Today I delivered my first home-made Christmas gift; to the staff at the veterinary practice who take care of Jack (and me) throughout the year, and have done so for all six years of Jack’s little life.
So what, you may ask? Well, the ‘so what’ is that this is the first time, since the earthquakes, that I have had the energy, and the inclination, to make Christmas gifts for some of the many people in the community who take good care of us throughout the year.
Although I had ‘ energy and inclination’ the baking process didn’t go as smoothly as I thought it would, because I foolishly chose to make a pre-earthquake Christmas favourite, raspberry and blueberry friands. It’s an easy recipe, in normal circumstances, but I didn’t expect that, half way through the mixing of the ingredients, I would burst in to tears, overwhelmed by memories of happier times associated with these rich buttery delights. Never the less, I persevered and I was very pleased with the results and very pleased, too, that, after 3 years of non-friand-making, I hadn’t lost my friand skills 🙂
What say you? Take a look….
Raspberry and Blueberry Friands
The recipe I used (slightly modified by the addition of blueberries)
Raspberry Friands
comes from Jo Seagar Cooks, published in 2006 by Random House.
Jo Seagar Cooks
Jo Seagar is a New Zealand cooking personality who has a cookery school and cafe not far from Christchurch, in Oxford , Canterbury. She is well known for her ‘easy peasy’ recipes and her cooking motto, ‘ minimum effort for maximum effect’. I like her style 🙂 !
And I particularly like these bright, forthright words of hers from the introduction to her recipe book : ” I want you to put the flowers back on the table, think of the hen that laid your egg, and remember your mother and put on your apron – it’s not demeaning, it’s there to keep your clothes clean.”
I don’t think she is the sort to cry in to her friand batter ( I actually didn’t let tears drop in to the mixture, in case you are worrying about hygiene 😉 ) but one never knows; we all have our moments.
Here are a few more of mine; my better moments.
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- Friands with Feijoa Flower
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- Friands with Feijoa and Strawberry Myrtle
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- Merry Christmas
© silkannthreades
silkannthreades 
The friands look delicious and delightful. I hope that their preparation was a healing experience for you too x
They were delicious, and so are you for catching up on all my posts. 🙂
It’s great to hear that your energy is coming back! I love your presentation, I’m sure the gift was well appreciated!! Celeste 🙂
It certainly was!
Growing up in Auckland I’d never heard of friands; they didn’t appear in cafes here until about 7-8 years ago. I lived in the UK during the 90s and don’t remember ever having them or seeing them on a cafe menu either. So a mystery!!! I’m pleased for you that you were able to finish your baking; that must have been so difficult. But such a lovely thing to do and such an important symbol to affirm your community.
I can’t remember exactly when or where I tasted my first friands but they certainly weren’t part of my early years in New Zealand.Those were the days of slices and queen cakes and kisses and narry a muffin, let alone a friand in sight.
Queen cakes! It’s a long time since I heard those words. Now cupcakes have become “the new black” and the elaborate concoctions you see in cafés make the queen cakes we baked as kids seem a bit tame. I’m still a Lamington girl at heart.
Yes, cupcakes seem to have added a cup (or 2) of icing to the ingredients. And I love a good Lamington.
I meant to do more than just like this way back when…electronic hugs to you and what can be bad with baking your way through tough memories. Here’s looking forward to a great 2014!
Thank you for coming back to send a hug; much appreciated 🙂 I am looking forward to 2014 and hope you are too.
Yummy and thoughtful gift !
You are really talented and I really love your coordinates❤️
Thank you Violet 🙂
I had to look up the definition of “Friand” This is straight from Wikipedia! “The friand is a small French cake, often mistaken for a pastry. It is popular in Australia and New Zealand. It is usually made with almond flour and egg whites. It typically has additional flavorings such as coconut, chocolate, fruit, and nuts.” Now I AM curious. With France as the place of origin – how did it make the journey to your side of the world. Hmmmm.
Today, I went to the bookstore that Dad loved so much. We would meet for coffee and talk about philosophy, religion, science, history, etc. It has been 2 years since Dad passed; this will be the third Christmas without him. Today, when I went through the doors, there was that pang of loss over the happy times we shared, followed closely thereafter by the profound knowledge that we continue…
I ,too, am curious to know how this French cake became so popular in this part of the world. We do have some history of French settlement in New Zealand but did the early settlers make them??? Friands were not part of my youth in New Zealand. They entered my life only a decade or so ago, so ,perhaps, it is something our young ones brought back from their travels in Europe. Mysteries….?
I hear your loss; it is as profound as the knowledge that we continue.
In the end, it is only about the connections that we have made that will count… 🙂
We need each other!
Indeed!
