The Sneaky Magpie

I woke up to a rather grey Saturday morning. The sun is still a bit shy but it is definitely getting milder outside. Snowdrops and crocuses are everywhere making the dull wet grounds colorful and the daffodils are nearly in bloom.

I got a lovely parcel from my friend in Amsterdam – a box of Easter eggs. The Dutch Easter eggs are especially nice, hopefully they will survive the next 3 weeks.

The worst thing about this part of the year is lack of good fruit and vegetables. I am so fed up with all the roots, cauliflowers, cabbages and apples that lost their sweetness. It is still some time before we have all the lovely spring peas, chives, radishes and strawberries.  I decided to re-subscribe to Abel&Cole and my first seasonal box is arriving on Friday, hopefully this will stimulate my imagination as they often have things I am not even able to find at my local farmers market.

Last week I got some Jerusalem artichokes and decided to make a warm salad.

The artichokes were roasted for 45 minutes at 180°C with thyme, bay leaf, olive oil and some salt. In a separate tray I roasted some hazelnuts for 10 minutes to make the bitter skins fall off. The artichokes and hazelnuts were combined with rocket, fennel and vinaigrette dressing. I suppose there is still a tiny small room to get creative.

And of course we baked bread again, this one was spectacular, the best one so far. It’s so important to keep going and experimenting, making mistakes is a part of the learning process after all. We made 2 large sourdough loaves, I think our work colleagues will be sampling it on Monday.

The bread was slightly moist, chewy and full of big air bubbles, the nutty flavor was there and the crust was superb. Long proofing time is really the way to do it.

I truly don’t think we will go back to buying bread ever again. Baking is a very enjoyable process and I love feeding the starter, it is like my pet. I had a bit of a comedy moment this morning when the starter fermented so much it popped the tupperwear lid up and spilled out of its container. It is a living creature.

Today is the first proper spring day, the sun is shining and I could feel its warmth on my face. In our bid to discover as much of South West London as possible we cycled down to Tooting Bec Common.

It’s a fantastic common with large green spaces and little bits of wild, lots of brambles and gorse, duck ponds, an outdoor café and the wonderful lido.

When I walked in and saw colorful changing rooms and a blue sheet of water reflecting the sunshine I was speechless.

Dating back to 1906 when it first opened it is the 3rd largest lido in Europe, the largest in England, open to members every single day of the year and to the public from the 24th of May till the end of September. I will be sure to go this year.

I used to go to an open air swimming pool in Amsterdam every week, it didn’t matter if it was cold or rainy, once I was in the water it felt wonderful.

Back at home I am having a fantastic Gaskell time. Two exciting books just hit the shelves: David Eggers’ Zeitoun and Nancy Mitford’s Wigs on the Green. The latter has landed in my mail box already.

Somehow my book pile has managed to grow again and as work is busy (animating dog food and shooting commercial with UK’s favorite pop princess) I don’t get that much time to read. Better get back to it!

Few days ago Lisa from Krim Krams announced a giveaway of a stunning Portmeirion cup and saucer, of course I promptly joined the fun and this morning I found out I won it! I haven’t won anything since I was a little girl so it put a huge smile on my face. Thank you Lisa!

Later on today a Hummingbird Bakery box landed on my desk. A special selection of Valentine’s Day cup cakes for everyone in my office.

I am not a huge fan of cup cakes but tried one and the sponge was nice and moist, the icing was not too sickly sweet and it was so pretty, soon I found myself tucking in with my fingers dyed red and glitter everywhere.

Then the sugar rush hit and my colleague and I headed down to Waterstone’s  in Piccadilly to look at some issues of McSweeney’s (usually I am very lazy and cannot be bothered to walk that far). It’s extremely hard to choose just one so we quickly decided we will buy them off Amazon later on. Check out the great story behind the name of the literary magazine here and watch Dave Eggers at TED, he is so brilliant. Before returning to the office we looked at some more books, I always want to buy a lot so it was hard to leave empty handed.

Afterward came the crash and I actually started to crave another cup cake like a junkie.

