Photo Friday - Buffet Lunch

The photo Friday this week is a picture I took recently as promotional material for a friend who is starting a business doing cold buffets. I can definitely recommend him - if you are in the area and in need give Geoff a shout on 07564 902 917!

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Summer Knits: 6. Moving On Up

Hooray, I finally did it. Two sleeves completed, joined to the rest of the body and I've now started to work on the yoke. Progress is slow as each row contains 409 stitches at the moment, but its good to be working on the main body again. It's all downhill from here.

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Garden Blogger Blooms Day - October

Ill just leave these here...

Why hello mr buzzy bee!

Our beans did awfully this year - those ones behind are as big as they have got. New seed for next year I think!

The last of the sweet peas, guaranteed. The plants are in the compost heap now!

The cyclamen are starting  to bloom. It must be getting cold...

And another month where I shall say the last clematis flower of the year!

Although it was windy when I took these photos this rudbeckiia really does just look windswept.

This penstemon is rapidly becoming one of my favourite plants for abandoning in an awkward corner. This one is under a dry overhang at the front of the house and is still flowering many months on!

Linking up with May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day again.

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Photo Friday - Machir Bay

Another panorama - this time a view over the dunes of Machir Bay on Islay.

And for those of you who would like to see it at full size - here is a link to download it. If you want to use this or any other image on this site for anything more than personal use please ask my permission.

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Kitchen Gadgets: 2. Zester

This months gadget is a very simple one - it has no moving parts and is entirely mechanical. It is a zester. I use it for baking and cooking in equal measure. I am sure many of you have attempted to use the "zester" side of a box grater and cursed at the amount of rind left stuck between the barbs. This method doesn't have that problem. It produces lovely long strands of lemon zest that you can either use whole or chop more finely. I also find it gets almost no pith and still does a good job of getting the zest off the whole fruit, particularly knobbly lemons! There is also something rather satisfying about methodically removing long strips of zest.

Smoked Salmon Risotto 

Serves 2

• One Diced Shallot
• 15ml Oil / Butter
• 150g Risotto Rice
• 1/2 Litre Vegetable Stock (I use standard swiss vegetable buillon - the green tub)
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 3 Drops Lemon Oil (optional)
• 60-120g Smoked Salmon Trimmings (as much as you fancy, we use value ones)
• 100g Spinach / Rocket (depending on time of year)
• Grated Parmesan (to garnish)

Fry off the shallot on a low heat. Make up the vegetable stock, adding the zest and juice along with the bay leaf and lemon oil. Add the rice to the shallot and stir through. Add the stock mixture bit at a time, mixing lots and letting it gently simmer. Once the stock is used up and the risotto is cooked, stir the smoked salmon through. Serve on a bed of leaves and garnish with parmesan.

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Photo Friday - Buttons

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Summer Knits 5. Must there be two?

While it's definitely autumn now our Summer Knits are still progressing but I must admit I'm getting a little impatient with mine at the moment. It's an impatience that I'm sure that everyone who's ever knitted socks, gloves, mittens or a jumper can probably attest to.... I'm knitting the second sleeve! I really want to get working on the yoke, which is going to be by far the most interesting bit of the whole thing, but I can't until I have two sleeves. *Sighs*

We've got lots of driving and plenty of time sat chatting to people this weekend so hopefully I can plough on and get to the interesting bit soon. Fingers crossed, eh?

p.s. I know I talk about my summer knit much more frequently than Joe's. That's because he's a much busier person than I am, coupled with being a new knitter, and as such is making much slower progress. I'll show you how he's getting on when there's something to show. 

Previously: 4. Bust Shaping

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