It’s stinking hot here at the moment, our deer are all having babies and hiding them in the tall grass and I can barely manage to boil the kettle for fear of introducing more heat into our little kitchen. So this afternoon we are heading off to our nearby Lake Canobolas and in the esky will be lots of watermelon and this rhubarb and raspberry jelly. It’s beautiful just eaten cold in little squares but would also be pretty nice in a Christmas trifle or sitting atop a blob of yogurt panna cotta.
On another note, Local is Lovely is having a birthday! One year ago next friday I published my first post on this blog and to celebrate, have asked twelve local chefs and cooks to help by contributing a Christmas recipe. 12 Days of Christmas Baking will kick off tomorrow and will cover everything from traditional Dutch Christmas cakes to mince tarts by Michael Manners and Kate Bracks’s Christmas pudding.
And in further celebration of our birthday, I am thrilled to be giving away a few copies of Valli Little’s beautiful new book, Home Cooking. It’s full of the kind of recipes I love, simple, seasonal and accessible. To win a copy, please just comment below and I’ll announce the lucky readers next Friday.
In the meantime, here’s a list of links and recipes for a little weekend cooking inspiration!
- Pancakes with milk jam and strawberries by Eat This Food
- Rhubarb and ginger coffee cake from Hungry Ghost
- Aperitifs on a boat full of beautiful people in the south of France? Oh Ok
- This Peruvian rose bread looks just beautiful
- Bee Larvae Granola? Amazing post on honeycomb and larvae from the Nordic Food Lab
- Vanilla cake with brown butter icing from Always with Butter
- Homemade caramels from Eat Boutique
- A giant breakfast cookie ready in one minute? Sounds too good to be true…
- And still on that most important meal; this ‘get up and go smoothie‘ looks amazing too
- Last week I posted a recipe for garlic confit, this one takes the concept one-step further by adding small sweet capsicums, yum…
E-mag love
- Knot Magazine is in French but the imagery is just so beautiful it’s still worth a ‘flick’. I particularly loved the recipes illustrated via papercuts. A collaboration between three inspirational French bloggers My Little Fabric, Stop by the Corner and Like a Strawberry Milk
- Anthology Magazine’s holiday guide is, as you’d imagine – just BEAUTIFUL
- Rue Magazine have just released their November issue with loads of Christmas-y ideas.
Rhubarb and raspberry jelly
This recipe uses quite a lot of gelatine, but that’s so it will keep it’s shape and act more like a little sweet rather than wobbly pud. If you prefer the latter, cut back to 5 sheets.
300g rhubarb, trimmed and cut into small dice
200g raspberries
250mls water
Juice of one lemon
150g caster sugar
7 sheets gelatine (gold strength)
Combine everything but the gelatine in a saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Meanwhile, soften the gelatine in a shallow bowl of cold water. Drain the rhubarb and raspberry mixture, exracting every drop of that beautiful jewelled juice. You should have 2 cups of liquid, if just a little short, make up with a touch of water. Squeeze the excess water from your gelatine leaves and then whisk them into the still hot rhubarb liquid. Whisk until dissolved and then pour into a square cake tin lined with plastic wrap. Cover and place in the fridge to set for a few hours or overnight.
ooh that book looks wonderful! how exciting, one year!!
Happy anniversary, fingers crossed I am the lucky recipient ((()))
Can’t believe you’ve only been going a year! Your blog has the look and feel of someone who’s been around for ages! (That’s a compliment btw!). What a lovely giveaway. Never thought about taking squares of jelly on a picnic. If I’ve only got titanium-strength leaves, do you know how much I’d use for this recipe. (We don’t have different strength leaves in the UK so it’s taking some getting used to over here!)
Hi Sophie, Happy first birthday to ‘Local is Lovely’. I looooovvveee your blog, and get withdrawals if haven’t read a new blog every few days. I’ve actually been clicking on the refresh button all week to see the latest blog, and here it is! Thanks and will now have a little peak at the latest inspirations! Love your recipes/creations they are fantastic, nothing beats country cooking. Thanks for sharing! And can’t wait to read your 12 days of Christmas Baking! Sarah
Congrats on 12 months Sophie. Have had so much fun with you, your blog and recipes and events you’ve organised – thank you. Look forward to the 12 days of Christmas recipes and whatever you come up with next year. Adela
yay for you 🙂
i love valli x
Happy Birthday! Discovered your lovely blog recently and now look forward to every post. Good luck with the year to come. Katie
Happy Blog Day! I have just recently started reading your n=blog after seeing it featured in Frankie Magazine. Great article!
Belinda
Congratulation on reaching 1 year! I’ve only discovered your blog tonight through the Country Style facebook page! Certainly glad I did..you have a really lovely blog! Looking forward to the 12 days of Christmas baking!
Raegan 🙂
Happy Bloggy Birthday! I can’t wait to read your 12 days posts. I just hung up our advent calender ready for our 24 days of Christmas. Bring on Christmas; decorating, celebrating, cooking and eating.
I just heard about your blog through Country Style magazine yesterday. I love the content and your photography! We are moving to the area just before Christmas and look forward to your local updates and information to help us get to know our new home!
Congratulations on your first twelve months – it has been wonderful for us readers, cooks and market frequenters… thank you.
Only last night I was browsing ‘Simply the best’ (looking up the Parsnip Blini recipe…yummo!) and wondering if I would be lucky enough to get another Valli Little book this year. My daughter bought that one and queued up to get it signed by Valli Little as a very special birthday present for me, which I treasure.
I can’t believe your blog is only turning one! You work so beautifully in this space. You’d think you’d been at it for eons. Congrats and thanks for sharing. x
Congratulations! And the jelly looks amazing! I just found your blog through the Country STyle Blog and ADORE it! x
Thanks for including a link to my Peruvian Rose Bread in your Friday List! And congratulations on the one year anniversary!
Congratulations on turning one…I keep up with your blog all the time, the recipes are always gorgeous and it is so refreshing to read about local places and happenings.
Congratulations on turning one! I love the beautiful photographs and recipes that support your local food community. Keep up the great work. I love visiting your blog and I shall be making the Christmas Mess as my contribution to the Christimas dessert table thie year. thanks!
You would never guess your blog is only a year old. It’s such an achievement Sophie, congratulations! Every time I come to this beautiful part of the world I learn something new. Your blog is like The Country Women’s Association meets Enid Blyton meets Gourmet Traveller! Please keep it coming and have a delicious Christmas! Lisa x
Happy blog birthday!
Congratulations on a beautiful and inspiring blog – I hope to get to Orange next year to visit all the wonderful places that you showcase. Cheers!
Congrats on the one year anniversary, Sophie. Love the blog, I’ve tried a number of the recipes and they are always reliable, and I love all the features on local producers.
Thank you for your truly inspiational ideas each week..We live in a fantastic region abundant in fine food and wine and you are continually showing us more and more wonderfull producers who are the unsung heroes of this region..Please continue to show us how to enjoy more great ideas from our kitchens and gardens…
Maureen Pilcher
well done Soph on a fabulous first year! Hope the next is just as successful. I find myself heading your way for some recipe pointers on just about anything…or just general inspiration. Your pics themselves are inspiration enough. Look forward to our next trip to Orange! webby x