Sans Aniseed

Jackie has responded well to penicillin and is now recovering.

We experienced our second frost today.

The early sun sent the icy drops of the wisteria leaves melting;

it took a while longer to illuminate the lower plants

and grasses,

or paths like the Brick

or the Heligan;

and later to redden the lingering leaves of the copper beech.

This post from my first days of blogging:

tells the story of the meal I spent this afternoon cooking. As I mention, it requires powdered aniseed. This is not in our larder, so once again Susan’s chicken has no aniseed and I had to be creative with other ingredients. The linked post featured in the above one is still lacking pictures, but the text may interest newer readers.

Flo boiled basmati rice to accompany the chicken with which I drank more of the Malbec, then settled down to watch the Football World Cup Quarter Final match between England and France

62 comments

  1. I am pleased to learn that Jackie is responding to her medication and that the standard of the meals in your home are not dropping 🙂

  2. We’re all hoping you will be totally recovered real soon, Jackie!!
    I was able to enjoy your pictures much better today, knowing Jackie’s condition. Thank you for keeping us up to date, Derrick.

  3. Gorgeous artistic nature photos!
    so so SO glad to hear Jackie is responding to the meds! Whew and YAY! 🙂 Still sending love and healing thoughts and wishes her way! ❤️
    Your-made meal, Derrick, with Flo’s rice, sounds comforting and yummy! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) for all of you, especially Jackie! 🙂

  4. I love the frosted leaves in the fifth photo. I was wondering whether they could be replicated in fabric but decided it couldn’t be done. I’m glad to hear that Jackie is responding well to treatment.

  5. English football supporters must feel a bit like Scottish rugby supporters, eternally disappointed, especially when good things might appear to be just round the corner.

  6. The copper beech is striking. I’m so glad Jackie is on the mend, and as for your culinary efforts, I often substitute things and I bet fennel would work in that chicken (the seed, not the bulb).

  7. I’m happy to hear Jackie is feeling better. We just finished watching the recorded game. Needless to say, my Derek isn’t happy with the outcome. Beautiful shots today, Derrick.

  8. It was penicillin that took care of my childhood pneumonia. It truly was a ‘wonder drug’ in the 1950s, and I’m glad it’s still working its magic for Jackie. I didn’t know that powdered aniseed is a thing — so much to learn!

  9. I’m so glad Jackie is feeling better. Wondering about substitutes for aniseed. Maybe fennel or ? tarragon? You’ve certainly captured the beauty of the frost. 🙂

  10. Like many of your readers, I have to say “I’m happy to hear Jackie is feeling better. ” That’s good news! As for aniseed, I am with JoAnna, I think fennel might make good substitute. In fact, my grama always referred to fennel as “sweet anise.”

  11. I’m so very pleased to hear Jackie is responding to the medicine and starting to feel better. And you and Flo cooking for her is wonderful, too. I was going to suggest fennel, too, but I saw above that Jackie doesn’t like either. I’m sure the dish was delicious.

    Those frosted leaves are beautiful.

  12. I am glad Jackie is feeling much better now! I love the frosty photos. My favorite is the beech tree. I miss native beeches. There are none in my area. It may be too dry here in summer.

  13. Careful Derrick. If you start documenting your culinary accomplishments, we might expect you to take turn and turn about with Jackie. If I was her, I’d start faking illness.
    Good to hear she is on the mend with the real thing.

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