the macaroon adventure: chapter 3
Of course, the Famous Five were never in Siena chasing tramps and criminals around the Piazza del Campo, so they wouldn't have encountered the Italian macaroon. (Enid Blyton didn't like 'abroad', and when some of her adventurers do manage to smuggle themselves onto a plane and end up in some strange middle-European country, they invariably bring their own sandwiches or, amazingly, find someone serving high tea at the crucial moment.)
In a piece of Blytonesque over-simplification, I completely forgot about the wonderful almond macaroons from Italy. In the last few years I have bought ricciarelli (the Sienese macaroon) as a Christmas treat, and it never crossed my mind to make them. But in the spirit of a true Secret Seven investigation, I made these last night (Peter, Janet and the rest always work best in the dark). They are mostly ground almonds and sugar with egg white, plus a little lemon zest to offset the sweetness. Phoebe and I had a great time shaping the very sticky mix into the traditional lozenge shape amidst clouds of icing sugar. They are meant to be this white and the barely cooked nature of them ensures they are intensely almondy and melting.
'Simply smashing,' said Phoebe.
'Do let's have some now,' said Mummy.
***
And on a less jolly note, just take a look at the difference a wash makes.
On the left we have the brand-new socks in Cherry Tree Hill 'Birches'. On the right we have the same socks after one, cold wash. Faded, greyish and dull with all the colours running into each other. Apparently, I should have read the invisible washing instructions on the label. This is what I was told when I contacted Cherry Tree Hill. And it's not as though I am a novicer sock-washer. What really rankles is that the yarn is part of their Superwash range. Ha ha.
Oh my. Not good. I went out and bought that yarn and colorway after seeing it on your blog. How should they be washed then?
Posted by: Janet | January 04, 2006 at 12:43 PM
What a pity that your socks turned into "birches on a foggy day". But I still like them! I am also curious, HOW were you supposed to wash them?
Posted by: Mari | January 04, 2006 at 01:29 PM
Grrr. Yes, what are these invisible washing instructions? Mist lightly and blow delicate puffs of air onto them?!
The one pair of socks I've knitted from CTH (in a blue/green/black colorway) have held up a lot better than that over several years of machine washing (including some machine drying). Altho the black has faded to grey, now that I take a closer look. Hmm.
The macaroons look divine. I can almost taste them. Yum.
Posted by: Chris | January 04, 2006 at 01:34 PM
Mmmm, I love macaroons in all their various getups. I like the washed socks. On closeup theylook fine!
Posted by: Julie | January 04, 2006 at 01:36 PM
the macaroons look yummy!
so sorry about the socks...however, they still look lovely!
Posted by: brandie | January 04, 2006 at 01:42 PM
Well, how annoying! What ARE the mysterious washing directions???
Aren't almond macaroons a heavenly experience?
Posted by: Norma | January 04, 2006 at 01:51 PM
The socks still look nice, I think, although I agree it's quite a difference and shouldn't have happened! I'm glad I'm forewarned, because I have this in my stash of socks - to - be....The macaroons at least did not disappoint!
Posted by: Kate | January 04, 2006 at 02:15 PM
Wow, I'd be very sad about the socks. I recently knit and washed a pair knit from the CTH yarn, but didn't notice that kind of fading. I wonder if it's just that particular dye lot? The macaroons look delicious! Where did you find a recipe for them?
Posted by: Leslie | January 04, 2006 at 02:17 PM
Oooooh that would make me MAD about the socks! I have some of their yarn and now I wonder what the heck I do once they need to be washed!
Posted by: Scout | January 04, 2006 at 02:17 PM
I knit some socks for my mom with that yarn (different colorway) and I was shocked to go visit her and see how awful they looked! The color was totally faded. Lame. I'll stick with koigu, which is the same yarn but a much better dye job.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 04, 2006 at 02:40 PM
Boo - bad CTH. Have you heard of this happening with their yarn before?
On your recommendation (well - it featured in your blog) I bought (from the States) a family member the Julie & Julia book. I sneakily tried to read it before handing it over and then spilt soup on it, so I have ordered another, and I'm reading it at my leisure. Thanks for drawing it to my attention. It's great!
