sea sparkles and an island beckons. I have leaned, my elbows resting upon blue railing, and gazed at that view often of late. I've lost myself watching tree tops sway, birds take flight and clouds drift across the blue sky. This looking out has reminded me that there's often a wider view to all that is in front of me.

Pretty pink Springtime blossoms in my garden.

 Lovely little Lemon and Ricotta biscuits.

Under the umbels of the delicate Queen Anne's Lace.

Loving //   The build up of thundery, grey clouds before afternoon storms and the scent 
                      of rain that those storms leave in the air.

Eating //    Healthy, energy-boosting salads! My favourite being this delicious and easy 
                      Beetroot and Carrot Salad with Pomegranate Dressing.

Drinking //  Cool, refreshing drinks with many ice cubes tinkling in my glass.

Feeling //  Like Summer has come too early with temperatures in the mid 30Cs.

Making //  Sweet little ricotta and lemon biscuits. Mmm...

Thinking //  There is still much to do before Christmas and I absolutely can't miss the 
                          post before we leave for our holiday in early December!

Dreaming //  Of  island time with my family that is now just three short weeks away...

I hope you will have time to watch the clouds, in the skies above you, drift by sometime soon. Have a lovely weekend.


Meg