Spent the morning making candied grapefruit peel, propped on a stool in the kitchen sipping tea and reading Jane Grigson, a surprisingly enjoyable thing to do on a clocks-back autumn Sunday. The peels - drying on a rack before me - taste of Campari, a medicinal balance of bitter and sweet, a taste I happen to really love. got distracted halfway through by Stephanie Alexander who boils hers in 6 or 7 changes of water, a little worrying when you've done yours in only 2, then I remembered that Stephanie, much like Nigella, likes a lot more sweet than I in recipes. (Stephanie's Lemon Delicious pudding actually hurts my teeth.)
Grigson was writing in 1982, 2 years before I got to high school, and I'm convinced that our collective tastebuds have shifted since then to sweeter and sweeter (and beyond). Mine'll be just fine then.
you seem to have many kitchen fairy godmothers watching over you - I tend to agree with you that we don't need so much sweetness - though I am curious to know if you eat the candied peel by itself or otherwise
Posted by: Johanna GGG | April 03, 2011 at 10:19 PM
A wonderful labour of love. And step 2 - what are you going to do with the candied peel?
Posted by: another outspoken female | April 04, 2011 at 07:43 AM
I like a little sweet, but not too much. What is happening up here in this photograph? It's lovely. Peaches? And? This is clearly not a bowl of grapefruit.
Posted by: Denise | Chez Danisse | April 04, 2011 at 09:53 AM
Here we go... No need to answer the above. Found on Flicker.
Posted by: Denise | Chez Danisse | April 04, 2011 at 09:55 AM
An early autumn day making candied grapefruit peel, sipping tea, and reading Jane Grigson? Buddy, you know how to live. I'm with you on the bittersweet thing.
Posted by: Amanda | April 04, 2011 at 11:11 AM
You're still in the black and white mode I see. Lovely shot.
Posted by: Mariana | April 04, 2011 at 07:31 PM
I am so glad someone agrees with me about Stephanie loving sweet! I feel bad for altering her recipes but I took out two-thirds the amount of sugar in her banana cake and it was still sweeter than I like.
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 04, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Just quoted you in my April harvest calendar x
Posted by: Amanda | April 04, 2011 at 08:30 PM
delicious b&w photo!
Posted by: Design Elements | April 05, 2011 at 01:38 AM
will report back when the peel's had it's 3-day drying off period.
denise: yes. nectarines...which were not as glorious this year as i'd have liked. next year, i hope things improve.
mariana: addicted to it, i think.
elizabeth: i'm glad you agree - thing is, stephanie's so wonderful, so well-loved here, that it felt brave saying it out loud!
amanda: thank you. so very, very much, friend. xxx
Posted by: Lucy | April 05, 2011 at 08:51 AM
Lower the sweetness, but with delicate flavours dont you think they are lost a little sometimes?
Posted by: Drink Natural, New Zealand | April 05, 2011 at 09:10 AM
Sounds like the perfect morning to me. I blame the US trend of achingly sweet things permeating our collective tastebuds. I personally like sharp!
Posted by: Sally - My Custard Pie | April 06, 2011 at 02:54 PM
This sounds like an ideal labor of love, it's a delicious and very appealing photo!
Posted by: Christian Book Publishers | June 02, 2011 at 08:47 PM