Sophie Dahl's Eton Mess and Watermelon Radishes

Sunday, we picked up our eggs from Robert. Three dozen to be exact. Oh yes, we go through eggs like crazy around here. M. loves her egg in the morning, oozing runny yolk and all. I have lots of baking planned for the week and the farmers market was my stop to get all my provisions.



We had a big dinner planned so lunch was simple. Roasted tomatoes, blue cheese and sliced watermelon radish with yogurt and dijon dressing. Something light and quick to keep us going.

But then came dessert.



Searching for inspiration, I laid out cookbooks and magazines on the living room floor. Sometimes just browsing through UK's Country Living and definitely Elle À Table, I get a surge of ideas coming through me. Then I glanced over to my right and I saw the back of Sophie Dahl's "Voluptuous Delights". There it was. The white and rose rhubarb eton mess with crushed up meringue, a wave of heavy cream and poached rhubarb. Such beautiful color.

I thought of the rhubarb I had in the fridge. The first rhubarb of the season. I had stewed it for breakfast that morning and still had some leftovers.

That photo was just too tempting.



Whipped the egg whites and slowly baked the meringue mounds until crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Served with lightly whipped cream and the stewed rhubarb.

It didn't even make it to dinner. A mid afternoon sweet snack. Just because.



Eton Mess with Rhubarb

adapted from Sophie Dahl's Voluptuous Delights

3 egg whites
3/4 cup caster sugar
pinch of salt

Whip the egg whites until light and fluffy. Slowly sprinkle in the caster sugar and salt while whipping. Continue to whip until stiff peaks form.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spoon out the meringue forming 6 mounds. Bake at 250F for 1 hour.

Stewed Rhubarb

8 oz rhubarb, diced
1/4 cup cane sugar
1 lemon, juice and zest

Cut the rhubarb into pieces and toss them with sugar, lemon juice and zest. Cook for about 5 minutes until soft. Do not cook it to mush and keep pieces whole.

Serve the meringue with whipped cream and the stewed rhubarb on top.

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Sails

Top: RL. Cardi: Ann Taylor. Jeans: Old Navy. Shoes: Banana Republic. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Jewelry: David Yurman, Michael Kors, Pomellato, Jcrew, GAP, BR.

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Sails

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Layers Upon Layers

Dress c/o: BB Dakota. Sweater: Vince. Vest: Rachel Roy. Jacket: Zara. Tights: Hue. Thigh Highs: Madewell. Shoes: Luxury Rebel. Purse: YSL. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Jewelry: Michael Kors, Pomellato, David Yurman, GAP, BR.

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Layers Upon Layers

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Crisp

Dress: Club Monaco. Blazer: Jcrew. Shoes: Givenchy. Scarf: H&M. Bag: Chanel. Glasses: H&M. Jewelry: Pomellato, David Yurman, Michele, BR.

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Crisp

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Revisiting Old Favorites

We cooked a lot this weekend. Between all my recipe testing, mom's nourishing soups and C's barbecue experiment, we had enough food to feed an army.

"Do you want to come over for dinner Sunday night? Something very casual", I asked my friend K. It had been a few days since we had spoken and I really wanted to catch up. We can talk for hours. "I wouldn't miss it for a thing", she said.

We didn't have much time to make a dessert for Sunday's dinner so I started browsing through my recipe archives for a quick cake that I could serve with some cream and fruit. This chocolate and teff cake caught my mom's eye. "That one!", she said. A one bowl cake that is quick and super moist.

In our menu that night, we also had our version of niçoise salad with bonito from the Basque Country, potatoes, eggs, avocados and tomatoes, followed by chicken and chorizo paella.

And lots and lots of conversation. What I always look forward to.



Monday was a holiday and J. was home from school. He loves my mom's porrusalda or butternut squash and leek soup so he asked her to make it. Mine with a poached egg on top.

He also wanted his usual arroz con leche and I craved something light. Meyer lemon, almond and goat's milk custard, a variation of this recipe.



And so sometimes, nothing beats old favorites.

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Fashion Drawn

Rach of the blog Visual Basic drew these fabulous sketches as an edition of her 'Blogger Sketch Sunday' series. Thank you so much Rach, your work is truly inspiring...

xo
BEE

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Blending

Jacket: Jcrew. Top: Madewell. Vest: AE. Skirt: Forever 21. Boots: NYLA. Purse: Vintage LV. Jewelry: David Yurman, Jcrew, Pomellato, GAP, BR, Max&Chloe. Sunglasses: Burberry. Nails: Chanel Black Pearl.

