Welcome to the ‘ber months
Bon Iver on repeat
Hello and welcome! Whether you’re a new reader or a loyal regular, this post is your ‘Quick Start Guide’ to what you can expect from me here at Taisty Bytes.
As much as I enjoy the classic English countryside summer, that slight nip in the air and leaves turning crimson are welcome signs that Autumn has arrived. September, October, November… the ‘ber months are by far my favourite of the year. Give me woolly hats, cozy scarves and frosty grass underfoot over sun cream and speedos1 any day!
The air feels fresher and there’s this beautiful golden light that makes everything look like it’s straight out of a postcard. (Handy when you’re getting in to photography!) There’s something about this time of year that feels like a fresh start. Maybe it’s all those years of associating September with the start of a new school term, but I always feel a burst of energy and creativity as the seasons change. It’s like the universe is giving us a gentle nudge to shake things up and try something new.
As leaves paint the mountainside,
Autumn whispers of new beginnings
If you’ve been following me on Notes, you’ll know that I took a short hiatus due to illness and some much-needed renovation work on the house. Both the kitchen and I were knocked out of action for a bit, but we’re back in business now and I couldn’t be more excited to be tapping away again.
And in some exciting news—I’m very happy to report that we’ve hit over 100 subscribers! 🎉 A great big thank you to all of you for your support 🙌🤙. Seriously, you guys are the best. I’m not entirely sure where the last nine months have gone, but what a journey it’s been so far!
happy snapping
While I haven’t been pottering around the kitchen these past few weeks, this little break gave me the perfect excuse to explore practicing my photography. Autumn is such a great time for photos. The way the light filters through the trees, the vibrant colors of the leaves, that slight haze…it’s pure magic. I’ve tried to keep my camera on me whenever we go out - snapping away at anything that catches my eye. Hiro has also been an unwilling model, as always, too.
Here are a few of my favorite shots from recent adventures:
I've treated myself to a mini printer that prints out photos with that old-school Polaroid vibe. I’ve got this idea to incorporate these little prints into my food journal posts. Not entirely sure how it’s going to pan out yet, but I think adding some tangible memories could be a fun twist. Maybe a journal or a scrapbook-style layout? We’ll see! If I don’t use all the paper on photos of Hiro, that is…
back in the kitchen
Blueberry banana bread
For my first time back in the kitchen after a few weeks, guess what I made? If you said banana bread… ding ding ding! You’re spot on! I mean, are we even surprised at this point? My love affair with blueberries also continues, so I threw a handful in for good measure 🫐. I find blueberries add this lovely tangy sweetness that somehow elevates what is arguably one of the easiest things to bake into something more2. Those little pops of blue give it a nice aesthetic look, too3.
Raspberry muffin cake with streusel topping
Next up, I had some raspberries that were begging to be used - I reached out on Notes to get inspiration (thank you to everyone who commented, I have a good list to work through now) and settled on a raspberry muffin cake with a streusel topping. I couldn’t find a specific recipe for a muffin cake, so I tweaked a muffin recipe I had into cake form.
Deliciously moist that’s somewhere between a muffin and a coffee cake, topped with a crunchy, sweet streusel. I did opt to make the streusel with oil rather than butter - although this still worked and tasted great, you could definitely tell it wasn’t the right consistency. It also looked a bit anaemic as well.
All good notes to have for next time!
what I’m listening to
For me, music is a must when I’m cooking. It sets the mood and makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. As soon as the ‘ber months hit, I find myself keeping artists like Bon Iver and Novo Amor on heavy rotation. There’s just something about their soulful, atmospheric tunes that makes stirring a pot or waiting for something to bake feel like an absolute vibe.
Who do you listen to and do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments!
3 Creators to Follow
Each week I want to give a shoutout to three amazing creators who I’ve been loving lately. This week we have:
gloria bakes
Gloria is a phenomenal recipe creator and I’m constantly in awe at what she makes. Super lovely and someone you should definitely check out!The Watchful Cook
The lovely Jan writes about food, cooking and carving out her new life in northern Italy. Something me and Ben hope to do at something point in the not to distant future!Vanilla Black
Andrew and Donna write about their journey starting a vegetarian restaurant and is quite possibly one of the best series I’ve ever read. There’s drama, there’s recipes, there’s humor, there’s a guest appearance from Julia Child…
Well, that’s all from me today my friends. Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my little corner of the world.
As always, feel free to leave a comment or just say hi. I love hearing from you!
Until next time,
Mark
Speedos have never and will never be worn
Trying, but failing, to find an articulate word to use here
Am I turning into Dr Seuss?
Your idea of incorporating photos into your food journal intrigues me. It makes me wonder about the deeper connection between food, memory, and creativity. Do you think that capturing those tangible moments enhances the way you experience and remember the flavors you create? I'm fascinated by the idea of 'tasting' a memory through a photograph and a recipe.
I love this season, too, and just wrote about it yesterday along with a favorite tune, “Autumn Leaves” to begin the ‘ber months.