February Recipes : Pear and Almond Pastries

/ karen

I’m making these again today. I opened the kitchen cupboards and there was literally nothing cheerful in there! No biscuits, chocolate, cake. We’ve run out of everything. I wonder if we will look back on these times and ponder how we lived through this pandemic and learned to appreciate the simple things in life. I shall certainly never take for granted being able to just pop to the shops. Everything has to be so well organised. Lists on top of lists. All food is being delivered, for which I’m extremely grateful. But, oh, the dismay at discovering that I’ve forgotten something- just as I’ve pressed the button to order supplies. It’ll be a week before I can get another delivery. We do see an end in sight with vaccines on the way, so keep going everyone. Keep smiling. And make pastries, as there’s nothing nicer to cheer you up than the sight of these lovely tasty treats. Any fruit can be used, they are just as lovely with apples, frozen plums, raspberries, tinned peaches – any combination you like. Let me know what recipes are keeping you cheered up, and report back if you make any of these delicious pastries too.

Here’s the link for the recipe: https://bramblegarden.com/2020/11/02/pear-and-almond-pastries-family-favourite-recipes/

And a photo of spring flowers to bring some joy as well:

White primulas. My favourites. Though I have seen some deep red double varieties mixed in with burnt orange which might look lovely in a blue China casserole dish…. if only I could get out to buy some.

Narcissi Geranium and cut flower collection tulips from last spring. All my tulips are poking through the ground now, and daffodils are in bud and flowering early. The veg patch is covered in forgetmenots. I use them as a green mulch to protect the soil and keep down weeds. Some are potted up to stand on the summerhouse steps. They are very easy to dig up as they have a shallow, fibrous root system. They do well when lifted and grown on in containers.

Daffodils make a very welcome return. I’ve watered them with potash or tomato fertiliser, having taken advice from a medal-winning grower. The liquid feed helps to strengthen the stems and enhances the colour, making them stronger and brighter. A good tip as we regularly seem to be getting stormy spring weather. It’s so sad to see daffodils flattened by the wind.

Eranthis hyemalis – winter aconite in the woodland garden. They won’t last long as temperatures are currently 13C.

Green-tipped Galanthus Viridapice looking pretty on the potting shed window. Snowdrops too have been a very welcome and joyous sight. But in the mild weather, they have opened right out and will be going over sooner than usual. I shall water these too with weak tomato fertiliser in the hope of boosting the size of the bulbs and increase the number of flowers for next year.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

*I’m trying something new- doing Instagram live sessions from the greenhouse every day, essentially to keep in touch with my Mum and MIL Joan, and also to show my daughters how to grow plants from seed. Under normal circumstances I would be by their side helping them with their new houses and first gardens. But I can’t while we are in lockdown, so I’m doing what I can from home. I’m karengimson1 on instagram.

33 thoughts on “February Recipes : Pear and Almond Pastries”

  2. We’re still trying to ration our intake of Christmas goodies including two cakes made by different hands. The 12lb Chicken gift, (AKA a Capon) is still residing in the in-laws chest freezer, being to big for ours. Anyway, I haven’t yet defrosted my 3lb chicken, which does fit into our freezer.

    It’s a pleasure seeing the pictures of your creations. The budding garden is full of hope of the coming pleasures. x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. These look delicious Karen and the first signs of spring in yoir garden are delightful. Our snow has gone at last so I hope that is the last of it for this winter, although we have had snow in April on many occasions! Keep calm and carry on gardening. xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you Cathy. It’s 12C today and going up to 15C on Wednesday. Weird weather for February, especially after all that snow. As you say, we can have snow in April/ May! Keep calm and carry on is all we can do. Enjoy your gardening. Xx

      Like

      Reply

  5. I don’t use Instagram but always assumed it was just photos – how lovely to be able to show your daughters how to sow seeds, even if you can’t meet in person. Presumably, unlike Zoom, anyone can access it without specific permission? It must be cheery to see daffodils in your garden…just a few buds here so far. Stay strong, Karen, we will be out at the other side in due course…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you Cathy. Yes, anyone can watch the instagram live videos. It’s just another way of reaching out to people when we are stuck at home like this. The care home puts them up on the big screen in the lounge so the residents and staff can enjoy my garden too. Very cheerful to see the spring flowers, especially primroses and violets. Take care Cathy. Keep smiling. Enjoy your lovely garden. Xx

