Day 58

I have a very busy week ahead, with my fourth Farmer’s Market Cake stall coming up this Saturday, the 26th August. It's hard to believe it's already the fourth one! Some people have inquired about my presence at the stall, and I'm thrilled to confirm that I'll be there. I'll be baking more cheesecakes, including a plain one and a cherry filled one, alongside the other varieties I've been offering. Of course, I can't forget about my stollen – that's definitely on the list too.

I'm in the midst of ongoing preparations for my first "trial" dinner on 27th August. The orders for my preparations are coming in smoothly, which is a relief, and so far, everything seems to be to  my expectations. My menu has been typed out and is ready to go. I've also prepared a questionnaire for the guests, which will be crucial for me to gather feedback. Lastly, I'm in the process of putting together the grocery list.

The sun is shining, and Reza has taken full advantage of this by chopping all the wood from the old tree branches he's been collecting over the past few months. We had to remove large branches from a huge tree that was blocking our chimney flue, and now they're being chopped up and set aside to dry. Properly drying or seasoning the wood takes around eighteen months, depending on the water content. When storing the wood, it's important to stack it loosely and keep it off the ground to ensure proper air circulation. The scent of freshly chopped wood is really quite pleasant.

A little bit of Lemon Drizzle Stollen……….