Unfortunately for me Hummingbird Bakery has just opened a shop in Soho. While Notting Hill is a save distance away, Wardour Street is a mere 5 minutes from my office. I only hope my sugar levels go back to normal by Monday and I will forget it altogether.

It’s 9.00pm and I am still buzzing.

I have not read a book for a bit which is very unusual for me. Maybe it is because I am forcing myself to read books I own and haven’t read yet, or perhaps I ditched the tube for a bike loosing up to 1h of valuable reading time a day.

Very often I read book after book and when I get to # 5 or 6 I can’t concentrate anymore and need a break. I don’t stop reading entirely but engage in magazines and short stories instead until the book hunger pang strikes again.

At the moment I am reading short stories by Chekhov, Bukowski and J.D. Salinger. Chekhov has been one of my most beloved writers forever, his elegant and pure style is a big part of my literary education. I read all Bukowski’s books in one go and got a slight overdose while reading his short stories but I reached for The Most Beautiful Woman in Town again and I am enjoying it a lot. As for Salinger, I loved Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey but couldn’t engage with his stories, I had a second approach at Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters this morning and I can’t wait to go back to it when I get a free moment.

My book pile is getting smaller and smaller, I was really hoping to be done with it by the end of the year but I really don’t think this will happen. The few books left to read are:

Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller

Ulysses (2 failed attempts – what I need is a right moment in the future)

The Corporation by Joel Bakan (not feeling it at all so might skip it)

The Faithful River by Zeromski

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

And a few books that I am planning to read afterward:

Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, Tortilla Flat and Travels with Charlie: In Search of America- I have to ration his books as they are so good!

Capote’s Summer  Crossing

Eggers’ Zeitoun

Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich

start on Proust

I’d like to try something by Anais Nin as never read her before and some of the Persephone classics

Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia and The Road to Wigan Pier, the only things I have not read by him and I adore him!

Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned and This Side of Paradise

Ayn Rand’s Anthem and also her biography, she fascinates me and if we are talking of amazing women I really must read D.V. by Diana Vreeland

A friend of mine mentioned a wonderful bookshop in the back streets of Wimbledon apparently piled with second hand classics for a song, I shall be visiting this treasure trove for sure.

Oh, almost forgot, I am also reading Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer’s City by a wonderful publisher Little Bookroom. Have a look at their website as they have the most amazing and unusual guide books with true insider tips. I have read half of the Bath guide last night, city that I have been meaning to visit for a very long time, and need to plan a short weekend trip very soon given that is it only a couple of hours away. The book is beautifully illustrated and tells stories from Austen’s life while taking the reader through various parts of the city.

Looking back at 2009 I have not read that many books but the ones I’ve read were mostly very good. The favorite ones being:

Generation X by Douglas Coupland

Vonnegut’s stories, re-reading Slaughterhouse 5 and Mother Night- I went through some Vonnegut phase few months ago

The World of Coco Chanel

The Love in Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Tender is The Night and whole lot of Fitzgerald’s stories

High Rise by J.G. Ballard – I couldn’t stop thinking of the Trellick Tower, and a very good biography of Erno Goldfinger

Collected stories by Nikolai Gogol

Now it’s time for some festive fun, been listening to Billie Holiday’s album 40 Hits and it’s about the time to break for Christmas, starting at The Champion with some friends (lucky I didn’t cycle to work today!).

I got stinking cold and really wish to get better now, everyone is sneezing around me and I bet the few necessary tube trips contributed to getting it.

I started to read The Accidental by Ali Smith and I haven’t decided how I feel about it yet but perhaps I should read bit more than 2 chapters.

When the weather gets windy and chilly I like to surround myself with things that make me feel good and cozy so I engaged in a little Polyvore fun and here are the results.

These fabulous items could brighten up dark cold winter days especially if made of cashmere like the cardigans.

Dress and black top with star detail by Malene Birger, navy blue cardi by Vanessa Bruno, gold waistcoat and stripy top by DAY Birger et Mikkelsen, beige cardi with pearl detail by Moschino Cheap and Chic, scarf-y black top by Camilla and Marc Meek.