      Like

      Reply

    • Thank you Anne. Thanks for your kind words. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. I’m trying to make the weekends special somehow by cooking treats and doing something different, otherwise all the days roll into one and I don’t know what day or time it is. Take care. Have a good Sunday. Xx

      Like

      Reply

      • We are so blessed that we are free to move about in our area. The COVID rate has been low, and we’re to get our second vaccination shot this week. I hope you will soon be set free to see the people you love. We were lucky with that, too, since a son and a grandson live with us. Hope your week is off to a good start. xx

        Liked by 1 person

      • So pleased to hear your good news Anne. Glad you’ve had your first vaccine and second on the way. I’m sure our turn will come soon, and we have so much to be grateful for- having a garden to keep us busy has really helped. Have a great week. It’s lovely and sunny here. Xx

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Karen, thank you very much for the link to the recipe for those delicious pear and almond cakes. They give you the submissions once a week, but if you forget something … until next week you have to do without it. Karen you make me very happy with your phrases “We see an end in sight with vaccines on the way, so everyone keep going. Keep smiling.” I love them, that’s encouragement, hope and positive thoughts Karen, hooray! You have infected me: thank you very much my dear friend. White Primroses are divine and they are also my favorites, I love them. What a divine, wonderful, special bouquet, and what magnificent flowers it has, I love them Spring is coming to your garden Karen: tulips sprouting, daffodils blooming early and forget-me-nots in bloom, I love it. Daffodils are divine, I love them. Here the weather is also very choppy and windy throughout February. Winter Aconite is very special, I adore it. Green-tipped Galanthus Viridapice is magnificent in the Shed window, I love it. I love snowdrops and this year they have bloomed before. Karen you have to tell me about that special tomato fertilizer. Karen I follow you on Instagran and I have seen the videos in Greenhouse and I love them: in some I have left comments and in others I just left a heart. It is the best way to teach your daughters to make their own gardens in this time when we cannot get together. But Karen will have many years to be with them in their gardens digging and planting and taking plants and seeds !! With the videos of now you see your family, your Mother, MIL Joan, your two daughters and your friends who we love. Health, strength, encouragement, hope, positive thoughts and a lot of love for your whole family, Mr B and for you. Loving caresses for Grace, Meg and the friendly Monty. Take good care of you all and keep yourself safe. Warm hugs. Happy weekend. Sending my best wishes and affection. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita xxx 😘🤗💟🙏🌼🌸🌷

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you very much Margarita. That is so true, I will hopefully have many years of gardening with my daughters. In my desperation to be there now, I’ve forgotten that there will be a future and there will be time to teach them and show them how to make a garden and enjoy a life in nature. Thank you for reminding me and for your kind encouragement in everything I do. It’s always appreciated. Enjoy the weekend. Sending affectionate greetings from us all. You’ve seen Monty now in the videos. Isn’t he gorgeous? Love and best wishes, karen. Xxx 🥰🙂💜🌺🌈

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Karen you don’t have to thank me, that’s what our friendship is for to help each other in whatever way we can. If I have opened your eyes to something and she has done you good, the one who is very happy is me for you. Karen I have seen Monty in the videos of the Greenhouse on Instagram: he is more than adorable, he is funny how he plays with the Greenhouse door when you open it and he is charming as he goes on an expedition through the snowy garden like a dog, because a cat with the snow stays indoors in the heat playing. An affectionate hug and much love for everyone. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita Xxx 😘🤗💟🙏🌸🌷🌼⭐

        Liked by 1 person

      • Thanks to you, Karen. Yes, you are very lucky to have Monty, but also to have Grace and Meg. Give the Three Musketeers loving caresses for me. Have a very good and happy week. Very affectionate greetings from Margarita xxx 😘🤗💟🙏🌷

        Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Eliza. Must say, the daffodils are a joy. Snowdrops were early, but with temperatures of 13C, a and up to 15C predicted for Wednesday, they will go over quite quickly. Glad you found them cheerful Eliza. Take care. Karen x

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Yes, that sounds delicious, Cathy. I’ve just sown some spinach seeds for baby spinach. Thanks for your message. Keep smiling too. We are getting there 🙂💜🌺🌈

      Like

      Reply

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. It's nice to know I'm not talking to myself on here.