Yesterday I baked a rustic raspberry buttermilk cake - because I had a lot of fruit
at hand which required eating. I like most fruits cooked rather than raw - swallowing
and digesting is much easier for me.
I've made this cake for years - go HERE for the original recipe - but this time
I changed pans. I tried it in a deeper French fluted removable bottom pan which
made it more of a cake than the original shallower and larger in circumference
coffeecake. I also changed vanilla essence to almond essence - raspberries and
almonds go together perfectly.
It took longer to bake but turned out really well and, with a scoop of freshly
whipped heavy cream, made a great dessert.
Going to have to work on the 'pandemic weight gain' soon!
An afternoon garden break - with my camera of course - enabled me to get some
good bird shots as we had filled the feeders.
Above is the cutest, very young I believe, Northern mockingbird trying out the
suet feeder. I used to be able to stand on one leg like that. . . . . and not fall over!!!
We have dozens of Northern cardinals with us year round - many have nested
in the garden again this year. This is a handsome male and, although not quite as
deep red as in the winter months, he is one of the brightest flashes of color in
the garden year round.
Some days it feels like we have more dastardly squirrels than birds!
This Spring they are everywhere,
I'm sure there was a spike in the birth rate around February.
It's love-hate relationship. . . . . they are clever and cute, but they're
digging in my pots, chewing my tomato leaves (along with the rabbits),
and, as always, gorging themselves on birdseed which they knock out
of the feeders.
I tossed out a few frozen blueberries to see what they would make of those -
my goodness, this one was there in a heartbeat and gobbling them up nonstop!
They are definitely bright-eyed and bushy tailed at this time of year - and look so healthy.
Doubt there are any viruses bothering them currently!
Hope your week is going well.
Stay strong.
.png)
