When winter declares




It really has been the mildest of winters here in Suffolk, barely a frost, no snow, none of those long icy days of the last few years.




So the last week has been rather a surprise. A sharp, cold snap.




The sun so low and bright.



The landscape edged in frozen lace. On my daily run the trees seem frozen in the very moment. As though someone hit pause.

I rather like it. I am certainly glad we haven't had weeks of ice and slush but this, right now, this is perfect. A short declaration of winter.



That glorious feeling of a frozen woodland floor crunching beneath you. The frozen fields are bright and glistening under the low January sun.

Days like these are made for kitchen pottering.



And as it's January, the citrus fruit rules supreme. Orange and almond cake. Dense, damp sponge, the sort of slightly grown up cake that begs to be eaten early in the day with a big bowl of coffee. That oily orange zest feels positively restorative and the almond sweetly whispers of Mediterranean nut groves and summer sunshine.

I used the Orange Blossom Cake recipe from my very well thumbed copy of Nigella Lawson's How To Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food (Cookery)


Comments

Not So Granny said…
Very poetic - I need a slice!
Ali said…
I'm feeling the need to pop round to your house - and not to go running either!
raining sheep said…
Looks so good!!! It's -30C here today...just seeing that gorgeous orange citrus is like seeing warm sunshine.
Shelley in SC said…
Oh, yummy. Just love that pic of the orange in the sharp winter sunlight!!
That sounds and looks divine. Just the right amount of sunshine to boost these Winter days.

Nina x
Victoria said…
Stunning photos. And I could just eat a slice. x
Cybèle said…
That time of year when you normally tell us about lemons. I guess oranges are not far off!
Anonymous said…
I'm drinking fresh lime juice every day at the moment until I can find some blood oranges.

I don't generally make cakes but a tea shop that I was in sold slices of cake made from that recipe so I indulged and it was, indeed, magnificent.
Annie said…
Oh yum! But I'm trying to lose weight, oh dear ... I wonder how large a slice I could get away with ;D
Jane said…
I have lots of oranges right now! Looks like I have to make a run to the library for that cookbook, YUM!
asimpleyarn said…
And so, as I read your lovely testimony to winter and zest, a glaze of ice coats everything outside my window. A cup of tea in one hand and yet, a plate of almond orange-iness is missing in the other...sigh.
Anonymous said…
Ahh now I remember that I have some sevilles waiting to be turned into marmalade. Perhaps a job for a crisp Saturday afternoon.
Andi said…
Citrus is our friend here in AZ as well. Love any and all of Nigella's recipes.

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