the kitchen fairy
February 5, 2012 at 2:30 pm 41 comments
In the black of the night,
the kitchen fairy is up.
Sleep hides from her, skulking like a shadow, somewhere near by, but not close enough.
Tiptoed footsteps to the kitchen, careful to avoid the creaks in the floorboards.
outside is silence, the black of night is at its most silent.
The household sleeps on,
as the kitchen fairy begins to weigh and chop. Silent in her cutting and quartering.
her thoughts scamper from one to another, but even they eventually stop and pause, once the rhythm of cooking has taken over.
A match is struck, pots turned on.
Her breath held, while a pot lid slips from her grasp. She needn’t worry, the household slumbers on.
With the smells of plums and vanilla teasing the sleeping nostrils, she knows only good dreams can come of that.
Outside, the night continues on in black.
The kitchen fairy’s eyes grow weary,
sleep has stepped out of her shadows, beckoning to her once again.
The pots are turned off, her work now is done.
The slowly greying dawn will show lined jars of vivid plum jam, and cooling racks of sourdough bread,
time for the kitchen fairy to rest.
Plum Jam
2.3 kilos of plums
500mls water
2 kilos of sugar
juice of 1 lime
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Entry filed under: food glorious food. Tags: canning, fairies, food, jam making, kitchen, plum jam, prereving, recipes, seasonal.
1.
heidiannie | February 5, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I wish I had a kitchen fairy.
But I will have to settle for a jar of frozen strawberry jam.
Love your poem, pictures, and soaring imagination, Brydie!
2.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:37 am
A jar of frozen strawberry jam is still a good deal Heidi
3.
kim | February 5, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Oh Brydie, you have such a flair for cooking and such a flair for words. There …that is the name of your recipe book…’ City Hippy Kitchen Fairy’ .
4.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:41 am
I like it! City Hippy Kitchen Fairy- where hack baking and frugal meals unite…
Your too kind Kim
5.
Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial | February 5, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Oooh, I so hope you have a girl, Brydie..
6.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:43 am
Who knows Celia… the suspense is certainly building.
7.
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts | February 5, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Sounds like a magical night Brydie! And a productive one.
And I second that book name suggestion – City Hippy Kitchen Fairy would suit perfectly
8.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:45 am
It was a bit magical Kari. Everything feels different when it’s black outside.
9.
Jen Ryan | February 5, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Bless that yummy fairy
10.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:46 am
she doesn’t come around that often
11.
hotlyspiced | February 5, 2012 at 5:57 pm
I could do with a kitchen fairy around here. What a productive way to spend a sleepless night! Your plum jam is such a pretty vibrant colour. It looks incredible. What a great effort. I hope you’ve been able to catch up on your sleep!
12.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:48 am
They were deep dark plums to make that jam, and they do leave a gorgeous red once cooked up… everywhere if I’m not careful!
13.
Christine | February 5, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Ooh, it’s close! Especially with the appearance of the night-time kitchen fairy..
I remember you said February.. I keep thinking it will happen and none of us will know! Please get Mr Chocolate to post when he/she arrives? Please?
(Jam looks marvelous..as was the story!). Sleep well, dear fairy. xx
14.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:50 am
Night time fairy has been up to all manner of things lately… sleep? quite briefly…
…and don’t worry, you’ll know when it happens
15.
Tricia | February 5, 2012 at 11:26 pm
I wish I had a kitchen fairy. Especially one that makes plum jam
I picked a couple of kg of blackberries today. My arms are covered in scratches but its worth it. I’ll be doing some jam making myself soon.
16.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:53 am
A couple of kilos, ohhh, you lucky thing.
I haven’t played with blackberries before, I was hoping to pick some at Christmas time, but they weren’t ready yet. Happy jam making Tricia, I’ll bet that jam will taste superb.
17.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide | February 6, 2012 at 2:03 am
That looks wonderful.
18.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:54 am
swap you a jar for… oh, any of your kitchen goodies.
19.
Choclette | February 6, 2012 at 3:22 am
What a wonderful kitchen fairy you are. Don’t suppose you fancy flitting along to my kitchen one night? Those pots of jam look so good. I do hope you are taking good care of yourself though and getting enough sleep!!!
20.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 6:56 am
Sleep is brief, but at least my jam cupboard looks good!
21.
bitsandbreadcrumbs | February 6, 2012 at 4:48 am
That jam looks so yummy, and love the hit of lime with the plums. What a clever kitchen fairy!
22.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 6, 2012 at 7:00 am
I do like using limes in jam. I find it gives it an added tarty kick and also the lime lets it gel up beautifully.
23.
Ada | February 6, 2012 at 6:52 am
Sounds like thoughts of sugar plum fairies really should dance through your family’s heads at night! This jam sounds delicious. Definitely a great way to spend a sleepless night!
24.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:37 pm
I wonder if they really were dreaming of sugar plum fairies…
25.
teawithhazel | February 6, 2012 at 7:55 am
your fairytale images of a dark night and the family sleeping with a heavily pregnant you boiling the jam cauldron and baking bread are magical..it’s a modern but archetypal fairy story that resonates deep within me..
26.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:39 pm
thank you Jane… That’s a really sweet thing to write. I have a deep love for fairy tales that goes way back and will probably be with me forever.
27.
Anna @ the shady pine | February 6, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Bless the kitchen fairy may she visit often. The stacks of jam look absolutely beautiful and plum jam remains a firm favourite in our house.
28.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I think plum jam is one of my all time favourites as well Anna.
29.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella | February 6, 2012 at 5:03 pm
That is such a cute tale-I feel an affinity with the kitchen fairy!
30.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I can just imagine the kitchen fairy visiting your place often Lorraine!
31.
ayoungfoodie | February 6, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Limes in Jam? That’s something I’d like to try and experiment with..
32.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:41 pm
You won’t look back young foodie.
33.
Bam's Kitchen | February 6, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Sweet and tart. Yum! Bring on the scones.
34.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:41 pm
I’ve got the jam if you’ve got the scones…
35.
Kate | February 6, 2012 at 10:25 pm
What a wonderful batch of jam. Your belly looks like my daughters belly. Maybe you are both due at the same time.
36.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Soon Kate, very soon
37.
spree | February 7, 2012 at 1:51 am
How positively dreamy!! What a delicious post, even without the recipe, but With the Plum Jam, how positively scrumptious!
38.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Thanks Spree. There aren’t too many people that don’t like plum jam
39.
the lentil lady | February 7, 2012 at 11:45 am
oh you are wonderful. i just watched DVDs when i had that late pregnancy insomnia and restless legs. highly unproductive. what a gorgeous post!!!
40.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 7, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Don’t worry I definitely did that the first time! This time around, I hear a little tick tock, tick tock of all the things I would like to get done beforehand.
41.
sheof108names | February 9, 2012 at 12:14 am
Lovely read. I can’t remember ever eating plum jam, I do love plums. Looks beautiful, the colour so rich. Marissa x