Gardening!

Here are the most recent garden pictures... I can't believe we already have roses in bloom! And look at these colors!!! 

(Pictures taken Thursday)

We were rather naughty garden neighbors and we dug up a peony bush that is in the overgrown plot next to us (that no one has tended to in years). Poor hubby had to go through the thigh-high nettle to get it but at least now it's in a spot where it can shine and obviously adored by us. 

The cucumbers and zucchinis are doing well... We have never had so many cucumbers sprout from seeds before!

The potatoes are about knee high and blooming. I love that we plant ours earlier than everyone else, because we've already been enjoying the delight that is new potatoes. :)

Sunflowers are something my mom and I just can't agree on. So I have a tradition of planting them on the farthest bit of the garden. Here they are in front compost right next to the lane. Furthest corner, but in prime viewing from the lane. I wonder if people stop to look at them when they bloom...

Anise. I have no idea what to do with it. 

Raspberries!

Picked bouquet... LOOOOOVE IT! 

The strawberry haul was delicious!

My mom and I both picked a bouquet of these sweet williams.

Mint that inspired mojitos...

Oh mojitos? Friday night? SURE!!

These get to your head far more easily than I remembered...

I also wanted to share my chocolate cakes from last week. I made two. Lol.

I used Joy the Baker's chocolate bundt cake recipe for this cake. I realized I didn't have a bundt pan and the folk's house until it was too late. The cake ended up really weird (maybe because I also used gluten-free flours) and while it shouldn't have been raw, it was kind of raw-ish. Or dense but marshmellowy. Either way, I couldn't eat it...but the glaze!!! OH MY!! If you ever want to make a super delicious glaze -- make this one!! (the glaze and cake recipe are linked HERE)

Here is my second cake, the ever trustworthy Busy Day chocolate cake (linked HERE).  I even used this recipe for one of my wedding cakes (yes, I baked them and my mother in law decorated them! How's that for DIY wedding!).

I made this for a friend who I assumed was vegan (she wasn't after all). Another reason this cake is so great! It's light, airy and tasty while also being ok for vegan friends. See, there is no margarine/butter or eggs. Just oil and vinegar (weird, I know, but trust me!). I held off on glazes and frosting as I was trying to avoid the whole butter thing, instead I used ground almond and pansies as decoration. And I drizzled it with Disaronno again.

*new flea market find: heart-shaped cake pan! 

I hope I'll be able to find the time to blog over the next couple of weeks, busy times ahead of me you see. Work, work, work.

I'm so very glad I did get some R&R this weekend. 

Thanks for reading!