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Blending

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New Lines

Dress: Missoni. Blazer: Zara. Shoes: Jil Sander. Scarf: Jcrew. Clutch: American Apparel. Jewelry: David Yurman, Michael Kors, Pomellato. Lips: Make Up Forever Professionals #41. Nails: OPI for Sephora Caliente Coral.

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New Lines

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All the Pretty Things

Dress worn as top: Diane Von Furstenberg. Skirt: Rachel Roy. Vest: Rachel by Rachel Roy. Shoes: Banana Republic. Pin: Chanel. Belt: Jcrew. Jewelry: David Yurman, Pomellato, Michael Kors, RL, BR. Lips: MAC Impassioned. Nails: Sephora by OPI Caliente Coral.

This past week I had the tremendous honor of being featured on both WhoWhatWear and the Forever21 Blog 'The Skinny'. Sometimes you just feel like the luckiest girl in the whole, wide world.

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From: Me, To: You

Dress: Forever 21. Thigh Highs: UO. Boots: Luxury Rebel. Hat: GAP. Flowers: H&M. Jewelry: Max&Chloe, David Yurman, Pomellato, Michele, GAP, BR, Jcrew.


Happy Valentine's Day from me to you..hope it is a sweet one.
xo
BEE

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There Were Sour Oranges

"Want tiny sour oranges?", texted Lena late one afternoon. "Of course!", I texted back. Who would have thought she was going to become my best produce supplier this winter. "Where did you get them?", I asked. I was curious to know who had this sour orange tree. Even though they are indigenous, it is hard to find them these days. They came from one of her friends' tree down in Boca Raton and they had more than what they knew what to do with.

"I will take them all!"



I have been working non-stop on the draft of the first chapter of the book. I finally turned it in this weekend and I am anxious to hear what my editor has to say. I am not going to lie, I doubt myself every time I have to decide what makes it into the book and what doesn't. It can be quite a lonely process. A rewarding one, of course, but lonely nonetheless.

So in between testing recipes and shooting, I decided to take a break and stop by Lena's to pick up the sour oranges. They were so tiny and fragrant. Very, very sour indeed.



I came home and started talking to my mom about what to make with them. "Marmalade", she said. Of course she said marmalade. She is the largest consumer of marmalade I know. But I wanted something different to share with Lena and her family. I opted for a classic almond cake and I took it to her the following day. I think they enjoyed it.



"I feel like something with a pudding-like texture", my mom suggested Sunday morning as she was looking at the sour oranges we had left on the counter. I remembered last year's tangerine and pistachio cake. The tangerines were cooked whole in water until tender and then pureed into a paste. I thought I could use that same technique with the sour orange and make a quick cake with it.

We planned to go to the farmers' market so I decided to cook the sour oranges before heading out the door and finish it afterwards.



We came back from the farmers' market with spinach, turnips, leeks and many more of our usuals. Mom made a quick soup with the spinach, turnips, leeks, carrots and potatoes and in the meantime, I baked these cakes with the sour orange puree, coconut and almond flour, coconut oil and the eggs from Farriss farm. A one bowl recipe. So quick and delicious. It has a very light, moist texture. A cross between a cake and a pudding.



After lunch, we sipped mint and tarragon tea and nibbled on the glazed tea cakes. A quick nap and then an afternoon stroll with M. while J. and C. had a boys day out.

And so, that was our Sunday. Easy.

Glazed Sour Orange and Coconut Pudding Cakes

Makes 2 dozen canneles or 1 8.5"x4.5" loaf pan

1 lb (450 gram)s small sour oranges or kumquats
3 eggs
1 cup (200 grams) natural cane sugar
1/2 cup (150 grams) coconut oil, melted
1 vanilla beans, split
1/2 cup (60 grams) coconut flour
1/2 cup (50 grams) almond flour
3 Tbs (30 grams) tapioca flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Place the sour oranges in a medium pot and cover them with water. Cook them covered for an hour or until tender. Drain the water and place the oranges in a large bowl. When cool enough to handle, open them with your fingers and remove and seeds. Transfer the juice and the flesh to a food processor or blender and puree to a fine paste.

Measure 1 cup (300 grams) of puree into a bowl. Add the eggs, sugar, vanilla and melted coconut oil. Whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients and fold.

Scoop into a greased loaf pan or into individual molds. Bake at 350F for about 18-20 minutes for small molds and 45-50 minutes for the loaf pan. Insert a clean toothpick in the center to see if it comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the pan for a few minutes before unmolding.

Orange glaze

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup orange juice

Whisk them until it forms a fluid glaze. Pour over warm cakes.

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