The sage is blooming again, doesn't happen every year, and of course partly sprawls right across the gate where it's likely to be beheaded if I forget and sweep open the gate from the other side.
And the lilac, from two doors away, the scent drifting into my bedroom this time of year. From this close, it's powerful. I get a lovely waft of it when I sit out to read and knit and stitch. Which I did yesterday.
Under a blanket. I was determined to have Tea Outside. Complete with nut tart, which was very good.
In the course of making those caramel nut tarts, a dangerous thought occurred to me. The caramel was just a stage short of toffee. You don't want it hard crack for baking.
But I thought, having mentioned Heath Bars, my favorite: I can make my own Heath Bars! This could be my undoing. They're just thin hard toffee in a chocolate covering. I can make that. I have a candy thermometer, even. Annnnnd, I can sprinkle sea salt over the covering before it hardens. I can add chocolate bits to the shopping list.
Longtime readers will remember when I made a batch of Pop Tarts. Really a pastry jam sandwich with water icing to decorate in lurid pink, a bit too much color there. They were wonderful, and I have refrained from making them again, not exactly a nutritional powerhouse.
Back to the Heath Bars. Rationalizing busily, I could make just a small batch, quite harmless, really, and I'm Worth It...watch this space.
Honesty plant here is called a Silver Dollar plant. Alas, my seeds were too old to germinate.
ReplyDeleteWhen you see the inside of the seed pods you can see why they're called that. It has several names, all nice.
DeleteIs it the social distancing that is making me think of sweet things? I was right with you on your toffee thoughts !
ReplyDeleteI may be leading to your undoing too!
DeleteYou can do it! And they will be delicious.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm worried about!
DeleteThe lilacs are beautiful. I planted some shrubs years ago and when they first bloomed I was so excited I cut some off to put on my dining room table. Woo-Wee! I had no idea how potent was their scent. Outside (at the edge of the yard), the scent is lovely, but inside where there was no breeze to dilute it, they were so overpowering after a little bit, I couldn't get them out of the house soon enough!
ReplyDeleteIt's like the spice plant, lovely outside, indoors not so much.
DeleteWhere you live the plants are way ahead of us here. The trees are finally leafy and some are starting to blossom. It will awhile before the lilac blooms though.
ReplyDeleteCentral NJ has moved up a region in the ag listing. We're a 7 now, warmer than a few years back, when we were a 6. This spring has been unusually chilly and slow for growth. But the blossom is not being blown out by hot days, always nice. And the asparagus season is lasting longer, cold nights.
DeleteI wish I had your weather and a bit of private green space. Little did I know when I moved in here 20 plus years ago that I would ever wish for that. Your nut tart and heath bar sound lovely but not for me. I hope you enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness...homemade Hea(l)th Bars would be my undoing too. Have fun! And thanks for the brown sugar info; I'm going to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you had nice tea-on-the-porch spring weather, Quinn just a bit north suffered a heat wave today, and we out west had to double-cover all the tender crops tonight because a hard frost is possible. Ah, spring!
Cheers,
Chris from Boise
You are adventuresome in the kitchen. Enjoy the bars!
ReplyDeleteI have never had a Heath bar so clueless about the taste. Looking forward to developments with your latest scientific food experiment!
ReplyDeleteNever had a Heath Bar? That's saaaaddd. Well if I make them and you like the look, you might see if resident chef will try them out. Just sample size, that is..
DeleteI adore Heath bars. I can't keep them in the house. They call to me in low, hoarse voices.
DeleteThe thing is you bite so thst the chocolate part cracks off, then bite again into the toffee. It's a science.
ReplyDeleteYour Honest plant - I call Moonwort. I am trying to grow it here in the hot, humid part of the universe but with little success. There are recipes for Heath Bars?? Ohhhhh - that could be dangerous!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about recipes. But I think a bit of experimenting will happen here. I'll document it! I think everyone should have emergency Heath Bars. In emergency, break glass and retrieve Bar.
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