Scrolling down the comments I was very relieved when I came to someone who hadn’t heard of friands. Seems they have yet to make it to the uk either! They look yummy though.
Very yummy, they are. It intrigues me that friands are not that well-known to many of my followers. Intrigues me to the extent that I wonder if they are known by another name in other countries. Maybe almond tarts or almond cakes? Something like that.
maybe bakewell tart? hmm may have to do some research on the matter.
Not sure. I have a friend in England who is a chef, so I will try to remember to ask her.
🙂
They look fantastic, you are talanted! A great post as well with wonderful photos.
Thank you Linda. Love the cheerful flower in your gravatar image.
Wow, looks delicious! Homemade treats make the best gifts. ❤
Home-made treats are great. Your warm cocoa sounds a treat too.
Such beautiful friands (I too love how spell-check keeps wanting to change this to “friends”- so perfect). I love the added touch of the stars. I think the tears would have added just that extra bit of love (although that did make me think of “Like Water for Chocolate”- did you ever read that book or see the movie? One of the characters weeps into the dish – I can’t remember what it was- and when everyone eats it, they all start to cry!).
No I haven’t seen that but that is such a wonderful thought that tears in the batter could provoke tears in the consumers. And there are tears of joy, sorrow, relief, happiness, laughter…so interesting how useful tears are 🙂
Never having experienced an earthquake, it’s hard to imagine what you have been through. We had a flood here a few years ago–a slow, relentless flood–that meant we had to go to a motel for 6 weeks, while our house sat in water. Right before we had to leave, I had made brownies, with crystallized ginger and chunks of dark chocolate. I remember they were wonderful but have not made them since. Maybe, now that I know you’ve gone back to friands, I can go back to the brownies. And I should take them to our vet, because she took in, and cared for, our cats while we were in the motel.
How awful to have your house sitting in water for so long. Not good for one’s house or one’s nerves. I am assuming that you were able to repair the house and that is where you still live? Mmmmm….. perhaps it is time to make those brownies again. They sound absolutely delicious and I am sure your vet would love them. I know I would :); ginger and chocolate being two of my most favourite things.
They look absolutely delicious – and how satisfying to make and deliver them to persons well deserved! Vets are very important – a good vet is everything.
Yes, you must treasure your vet greatly. I think it’s extraordinary how they treat and understand all kinds of animals without being able to ask their patients “what is wrong? how do you feel? etc ” Imagine if we went to our doctors and just sat there sad and wordless, and the doctor had to figure out what was wrong with us!
Mmmm, these look lovely. But I am sorry to hear about the tears as you were overwhelmed by memories of happier times. I know it’s such a total platitude but sometimes I think a good cry does us good. Take care.
It may be a platitude but a good cry is very important to our welfare; thanks for the reminder and your caring.
It is lovely decorated and looks delicious!
Thank you 🙂 Very delicious but also very rich so not something to eat every day 😀
Gallivanta – The Friands sound delightfully light and delicious. I usually don’t bake (I live by myself) but these would make a nice hostess gift during the Christ mas holiday. I’ll have to give them a try and let you know how they come out !!
An excellent hostess gift, indeed. Also they do freeze well, so you could make a batch, freeze them and then take out one at a time as required.
A very yummy and thoughtful gift…given with heart. That’s what this season is about! 🙂
Completely, which makes me think of your snow photos with the berries, shining like little red hearts to cheer us.
Well, my friend…I learn something new all the time here. I have never heard of friands…but they look delightful!!
I wonder if they have another name for them in the US. They are a popular item in cafes here and the recipe can be easily adapted to make them gluten free; another reason for their popularity.
You really know how to create a beautiful gift and I guess you have a nice collection of cookbooks. I really like cookbooks and I used to give them as wedding gifts, Annie
Annie, I was at the bookshop today and I couldn’t believe how many cookbooks were for sale. It made my collection of old, well-used cookbooks look pathetic. I do not need any more but I can imagine that one of those books would be a welcome gift for any newly married couple. The books all look so beautiful.
So nice of you to make a gift to the vet’s office! And you have definitely not lost your skills in friand making (I had to write the word 3 times because it always came out as friend making, but that’s true of you as well 🙂 I would love to have one right now!
Then I wish a friand for you, my friend 🙂
It is hard when the things that we should do to get better seem out of reach, isn’t it? We have had a hard year and I was amazed to find myself not at all into Christmas this year–very odd for me! But it just felt like too much…Well, I got an email of encouragement from a friend this morning and so was able to finally decorate the tree that had been sitting bare for days. It did help and now I have a sweet tree to look –plus the reminder that friendship made it happen!