Posted by: Noo | January 04, 2006 at 02:48 PM
Argh. They are beautiful. Both faded and not. I am on a sock knitting quest and am horrified at the "hole" that is forming on the instep. Yours are perfect! I say this with longing and envy. But in a good way.
Posted by: yolie | January 04, 2006 at 02:48 PM
Wow! That's pretty faded after one wash. I agree with everyone else, how are you supposed to wash them?
The macaroons look scrumptious!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 04, 2006 at 02:58 PM
funny: macaroons are very common and popular christmas sweets in germany. i never connected them with enid blyton.
but there's one thing, i forgot to mention yesterday. the letters, in which the name enid-blyton is printed on your books are the same which i used to see on the books i used to read. (and they, the germans, had this old fashion drawings in themm too - nice clothes, viintage style as we would say today!) but back to the letters: i saw them and suddenly i reminded all this happy hours when nothing could separate me from the enid-blyton-books. have you ever read marcel proust, a la recherche du temps perdu: one day, the hero, while having a cup of linden flower tea (not sure about the correct expressionin english), ate a "madeleine" (madeira-cake in english?) and suddenly his memory lifts it curtain again for another 500 pages!
isn't it a miracle: a taste of a cookie, the printed letters of an author on a book...and voilà you're back in your past!
and: riciarelli are FANTASTIC (as any other italian eatable stuff....)
Posted by: sabine | January 04, 2006 at 03:27 PM
I was just about to order some of that yarn for my first adventure in luxe, non-regia sock making. I think I'll go with Lorna's Laces instead - thanks!
Posted by: ayla | January 04, 2006 at 04:55 PM
Okay, after two macaroon pictures now I'm ready to get out the baking sheets. You are bad for my waistline. Actually, I am bad for my waistline, you are just providing me with the (lame) excuse. I don't believe I've ever tried the almond ones and we can't have that, can we?
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 04, 2006 at 05:04 PM
The macaroons taste great -especially at breakfast time!!
Posted by: Simon | January 04, 2006 at 08:39 PM
Ahh, macaroons. A little taste of heaven most likely. As for the socks, if not to be washed in cold, what is one supposed to do with them?
Posted by: Mardel | January 04, 2006 at 08:56 PM
My CTH 'superwash' socks still bleed in their coldwater Eucalan bath. I don't think I'll ever throw them in the machine.
Posted by: Kat | January 04, 2006 at 09:45 PM
I like your new about photo. Are those licorice flavored candies?
Posted by: dixie | January 04, 2006 at 11:54 PM
Woof Woof, Woof said Timmy as he ran off with a load of Macaroons just as George entered the kitchen.
"Gosh, Timmy's excited, I wonder what could be up..." exclaimed Anne.
"We better follow him", said George. "There's something mysterious going on here, and we should get to the bottom of it. I think he was trying to tell us something about a Cherry Tree and a terrible accident!"
"Oh No!" Exclaimed Anne, starting to feel slightly fearful and wondering whether she should get a flask of tea underway, just in case. "I do hope no-one has been hurt"................
Posted by: Alison | January 05, 2006 at 12:22 AM
That's too bad about the socks!! Those scoundrels....I agree with the comment above...just how ARE you supposed to wash socks? hmmm...no Cherry Tree Hill for me. I'll stick to Regia.
Yummy treats. I check your site often just for the beautiful photography.
Posted by: bernie | January 05, 2006 at 01:36 AM
macaroons are my favorite. oh, how i wish i could taste one right now.
Posted by: Lisa | January 05, 2006 at 04:16 AM
So the invisible instructions were "do not wash under any circumstances" then? Or perhaps
"dry-clean only"???
Posted by: jo | January 05, 2006 at 04:34 AM
Oh dear. That really is most terribly dreadful about your socks, Jane dear. And you did spend such an awful lot of time on them too.
But you gave me a chuckle, and that was no small feat today! Now when can we see some of the recipes to these terribly tempting treats you continue to flaunt before us?
Posted by: Luckybeans | January 05, 2006 at 10:35 AM