And few more mood enhancers wouldn’t hurt.

Boots and scarf by Toast and jewelery by Alex Monroe. Some books, film, beauty products and hot chocolate.

Feeling better already. Might cook up some chocolate bisque tonight.

I have been catching up on reading and films this weekend. Due to the postal strike magazines arrived late this month, same goes for DVD rentals. Pretty annoying. The strike is still going on and nobody knows when this will end.

Vogue and ELLE made me wish for even more pretty things. No matter how few things I really need there is always something new to wish for.

I also went to All Saints just to have a look and of course spotted things that would be very useful, especially this great hunting coat, perfect for rain, outdoor activities and cycling (same material as Barbour jackets but better cut). Skinny black jeans are always good,  fitted shirt would look good with these. And I really need a good belt.

After our visit to Petersham Nurseries I decided to expand my cook book selection to two Skye Gyngell books. I have just ordered A Year in My Kitchen which is all about seasonal cooking – it has been my cooking philosophy for years so I am sure I will enjoy exploring her recipes. If the book is a culinary success I will also get My Favorite Ingredients.

Speaking of seasonal food, I got some fresh figs yesterday and prepared them for my lunch. I love figs: fresh, roasted, baked in cakes; in savory and sweet dishes. It is such a wonderful and diverse autumnal fruit.

For my lunch I made roasted fig salad, this is the recipe:

4-5 figs

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp honey

1 buffalo mozzarella

handful of rocket

toasted pine nuts

few mint leaves

Quarter the figs and spread them on a baking sheet, pour a little bit of balsamic vinegar and honey, roast in  190-200 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Tear the mozzarella into chunks, place on a plate, mix with rocket leaves and pine nuts. Place roasted figs on top but let them cool first otherwise the cheese will melt and the leaves will wilt. Balsamic, honey and fig juice will create a lovely syrup which can be dripped over the salad. Sprinkle mint leaves on top.

Serve with good sourdough toast.

This has been inspired by Jamie Oliver’s fresh fig salad with parma ham aka the easiest sexiest salad in the world. You can find his version in Happy Days with the Naked Chef.

The whole afternoon was spent on reading Generation A which is yet another great book by Coupland. I only read two contemporary writers religiously, the other one is Dave Eggers.

Watched a couple of films:

Me and You and Everyone We Know – Funny, uplifting and quirky directorial debut by artist Miranda July. I also recommend her short stories No One Belongs Here More Than You. This girl is very talented.

Meantime by Mike Leigh – A very good English film that I can watch over and over again, Leigh captured the Thatcher era and life in the east end of London spotlessly and shot it beautifully. Amazing performances by absolutely everyone, especially by Tim Roth, Phil Daniels and Gary Oldman.

My weekend ended in Hoxton, had Vietnamese food at Cay Tre. Authentic tasty food, the summer spring rolls are super delicious.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to attend a screening of Away We Go, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida.

The film tells a story of a couple of parents- to-be looking for a new place to live, they take a trip looking for the perfect place, visiting family and friends along the way.

It’s an intelligent, warm and funny story of love and friendship. Perfect film for a rainy afternoon that will make you laugh a lot.

…Being a Tate member I have just received an email informing me that one of my favorite jewellery designers, Tatty Devine, has launched an exclusive line in cooperation with the gallery, check it out here. Just looked at their website as well and found this brooch, I want!

…Yesterday I had a discussion with my colleagues about lycra vs normal clothing on a bike. I will not be seen in lycra outfits ever and feel more than comfortable wearing skirts, dresses and heels (within reason). I come from the continent after all and lived in Amsterdam for 7 years. So when on my way home I was waiting for the lights to change, being taken over by a number of racing lycra clad people, (I was wearing a stripy Vivienne Westwood skirt, a vest, cute TD brooch, aviators, flip flops and my Bern helmet), a couple of passers by said how cool I looked and gave me thumbs up (did I mention my pushbike is old and has a basket?). That made me smile.

…Just discovered that Dave Eggers has a new book out called Zeitoun. He is one of very few contemporary writers I like and cannot wait to read it…..maybe after Generation A though.