Sunday Salon and World Update

 

Well, back on the circuit of Sunday Salon,  and for those who don't know, that gathering spot is hosted by the lovely Deb Nance of Readerbuzz.  It's a place to share what's going on in your life and visit with others doing the same.

I'm highlighting this post with a flower arrangement that evolves from day to day, depending on what lovely things show up in the garden.  To God be the glory.  He is truly amazing!  

To make a long story short, the tea plants (Camellia sinensis assamica - my cultivar) were blooming due to more light coming in after a radical pruning of the lychee tree. One of their amazing blossoms is on the right and has a scent that is truly from heaven!

More from the garden, again due to that lychee pruning, and mulch from chipping the branches.  At first these mushrooms were a mystery, as they did not (to me) seem to fit anything in my book, Mushrooms of Hawaii.  Note - we have a book!  More coming.  However, after finally consulting with the author, Don Hemmes, I was happy to discover that they are not only edible but choice!  Thank you Dr. Hemmes! Too late to eat any, but better safe than sorry!  As more appear, we will know what to do. The book notes that you want to eat them in the "primordium stage" - the small, darker ones.

And in case you were wondering about the lychee tree and mushrooms in situ, check the size of that trunk!  It's been with us for quite some time, and we were hoping that a radical prune would encourage it to produce some fruit.  More than a half dozen!

Mysterious mushrooms and now a mystery pot.  It had been on the top shelf of my kitchen cupboard for Lord knows how many years and I finally decided to get it down and find out what exactly it was and how to use it.  That took awhile, but the mystery was solved at last by the brother of my dear friend and CPA from China.  Once I knew the name it was viewable online.  A Yunan steam pot.  A whole culinary world opened up, recipes and all.  You set it over a pot of boiling water, where it has to fit snugly, then do a nice long steam cook.  Coming up soon. Watch for it, when I actually use the thing.

This is a category all its own.  A lacto-fermentation of bitter melon.  What you do in case anyone gives you a bag of bitter melons and you haven't got a clue.  Look up something online of course.  That photo was day one.  We have now finished said fermentation and are having some whenever in the mood.  Though still not too sure how to fit them in with a meal. 

However, it would fit perfectly with a Japanese meal that incorporates little side dishes.  Which suggests our next Cook The Books Club selection - The Kamogawa Food Detectives.  

Books

Currently Reading

Alignment, by Asher Intrater.  So we don't get bogged down in the material world, a look at how our lives can and should be aligned with God.

Also currently reading this one, and so far it is quite intriguing and full of delicious meals, as well as little mysteries solved. A Japanese best seller.

 

I'm sorry, but sometimes you just can't beat sitting down with good old Agatha.  Usually a winner, and this Towards Zero, was no exception!

The Road to Murder, a rather complicated who done it, though the setting alone makes me want to take off for this precise location in Italy. 

Lost Lake, by Sarah Addison Allen, who frequently comes through.  This is a charming, romantic change of life novel.  I enjoyed it.

And, a very old, but excellent book by Elizabeth Goudge, A City of Bells.  I just love her writing.  Oldies but goodies category!

Well, that's all folks, hoping you have a delightful week-end, wherever you are.

A Week or Two in Review - Sunday Salon

The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  is where we are given the opportunity of sharing what we've been up to and engaging with others to that end.  

What this amounts to, for me anyway, is food, books and garden!  Not necessarily in that order.  And, occasionally my blog, for which this post is a partial remedy.  I have been derelict in that life department of late.  Throw in some favorite photos!  And, they might all get mixed up in no particular order.

Down the slide and into the pool, with exuberance, goes Naomi!  Favorite photos department.

This version of Pancotto, Parmesan-Garlic Crisped Bread with Spicy Greens, could be categorized under both Food and Cookbook review.  From Milk Street Shorts by Christopher Kimball.  Many of his interpretations are fairly easy to prepare, some I would't call Short, still good and inspiring,   With this recipe I did substitute our own garden greens for the heads of escarole, and it turned out quite delicious.  After renewing the book several times from the library, it's usually a sign I should actually buy it!

Another from his Cookbook is due to be made tonight!  A Zucchini Carbonara, for which Kimball says "Would Italians really substitute zucchini for guanciale in carbonara?  Yes! And it's delicious!"  However, I will be adding Prosciutto!  And substituting my preserved salted lemon for the grated lemon zest in Kimball's recipe  Too many recipes call for lemon zest and I like to give my salted lemons more opportunities to shine. They just assume you don't have any.  Luckily I look upon recipes more as inspiration!  But for that you need a recipe.

Would you believe I have an 850 page Great Italian Cooking cookbook (circa 1968) and Gourmet Today's 1007 pages, neither of which has a recipe for Carbonara?! That's why we have the internet folks!!  Where this is going is a revision here.  Because inquiring minds want to know!  I discovered that the true history of Carbonara turns out to be  much more recent than is generally thought.  

Herb of the day: Za'atar!  I was lucky enough to find some at the Farmer's Market and grabbed it quick.  Here is a quote from Yotam Ottolenghi (Culinary inspiration of the century) on the subject, from his book Jerusalem: "If there is one smell to match the emblematic image of the Old City of Jerusalem, one odor that encapsulates the soul of this ancient city nestling in the Judean Mountains, it is za'atar....sharp, warm and slightly pungent.  For us it conjures the most visceral memories of a warm day on the hills."  

I am so looking forward to using it in my cooking, for which he has a number of suggestions.  Also to have the blessing of successfully propagating the herb.  Presently trying to root it in water and in some small pots.

Fruit of the day:  Tamarillo, or Tree Tomato 

I love this one!  When you see a fruit similar in size to a small tomato but with orange flesh and lots of seeds, you've happened upon a tamarillo. Because the fruits closely resemble a tomato, it's also referred to as a tree tomato plant (Solanum betaceum).  The seeds are like passionfruit, edible and unnoticeable when eaten.

BOOKS

On the Blog:  A Review of Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame: https://honeyfromrock.blogspot.com/2026/09/mrs-quinn-and-memories-of-pie.html.  A thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing novel.

The Other Bennet Sister, by Janice Hadlow.  Totally depressing through too much of the book, though it does end well.

The Case of the Missing Madonna, by Lin Anderson.  A great detective mystery with fascinating history and lush descriptions of the French Riviera.

Whistler, by Ann Patchett.  Touching and emotional, a beautiful and profound family drama.  I loved it.

The Lost Man of Bombay, by a favorite author, Vaseem Khan, third in his series featuring Persis Wadia, India''s first woman detective Police Inspector in Post Independence 1950 Bombay.  Intriguing and well written.

Well, that's all for now folks.  I hope and pray that everyone is having a safe and enjoyable weekend!