Crumpets, beaded figure, wabi sabi

A coda from yesterday: i did in fact get a dusky in my Preserve pictures. Late but still lovely

Onward to today and the almost finished Beaded Figure

Not stitched permanently yet, just assembled so I can consider it for a day. I think it's done, but I'll allow for late breaking ideas because you never know.

While that's happening and before I start on the yellow skirt that's next, I went to get dressed and pulled out yet again this t-shirt which I like except for the immoveable stain right at the front neck line which has resisted many removal efforts. 

I'll do the other thing. Make it fancy. This afternoon. Then I'll wear it instead of sadly hanging it up yet again.

Today I had the last of my bread for breakfast, so I needed a bread related item. I've been searching for my crumpet rings on and off for days, found many other items in the kitchen, but the rings were in hiding. Until I found them on a shelf behind another set of shelves, slid into a glass pan wrapped in a towel. I expect I had a reason for this. They're egg poaching rings, too. 

Anyway I was finally able to make crumpets, good for breakfast or teatime, using Jack Monroe's recipe. You can Google on her, or squint at this little version of mine with quantities translated for us benighted imperial measure folks.

These are fun in slow motion. You make the batter, a yeast event, then it needs an hour to rise. Then you fry each batch, in my case three is all I can fit in the pan at a time, for 12 minutes, each batch, low flame. This gets pretty long and drawn out, but you end with a batch which you can freeze if you like. 

Chef's sample. I used half white half  wholewheat.

I got a lot more than the ten Jack says, and I'll keep a few in the fridge, wrap the rest individually in parchment paper, and handsome Son will get his share whenever he shows up. 

Toasted, buttered, with or without jam, his choice. Also good toasted with cheese, sharp cheddar best.

So then it was now.

Cookerama

So it was windy and rainstormy and I had to go out anyway. So when I got back all wet and tired,  I was a little peckish.

And thought, it's cold enough for soup even if it is mid May. So I started a pot, tomatoes, garlic, scallions, bits of stuff from the freezer marked soup makings, chickpeas.

And since I had finished up all the bread, I thought maybe I should make those Jack Monroe crumpets, now that the special rings have arrived.

And after I'd mixed up the batter and put it to rise, I thought, as I put the flour back in the freezer, why not use the rest of the frozen raspberries I just put the flour next to, to make jam for the crumpets..

See how the crumpet rings work, like egg poaching rings.

Which is how it came to pass that I ended up timing soup, spooning in crumpets, 12 minutes per batch, sterilizing lid and jar, while stirring jam so it didn't burn. All at once.

I did stop for a bowl of soup to keep up my strength.

And now I have a large quantity of excellent soup, a pot of jam, and enough crumpets for several breakfasts and teatimes. The kitchen is clean. I am lying down writing this.