Happy Valentines day!

I'm not particularly a Valentines day, all-a-twitter, kind of girl ( for example: no romantic gifts from boyfriend...) but I do enjoy themes. Having a theme also gives The Mother a new sales pitch...

"Aw look you can buy one of those little heart shaped pastries and take them home to your loved one - she won't expect a thing and be so impressed!"

This photo shows little heart shaped peach galettes (left) and chocolate eclairs.

You will notice a new cabinet display scheme. I was in Wellington last week and found the paper doilies I had been looking for.

Front to back:

Coffee eclairs

Blueberry and mint yoghurt tarts

Greengage brulee tarts

Apple compote pies

Peach Galettes

Chocolate eclairs

Most French patisseries arrange their cakes and tarts flat (somewhat like above) - usually on a delicate piece of gold paper, or some such extravagant thing. I just think it makes the product easier to see...

I kept the savouries on plates. I'm not sur why, but I am of the opinion that savoury items just cannot be feminine - they are masculine pastries therefore, no doilies.

Pear and blue cheese tarts

Empanadas - kale and cheese, chili and courgette

Roast tomato tarts

Pear, blue cheese, walnut tarts with thyme and honey glaze (New-ish)

Some uber exciting news I would like to broadcast.... The figs are ripening! Figs everywhere. Already The Father has begun to dry them, he made yummy fig honey, I tend to just eat them at the moment. But I did make fig danishes...

Would you believe it, the figs slid off! So they ended up with only piece on each which had to be guided back on after baking.

And blackberry danishes - very yummy