Sunday 28 March 2010

wild violets (yum-yum)



Lots of these growing like weeds in my garden + a beautiful photo in the weekend newspaper meant I just had to make the cake.  


The delightful directions for making the crystallised flowers states that all you need is "a quiet hour and a bit of patience".   I remember years ago Shirley Conran ('Superwoman')announced that life was too short to stuff a mushroom.   So I did wonder if devoting one's time to painting the tiny petals of a wild violet with beaten egg white was a sensible use of a real person's time.  

Particularly one who was actually meant to be painting the bathroom walls.


Yeah ...... of course it is!



And, do you know, crystallised violets taste of, well, violets.

Hope you're having a great weekend,
whatever you're doing!

11 comments:

silverpebble said...

Oh it's stunning, look delicious, and was certainly worth it.

Gretel said...

Of course it was worth it, what a gorgeous cake! I have always loathed that Conran quote, rather random and not really meaning much - surely life is also about enjoying the slow, small things, like stuffing mushrooms or crystallising violets? Violets are only here for a short while, the bathroom walls will still be there next week. :)

Chrissie said...

Thank you both - hope it tastes OK!
Gretel - I think she also said, you're as old as your knees, which is v.old then, in my case!

Kris said...

That is lovely and now I want to go find some violets to eat ;)

Gina said...

That looks stunning... definitely worth the effort. And we just happen to have violets growing like weeds all over our lawn at the moment!

Things Hand Made said...

oh so beautiful. Life is nice to short to produce beautiful things. As far as I am concerned life is about producing beautiful things. thanks for the suggsetion of a whole menagerie of "rubbish" rabbits. My house does mostly look like it is inhabited by rubbsih and I have to wrestle it form the children to get it out the door!

menopausalmusing said...

Well, I think you know how I feel about that cake and taking the time crystallize violets! :O)))))))))))))))

Thanks for the comment re orchids, trouble is, now I have read some of the comments I am finding myself googling how to make them out of sugar paste........

vintagerockchick said...

Ooooh what a beautiful cake. And, as I have violets growing in my garden too - please tell how you make those lovely decorations - they'd look lovely on fairy cakes x

ELK said...

weeds become beauty in your space...and baked goods of the most amazing kind!

Anonymous said...

For all of you out there who follow Chrissie's blog, I have to report (as the very lucky recipient of the above gorgeous cake) that it was seriously delicious. The lemon drizzle sponge was mouth-wateringly light and crumbly and all the trouble taken to make the crystallized flowers was definitely worth it. They looked and tasted wonderful - an instant throwback to my childhood. Anyone remember Parmaviolet sweets? Interestingly, it was the men around the table who snaffled up the second helpings - none quicker than my father-in-law!
Thanks Chrissie - you can come again any time you like!
Anne

Karen said...

defrinitely the best way to spend your time, so beautiful. Not sure I could bear to cut it up though!
sorry but I had to tell you.....my word verification is SPOTARSE, it made me laugh anyway!