sprinklefingers

i arrived home yesterday only to find a package of books on the front stoop. is there anything more exciting? (uh, don’t answer that. i’ve told you about 93 times that i don’t get out much - therefore the arrival of books truly is exciting.)

inside?

the latest offerings (in the US) from the supergreat hugh fearnly-whittingstall - the brains (& most often the brawn) behind england’s river cottage. now, don’t worry if you have no idea what i’m talking about. river cottage is a place AND a movement AND a way of thinking - all started by UK journalist hugh fearnly-whittingstall. basically, he bought a farm and grew his own food then started telling people about his adventures via his writings and a television series. but it was much more than work to him. today he has grown river cottage into a champion of the local, seasonal, grow-your-own food movement. at the headquarters near Devon you can take cookery & butchery classes, learn to grow vegetables, shop for seasonal produce AND enjoy a delicious local, seasonal meal at the canteen. and this is just a smattering of their offerings. check it out!

anyways, inside my package was river cottage preserves (us version) - and there is literally so much good stuff in there that i almost couldn’t sleep last night. my favorite? a very descriptive method for testing how much pectin is in a specific fruit so that you can make your own pectin ‘broth’ for jam-making. amazing. and incredible. and something i’ve never, ever thought to do before. cannot wait to experiment.

i’ll leave you now with hugh’s column from the guardian - this particular issue discusses muffins. i know you’ll thank me once you see the recipe for the red onion, cheddar and bacon version. you’re welcome.