Champagne, T Zen and Orchids

We now have an interior fern garden which was once the orchid garden.  Recently, the orchid specialist came and said we have the perfect location and should grow them again.  He also offered his assistance.  Great.  So maybe now we can mix the ferns with the orchids.  Orchids, like people, are temperamental, and like to be left alone most of the time. 





The Orchid Garden

  

Orchids in bloom at home

White Orchids oil on canvas painting by Llewellyn Xavier

Champagne coloured cats

Now we come to the champagne coloured cat, once a feral now an imperial creature.  Who says you cannot tame animals?

Also known as Crystal or Champagne or her original name T Zen,  named by our wonderfully clever friend Zeno.  Or Paris Hilton.  Brilliant at times, a little vague and has a penchant for cat nip or dry herbs of the same family.   Her favourite pastimes are being pampered or sleeping or looking down at all the other cats. Apart from ourselves her only friend, in the whole wide world, is our white golden retriever.



T ZEN





T Zen aka Crystal or Champagne aka Paris Hilton having an afternoon rest on her favourite box with her favourite pillow lovingly made by Gabrielle





T Zen and the sugar apple tree



What to do with left over champagne - if you have any!

 (or any white or rose' wine)

Get melon seeds, grow melon.





OXO melon baller

 

I like to use the small melon-baller to scoop out pieces of melon.  And you can use the remainder of the melon.  Just whizz it up in the blender with milk, yoghurt, a soft drink like Sprite or wine.  Very refreshing.

If you don't have a melon-baller just chop with a knife.   Any type Canteloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon, or Papaya, large Mango; any combination, colour etc.  Add a few crushed fresh mint leaves, sugar to sweeten if necessary, then the left over champagne.  Cover and put in fridge for a few hours or overnight.  Serve in shot glasses with the liquid or in small bowls.

Our favourite champagne is DEUTZ  especially the Deutz Cuvée William Rosé but hard to find in the Caribbean.  One of the finest restaurants in Martinique, Cave a Vins,  has a great wine cellar and they receive a limited number of the Deutz Cuvee Rose per year.




Deutz by the pool........................specially served in a beautiful

Dartington Sharon Celebration Flute.

 

DARTINGTON Sharon Glasses - The Sharon collection is crystal drinkware of the highest order. It is of such quality that the Victoria and Albert Museum in London keep it in a display of the 100 greatest ever products. And this year marks Sharon’s 40th anniversary. So raise those glasses and join us in a toast to impeccable crystal design.  

The collection, which is defined by a unique teardrop shaped bubble in the stem of each glass, was first created by Dartington Crystal’s very own Frank Thrower in 1971. To this day the design remains the same, proof if it were needed that great design is timeless.

Victoria and Albert Museum, London  

The world’s greatest museum of art and design

Also at the V & A

Llewellyn Xavier's George Jackson series at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Llewellyn Xavier  - George Jackson series inspired by the Prison letters of George Jackson;   also contributing to the series : John Lennon , Yoko Ono , Jean Genet , James Baldwin , and the Rt. Hon. Peter Hain .  

Creole Christmas Cake, Spiced Rum, Jade Mountain, Pitons

Creole Christmas Cake

Why start with Christmas cake in January?  Well,  it is at this time that the fruit is soaked in rum for the cakes to be made in November or December, you may want to use a tablespoon or two of the rum-soaked fruit for ice cream, or with a plain cake, during the year.  Almost everyone who has had my cake asks for the recipe.

The Fruit to be soaked in Rum 

You need a  good quality dark rum, I use Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum from St. Lucia - as it adds that special flavour but any nice Caribbean dark rum is fine.

Jar number 1 - 1 lb each - Sultanas, Raisins, Currants, Prunes (pitted). 

Jar number 2 - 1 lb each - Dried: Apricots, Apples, Pears, Peaches.

A nice Ball Corporation Glass Preserving Jar   or similar.  The purpose for using two jars is to separate fruit so that the fruit are not all the same colour.

Put fruit in large jars and pour the rum over it.   Make sure you jar is properly closed.  I soak the fruits for one year but 6 months is ok.

Ingredients for the cake

1 lb butter

1 lb white sugar

1/2 lb flour

1/2 lb breadcrumbs

10 large eggs

1/2 lb candied citrus peel

1/2 lb candied cherries

1 lb walnuts

Additional ingredients (Dry Fruit– not soaked in rum so you get a lovely texture)

1/2 lb prunes (pitted)

1/2 lb sultanas

1/2 lb currants

1/2 lb raisins

Rum-soaked fruit

2 lbs mixed raisins, sultanas, currant and prunes soaked in rum and strained.

1 lb mixed dried apple/apricot/pear/peach soaked in rum and strained.

METHOD

Mix the rum soaked fruit with the dried fruit, then add walnuts, cherries and candied citrus peel, mix and set aside.

Prepare a large cake tin or two smaller cake tins by greasing and lining with wax paper.

Mix breadcrumbs and flour together.  Set aside.  Cream the soft butter and sugar together with an electrical mixer. Set aside.  Beat eggs and add to the butter and sugar mixture.  Add breadcrumb and flour mixture and mix well.  Add fruit/nut mixture and mix to blend.  Pour into cake tin.

Place cake tin in a large saucepan, on a stand with 2 inches of water, cover with lid, and steam for for 6 to 8 hours.  Check to make sure there is enough water in the saucepan during the steaming. Lift the lid carefully to ensure that the steam does not burn you.

This is a very moist, textured fruit cake that keeps very well and can be enjoyed with rum cream, vanilla or coconut ice cream.

You can cover it with marzipan and fondant icing or just decorate it with some pretty sugar decorations and ribbon.

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The magnificent Pitons of Saint Lucia from
Jade Mountain

The Pitons are unquestionably the Caribbean's most recognisable landmark.   The Gros Piton is 771 m, and the Petit Piton is 743 m high.

The Pitons are located near the towns of Soufrière and Choiseul on the southwestern coast of the island. (from Wikipedia).

St. Lucia’s dramatic twin peaks are the signature icon of the island. Formed of lava and rock, these unique volcanic mountains rise from the Caribbean Sea and are covered in green vegetation.  Hiking the Pitons’ challenging trails ends with a breathtaking view of the island and the Caribbean Sea.  The Pitons were named a World Heritage Site in 2004 by UNESCO.

Oprah Winfrey, the American Icon, once said the Pitons are one of the 5 places to see in a lifetime.

The Pitons are the most conspicuous features of St. Lucia's stunning landscape, and have become a symbol with universal currency.  They often feature in Llewellyn Xavier's art.

Edward Lucie-Smith from Llewellyn Xavier his Life and Work

The Pitons by Llewellyn Xavier OBE