The Friday List and (another) pear cake

Hello and good morning! Here is a little list of reading and cooking ideas for the weekend. Hope you all have something fun planned. I'm heading off first thing tomorrow for a night away with some girlfriends to paint, eat, maybe drink a glass or two of vino and chill out in great company. And I really cannot wait to get.in.that.car.

In the meantime, I posted the above picture of Tim's birthday cake on Instagram a couple of weeks ago and a couple of lovely people have since asked for the recipe. It's actually just the Danish Apple Cake recipe from my book, also published here in the blog last year. With a few alterations; I doubled the recipe, used poached pears instead of apples, dropped the currants (he's not a fan) and instead of sandwiching the pears between the batter, just dotted them across the top then sprinkled the lot with cinnamon sugar. It was yummo. 

This is the prettiest cake I think I've ever seen. I'd like to eat it, with endless cups of tea, in this tree house

Apple cider and salted caramel creme fraiche coffee cake - yes it’s a mouthful. But I’d say a pretty delicious one...

Has anyone cooked with spruce tips? Apparently they go well with venison! Might try this lemon risotto with spruce and match it with some bbq'd Mandagery Creek Venison leg steaks this weekend!

And from the same author; this winter cauliflower soup with crushed juniper berries. What a beautiful flavour combination. Am thinking this would be a lovely starter at our next Farm Kitchen lunch!

Gorgeous rhubarb upside-down cake from the Green Kitchen Stories. And from the same source; if you are getting a bit tired of the old porridge with brown sugar combo; here’s three fab new ones to try.

Hello there...lemon ricotta pancakes with whipped camomile cream. Oh my. Can somebody please make this for breakfast (for me) tomorrow?

A really simple, yummy soup from Pip at Meet me at Mikes. Is it just me or does everyone else feel happier about the world after a little spell in Pip's world? I just signed up to her 'Feeling a bit sh**t" digest, the one she sends out on Sunday nights at 7pm when we're all feeling a bit sh**t and think eveyrone should do. A definite mood lifter!

It’s the middle of winter. But weirdly, instead of hot chocolate, I’d love a big frosty glass of this pineapple coconut water.

Love the idea of this flour and fire day. One day, when we have a wood-fired oven too, we might host something similar. Gorgeous post Jane!

If you have a blog, love blogs or want to start one - check out Blog Society's website and, of course, blog. So much good stuff here! I'm yet to make it to one of their events but live in hope...