Ginger Biscuits, Party Invitations and Watercress

One of my favourite cookbooks - actually, books in general - is Jane Brocket's Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer.  In it, she combines recipes inspired by meals and dishes from classic children's literature with nostalgic discussions and observations on food from this 'golden era' of children's books.

These ginger biscuits are slightly adapted (just for more spices) from the book - the recipe inspired by the ginger biscuits that the Famous Five ate in Five Go On Kirrin Island Again.  In the book, after being presented with a plateful of these by Joanna, their beloved and plump cook, says, "I say, aren't these good?  You know, I do think that good cooks deserve some kind of decoration, just as much as good soldiers or scientists, or writers.  I should give Joanna the OBCBE."

So, Brocket has called these quick-to-make biscuits:

Joanna OBCBE Ginger Biscuits

120g soft butter

120g golden caster sugar (often called raw caster sugar)

1 dessertspoon golden syrup

1 egg yolk

200g plain flour

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 very heaped teaspoon of ground ginger

Pinch of salt

Very generous pinch of mixed spice

A good grating of freshly ground nutmeg

Small pinch of ground cloves

Cream butter and sugar, beat in syrup and egg yolk.

Sift together all dry ingredients, then work them into the creamed mixture until the dough comes together.  Do not overwork, or you will get tough biscuits.

Break off small pieces and roll into balls (around two dozen), place them apart on a lined baking tray, and press down slightly with the fingers to flatten a bit.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until they are just golden brown and smell incredible.

Transfer onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

Tabitha and I are growing watercress on some damp cottonwool in a dish on the kitchen bench.  I have fond memories of sprouts growing on the kitchen windowsil as a child, so decided to give it a go.  They have just started to sprout today.  Next time, I am going to try growing them in an eggshell (as 'hair') or sprinkled on damp cottonwool to form a word or picture.

Tabitha waters them each day by misting the dish with a spray bottle.

My friend Michelle is an incredibly talented (and lovely) graphic designer.  If you need any sort of invitations done, you must check out her work at Berry Blue Designs.  I believe she is also planning on launching some ready made / template style invitations soon.  I hope she hurries, because I have not seen anything nicer around!  Here is her blog Oh So Lovely - you must go and check it out, if only to gaze in awe at her daughter Ava's spectacular curls!

Michelle / Berry Blue Designs created these invitations for Tabitha's upcoming fairy party.  The paper is a beautiful matte textured card, and the colours are divine (the photo absolutely does not do them justice.  I really must learn some basic photo editing!  I would like to have lightened this one up:

Zach is such an easygoing baby.  He happily lays on a quilt on the back decking and watches me garden.  He has, however, started to crawl (just a couple of 'steps' at a time), so this won't last for long - soon I will be chasing him around, trying to keep him from eating all the soil!

Most of our veggie gardens are set in sturdy chook and possum-proof cages.  Otherwise everything gets gobbled up!  Whenever I want to get into one, I need to use a cordless drill to remove the side screen frame.  I am looking into some sort of latch, instead!

A few new bok choi plants poking their leaves through the mulch, in and around the alyssum:

Cheeky chooks - they all tore out onto the decking while their gate was open and my back was turned, and started gorging on my lettuces planted along the sides of the decking.  I flapped my arms at them and they retreated.  One would think I starved them!  In fact, they had 3 half-eaten corn cobs and loads of silverbeet to munch on.  From left to right:  Dolly, Sweetpea, Lacey, Nugget and Edith:

Brussels sprouts edging out a sneaky marigold.  I really hope the sprouts grow well.  They are the most fascinating plant, and nothing beats really fresh sprouts, in a very hot pan with plenty of butter and bacon!

Do you like sprouts?  Or do you consider them a terror of childhood, to be avoided at all costs?  Are there any other traditionally 'unpopular' foods that you adore?