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By way of contrast, winter is still alive and well in many parts of the world. My aunt has sent me these pictures to remind me of that this morning! 

On Adelsö on Lake Malaren (Sweden) where Barbara lives, there is a landscape of blue skies and white snow. She doesn’t expect to see the grass re-appear till the end of this month.

Barbara was one of the most important people who started me off making my own bread. A few years ago she was staying with us here and we went off on a mission to buy fresh yeast and a mixer and then spent a happy afternoon making bread together. As you may have noticed, a lot of bread has been made since then…

Barbara also makes jams, marmalades and elderflower cordial. She has an ancient orchard of morello and eating cherries from which she makes the best cherry jam in the world and a wonderful cherry pan cake as well as growing tomatoes and other vegetables in the long warm days of a Swedish summer.

She weaves and reads, teaches cookery, is passionate about good food and when it all gets just a bit too much, escapes the winter to New Zealand or Thailand for a winter break.

If you have any questions about Swedish cooking or life in Sweden please ask her and I’m sure she’d love to reply.

Hej Barbara! What is the first flower to bloom in your garden? I’m guessing it’s one of these that you sent me last Spring…