The most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time..........

Fennel after rain :)

Breakfast

During the week I eat breakfast alone, usually in the kitchen, sometimes out in the garden. I like my solitary breakfasts, they give me a good start to the day. Occasionally I'll have just coffee or tea, but I usually have something to eat. I have definite favourites, and am not one for cereals, apart from the odd bowl of cornflakes with very cold milk.
This morning I had one of my favourites, hot buttered cinnamon and raisin bagel with strong coffee.
Other favourite breakfasts: boiled egg (hardish boiled) with toast; homemade bread toasted; smoked salmon and scrambled eggs; egg, milk and honey whisked up together; fresh fruit; Yeo Valley natural yoghurt and fresh blueberries;full English breakfast; eggs and black pudding...........
At the weekends we tend to have poached eggs on Saturday and fried breakfast of osme persuasion on Sundays.
My best ever breakfast was in Paris, back in 1980 - I've never forgotten it - fresh, warm baguette with the freshest, sweetest butter and huge bowls of the best coffee I've ever drunk. I've tried to replicate it several times, but never come close; maybe it's better it stays as a memory :)

What about you, what do you have?

Show of hands

Elderflower cordial

This one is well worth making - summer in a bottle,a nd will keep for a long time, either processed in a hot water bath or frozen in eg palstic milk containers. Drink it with soda or plain water and lots of ice, drizzle it over cakes, use to flavour stewed fruit. icecream, whipped cream etc, mix with gin or vodka..........endless uses :)

1 colanderful of flowers, as much green removed as possible, but I don't worry too much

water to cover

sugar

Place flowers in pan and cover withcold water; simmer for about 15 minutes or so, strain, and measure the liquid. Return it to the pan and add 12 ox white sugar to each pint of liquid. Heat getnly until sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Leave to cool, then store/process/drink as desired.
Use diluted as squash; also makes lovely summery ice lollies!