A good half-term holiday week

The clocks went back an hour last weekend marking the end of British Summer Time and Autumn has certainly arrived.

I received a bunch of gladioli and it has been intriguing to watch the buds unfurl and change colour at different times of the day with the changing light.  I've also put the individual pots of white hyacinth bulbs that I planted and placed in a warm, dark area some time ago onto the kitchen window so that they will get some light and, hopefully, produce flowers in time for Christmas.

Yesterday we ended our time this week with the grandchildren by going for a walk in the woods followed by lunch out.  There are many good places nearby to walk in the countryside, but a favourite one combines water and woodland by one of the local reservoirs;  the north end of Ladybower Reservoir.

There was a cold wind and the water looked rough, but the Autumn colours of the ferns, beech and larch trees were still beautiful. There were plenty of other walkers out and about making the most of the dry, sunny day.

We were on the look-out for wild life and fungi, but the only mushroom-shaped objects we saw were obviously something to do with reservoir maintenance with a connection to pipes that cross this stretch of the reservoir.

We were certainly ready for some lunch by the time we walked back to the car and we drove back passed the Strines Moor to a restaurant near home, which rounded off the day very well. 

Market Treats

When we are in Italy we often go to the weekly market in a local market place. 

  

As well as the regional variety of ciambelle biscuits, sweet and savoury, hand-made pasta, honey  and other cakes there are tarts with different fillings.

My sisters-in-law are all good cooks and make their own breads, pasta and desserts, but I like to buy at these artisan market stalls to take as a gift or for when someone comes to visit us at home.

Last time I bought a tart with a zabaglione custard filling and a tray of biscuits.

I've been looking through a new recipe book with the idea of cooking some different desserts other than apple pies, jam tarts and sponge cakes. I'm not keen on chocolate spread, but the grandchildren love it so a crostata with a cream filling would be very popular.