That’s lovely that a friend’s email support led to Christmas tree decoration, although I did think your little tree, all unadorned, sounded very sweet. I often struggle with Christmas celebrations, for many reasons, but one of them is the all “too much” reason. There have been times when I wished it would vanish from the calendar 😦 I will not have a Christmas Tree this year but there may be a few decorations in the house ; possibly. I have ideas but maybe insufficient time.
I was touched by your willingness to share your deep emotions. You’re so fortunate to have such a strong community that shores each of you as you support them. Your homemade gifts are the best kind: from your hand and heart. Lovely, lovely post.
Thank you Sally. There are a lot of people I would like to thank and I am not sure that I will manage to thank them all by Christmas time. Never mind, a gift is always appreciated at any time of the year 🙂
And maybe more when it’s not a holiday–the special occasion being honoring them.
Absolutely right 🙂
That cookbook mixes metric and Imperial units.
That’s an interesting observation. It doesn’t affect the outcome 🙂
🙂
Oh, those look so delicious! You did very well with adding the flowers. Jo Seager will be quite proud of you…just don’t mention the tears.
I made gifts this year as well, though not food…but one was very food related! 🙂 I just felt in the mood to make it a little more personal this year.
Excellent. Apparently we are all wanting to make more personal gifts because we are suffering from Stuffocation http://stuffocation.org/ !
They look too lovely to eat.
I shed my share of tears. I feel sorry for those that are not able to cry.
Tears are important, as much for eye health as anything else.
I am not sure how better they were but I think your skill is preserved 🙂 They look good and I like the icing star on top (is it?). It is a nice touch.
Do you need care from the veterinary place too ? 🙂
It is an icing sugar star. I was trying out some cake stencils and I decided the star would be best for Christmas. And, sometimes, if Jack is sick , which is rarely, I do need lots of moral support from the clinic 🙂 🙂 They are very kind and reassuring.
What a beautiful post…it must have been a therapeutic experience and I’m sure the receivers of your gift were quite delighted. Good for you!
They did seem pleased 🙂 and surprised. I have just attempted to use all the leftover egg yolks in a baked custard; not a great success. I probably should have made lemon curd instead. Never mind, the friands were great.
They look delicious, you should cry around, but not in, the batter more often if they are anything to go by 😉 Hope you’re feeling better and I’m sure the Christmas gift was much appreciated
You have a good point Mike; perhaps a little emotion helps the cooking process. Gordon Ramsay swears and yells; I just blubber but the end result is great, either way 🙂
Yum yum!
Do you recognise the little star pattern on the friands?
Madeleine’s may belong to Proust but friands are now you!
Doing a happy jig over your comment 🙂 Madeleines are something I haven’t baked before, ever!
It looks beautiful also the way you present them. The surgery people surely will appreciate your efforts. I have never heard of friands, ( too difficult for me). The season I think makes us so emotional, I have these moments too lately!
Glad you had enough to sample your baking, I can smell them from here 🙂 Sending a warm hug over!
The vet ate two of them immediately. It just so happened that I arrived during their afternoon tea break! Christmas can be an emotional time; I am sure everyone of us has a reason to shed a few tears during this season. Hugs to you, too.
I like the attitude and motto of your Jo Seagar, she sounds eminently sensible. I hope your friands will be back next year and those thereafter. The raspberries in the middle do make them sound particularly delicious!
Yes, I like ‘easy peasy’ and friands are easy to make, although I didn’t know that till I saw the recipe in Jo’s book in 2006. Usually I would have my own raspberries to put in the friands but my raspberry cane died awhile back and the new one isn’t bearing fruit yet. So this time I used frozen raspberries.
grief has a funny way of catching up with us at unexpected moments. Love your friands
Yes, it was totally unexpected. But sampling the friands was a good pick-me-up 🙂
Lovely post Gallivanta… Jo Seager is a treasure isn’t she… she used to live near us and had a lovely restaurant then.
She is a treasure. You must miss her! She has a new book out but I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet. I am very fond of her 2006 book but still haven’t cooked/baked my way through all of that yet.
Actually I have her new book, and haven’t found it as practical as her others…my daughter gave it to me because she felt she didn’t need it for the same reason!!!
Ah well, it will be one I just peruse in the bookshop sometime then. I am sure it has beautiful illustrations though 🙂
Good on you, for doing this. Such actions are signs of recovery and we never expect recovery to be perfect, or to be achieved all in one leap. Step by step, tears this year, smiles next year. The friands look beautiful (my spell-check keeps trying to convert this to ‘friends’). Friendly friands; I’m sure they will be much appreciated. Home-made gifts are the most loving of all.
I like that..tears this year, smiles next year… thank you and yes, my spell checker thought friands should be friends too …and why not have friendly friands ? :).