This week we had the pleasure of meeting a very interesting woman.  She is the reigning American Honey Princess, Allison Adams.  Allison travels the nation bringing the story of the honeybees and their sweet gift.  The bees are lucky to have her as an advocate.

For our treat this week, we have adapted a couple of the recipes that Allison gave us.  The bread is sweet and homey.  The apricots are sweet and fruity and enhanced by the honey.  We have paired it up with some Honey Cream Cheese Spread.  Its slight tartness works perfectly with the bread.  Both of these recipes are delicious on their own.  In fact, the spread would be fantastic for bagels.

savour... the buzzing of bees

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It's been a long week.  I planned several posts for this week, but circumstances beyond my control prevented me from presenting quality material.  The good news is that I have a new computer and internet solution, so I am ready to go.  To make up for the delay, I brought you something shiny.  I hope you like it.

Several years ago I bought a sack full of chandelier crystals for a ridiculously low price at the Rose Bowl flea market.  They have been waiting out their chance to shine while sitting in a bin in the studio.  Many will still have to wait for another project (maybe a lighting project), but I shined a few up for this beaded curtain project to bring a little sparkle to a drab corner of a room.

savour... your chance to shine

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This weekend the initial phase of our community garden project wraps up with a ribbon cutting.  There will be door prizes, treats, and photo opps for local politicians and would be gardeners.  Of course, this is just the beginning, but the area residents are very excited and several beds have already started to grow.

 
As a bonus, today is also Eliza Doolittle Day.  As you may recall from My Fair Lady, Eliza sings a vengeful tune about Henry Higgins.  Her fantasy includes frequent royal visits and a proclamation from the king... 'Next week, on the 20th of May, I proclaim it 'Liza Doolittle Day'.  Between the theater and the film, I have heard that line sung dozens of times.

You can consider today's treat, then, as a tribute to Eliza Doolittle.  The lavender is lightly fragrant and what could be more fitting than tea cakes.  We made ours as tea cakes, but you could use this recipe for other vessels.  Just be sure to adjust your cooking times and monitor closely.

savour... the rain in Spain

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Burgers are a mainstay in many american homes. Not only are they quick and easy to make, but in terms of ingredients they are very economical, as well.  With the introduction of the burger joint in the mid 1900s, the US fell in love with the hamburger.  

In my hometown, there was a wonderful place called Burger Chef that has fallen by the wayside with so many other wannabe burger franchises.  Trips to the supermarket with Mom often meant darting into Burger Chef, too.  That was the best.  Later, while I was a student in Madrid, I spent many a late evening at the Burger Pop getting my fill of 'back home'. 

 
Making burgers couldn't be easier, but we sometimes make things more difficult than they really are.  There are many variations out there for elaborate burgers, but sometimes the most basic version is the best.  This post is dedicated to making the basic burger right.  From there add what you like to take it to the next level.

savour... simple satisfaction

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Spring has officially bloomed and despite some nasty weather around the US, the air is filled with twittering birds and floral fragrance.  It won’t be long before spring gives way to summer.  We thought this might be the right time to celebrate a bit of what spring has to offer in terms of color.

We have chosen 5 spring themed pictures from around the web and pulled some color combinations directly from the images.  This first table setting photograph is from www.stylemepretty.com.  What a nice place to sit for a meal.  The colors are so sunny.  How might you use them?

Beyond the subtle muted palette of this art from www.freya-art.com, the message is sweet and completely spring.  Spring colors do not necessarily mean pastels.  This is a wonderful example.

savour... a colorful life

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For many, the summer means many more photo opportunities.  There will be cookouts and family vacations, pool time and trips to the beach.  Being prepared with a few tips can make a great deal of difference in how your memories are captured.  For those who already know the tips, this might be the perfect time to pass the information on to a youngster who can use the summer to practice.

Taking pictures is easy.  Creating a photograph is a completely different subject all together.  The former requires pushing the button while the latter requires pushing the buttons of those who look at your work.  With a good understanding of how your camera works and some careful composition you can be telling stories instead of creating a reference manual.

savour… storytelling

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Spring is quickly yielding to summer here.  As we make the transition in Dallas, I try to relish all of the aspects of spring that bring me joy, such as the blossoming of the magnolia trees and the much more frequent yard visits from our local ducks.  Because the seasons seem to merge rather quickly here, we also get the onset of fireflies at the same time.  It's an amazing period in the year.   

Our treat today goes perfectly with the season and would make a lovely finish for a late spring / early summer dinner.  The combination of these two fruits is sweet, tart, and fragrant.  The lightness of this treat is punctuated with just a little bit of crunchy shell on the outside.  It truly captures much of what is good about dessert.

savour... transitions

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