Collection of 40 Wildflower Arrangements Part 1 (2016)

"You love the roses - so do I.  I wish the sky would rain
down as they rain from off the shaken bush.   Why will it not?

Then all the valley would be pink and white and soft 

to tread on.  They would fall as light as feathers, smelling sweet;  

and it would be like sleeping and like waking, all at once!" 

Roses......by George Eliot 

                             

It´s walking Lily, mom in-law´s 5 year-old chihuahua that gave me the

inspiration to look out for blooms grown anywhere in the fields and in our
path .The wildflowers were just there ready to be picked-up.

From all those dog walks, I was able to really gather the simplest

 bunch of wildflowers...beautiful flowers!!! 

  

 I put them in several vases that I collect...nothing expensive though, 

 I see to it that the vase I used corresponds to the colors of the flowers as 

well as the style of arrangement... 

In some cases, I have added flowers coming from my garden to set a 

contrast to some bouquet  to make it look funkier...!

I hope that you have enjoyed the various arrangement !
Visit Part 2 of this collection coming up next.

Thank you for your visit!

Apricot Bars

Wachau is the region in Lower Austria where quality "marillen"/apricots  are cultivated. 

They call these fruits locally "marillen" .... sounds like a girl´s name but they are actually "aprikosen" in german and apricots in english.

The harvest time is between June and July and only fully riped fruits are offered in the market. Due to its nice location and a blessed weather, Wachau is hilly and ideal for the farmers not only to grow apricots but also grapes for quality wines that made the region famous.

Wachau apricots

Just have a look at this amazing view, the weather in the Wachau is perfect for apricots and grapes.. and it´s also great to bike along the Danube River for those who love this kind of sport.

The Wachau, Lower Ausria

Today, I´m sharing my recipe for this apricot bars using Wachau apricots. I baked this sometime in July when the fruits were available in the market but only shared now as I have very important priorities that made me so busy the las months...

.... so, I hope you´ll get your baking tins and try this yummy dessert which is so simple and easy to make.

                                            

....... Let´s bake !!!

Apricot Bars

Ingredients

250 g Flour
150 Sugar
100 ml Oil
100 ml water
4 Eggs
1/2 pack baking powder
1 pack vanilla sugar ( Dr. Oetker)
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Apricots



Preparations: (Preheat oven at 170°C)
1. Wash the apricots, remove the seeds and cut into halves...set aside

2. Use separate 2 containers to separate the eggs.

In the first container, beat the egg yolk, add the sugar, vanilla sugar and the lemon juice.
Beat until the mixture becomes smooth in consistency.
Using a spatula, fold in flour and the sifted baking powder to the egg yolk mixture adding
alternately water and oil.

In the 2nd container, beat the egg whites until peaks are building and become stiff  folding all
carefully into the egg yolk mixture in the first container. Spread the batter in a lined rectangular
baking tin. Arrange the apricot on top of the batter.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons of peach or apricot jam either in the microwave for 1 minute or under low fire until jam is liquified. Use a pastry brush to carefully pat jam on top of the apricots.
Bake under 170°C (38°F) for about 40 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Sprinkle sugar on the cake top.
Cut the cake into bars carefully and arrange on a platter.

Tip 
To make sure that the cake doesn´t get too dark on top, cover the baking tin with aluminum foil during the second half of the baking time.

Enjoy baking !

Apple Cake Bars

I know , I know... it´s been a long time since I was here. 

I had been busy for a few months , had lots of paperworks needed for 

my retirement as well as taking care of family matters.. 

Today, I want to inspire you with this very easy to prepare Apple Cake Bars that are very delicious! This is a quick cake to bake for settling- down at the table with family and friends for the five o`clock tea or coffee. This can also be served at breakfast..

Hope you enjoy baking this as much as I enjoyed making this myself.

Apple Cake Bars

Ingredients 

• 250 g Flour
• 150 g Sugar (Stevia powder - about 10 Tablespoons 
• sugar  substitute equivalent)
• 100 ml Oil
• 100 ml Water
• 4 Eggs
• 1/2 pack baking powder
• 1 Pack Vanilla sugar
•     Juice of 1/2 Lemon
•     2 apples 
•     2-3 tbsp of  Apple jam/marmalade
• 
  

Preparations: 

1. Wash the apples. Core and cut apples in thin slices... set aside.

2. Separate the eggs into two containers. In one container, beat the eggyolk,

    sugar, vanilla sugar and lemon juice. Beat until mixture is smooth in consistency.

3. Fold in flour and the sifted powder to the eggyolk mixture adding alternately the 

    water and the oil.

4. In a second container, beat the egg whites until they get stiff  and fold these carefully

    into the eggyolk-flour mixture. Spread the batter in a lined baking dish.

5. Add the apples... inserting each slice into the batter. Heat 2 tablespoons of apple jam 

    either in the microwave for a minute or under low fire until jam is dissolved or liquified.

    Bake under 170°C/388°F for about 40 minutes.

    The cake is done when a toothpick inserted inside the cake comes out clean.

    Sprinkle sugar on top of the apples slices.  Cut into bars and serve with 

    whipped cream (optional).

    TIP: To make sure that the top of the cake doesn´t get too dark... cover the baking

              dish with aluminum foil during the second half of the baking time. 

 

Enjoy baking and tasting!

Scent of Lilacs and Wildflowers

Nice to be back here after a long vacay.

Today,  I´m showing you wildflowers that we gathered 

from the fields while walking Lily, the chihuahua...

among the blooms are lilacs, iris, and other tiny yellow wildflowers,

as well as laserpitum latifolium (white flowers), 

those are the flowers that have grown at this time in Spring..

I´m lucky to have wonderful vases which are in my collection.

Some are flea market finds, some were handed over to us and some

came from garage sales and from hubby´s mom and grandma.

I feel privilege to have these vases because I can choose the colors that go

with the flowers I´m arranging and displaying.

Last Sunday´s walk with Lily had been 

fruitful, because we were able to gather these flowers.

For the vignette, I have added the blue colored starfish that I found in 

Manila from my last visit there.

There are lots of wildflowers and they grow in abundance in our area.

If you live near the countryside, you´ll be able to pick or cut some

wildflowers, too!

It is a matter of your own concept or choice whether you want a bunch of bought

flowers from the store... I find the wildflowers one of the most beautiful 

gifts mother nature has given us. 

The carafe above is one of two that hubby found at the Saturday Flea Market 

in Vienna.  It reflects  the Art Nouveau style.. The yellow vase came 

from an office I used to work at. 

I love the oval shape and the make of this vase.

Starfish came from a dried fish dealer in Divisoria, Manila. 

To the left of the lilac vase is a crystal basket full of dried lavender... 

The scent of the lavender makes insects  stay away 

from the sitting area..

The start of Spring hasn´t been nice in our city.  Am not sure whether 

those of you living  in cold countries are also experiencing the changes 

in your climate.  There were lots of rains here and it´s pretty cold 

even during early morning with lows at even  0°C.

Whatever the weather may be, sunny days will surely be here.

Happy Monday!


This post is linked to:

Confessions of a Plate Addict