my snapshot weekend

by Sharon Santoni

This was my snapshot weekend. Ascension Day (last Thursday) is a bank holiday here and makes for a very welcome long weekend. I had dreams of putting my feet up, reading a good book, watching a film and enjoying one or two good meals, but of course this is the spring.

This is the moment to really get things up to speed in the garden. Young plants can be brought out of the greenhouse and given new homes. In the potager, we had to put up the canes that will support the tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and peas this summer.

Throw into this agenda an unexpected lunch here with friends, and very heavy rain throughout the weekend made for a fun and productive, although not entirely restful few days.

For lunch we prepared a spring vegetable ‘jardiniere’ with osso bucco, then my favourite lemon cheesecake for dessert. Here are a few shots snapped as I went, and I’m throwing in my recipe for good luck.

Hope that your week is getting off to a good start, thank you for reading me.

Lemon cheesecake recipe

To make eight individual cheesecakes, I use those small cylinder moulds, lined up on a flat baking tin, preferable lined with wax paper. Crumble two Speculos (Belgian spiced cookies) biscuits into the base of each mould.

This recipe could not be more simple. Beat 30ml of cream until slightly thick. Take 400g St Moret cheese and soften in a bowl. Add the cream and mix well, adding about 50g of sugar.

Grate the rind of 2 large lemons and add to the cheese mix, then squeeze the juice and add also. At this point the mix will appear fairly liquid, but will quickly begin to set. Using a ladle, fill each mold almost to the brim, tap the tin to settle the mix and put everything into the fridge until you are ready to serve.

These little desserts can be made the day before, and should be made at least a couple of hours before eating.

I like to serve this dessert with fresh red fruit, here I used strawberries and raspberries.

19 comments

mimi taylor May 17, 2021 - 9:15 pm

Love that dog and the blog, thank you

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Carolyn May 17, 2021 - 10:19 pm

You and your blog and your beautiful home have bought me so much pleasure at a time when we can’t travel. Biggest thanks

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Lorrie May 17, 2021 - 10:54 pm

A busy spring weekend was the event here, as well. The cheesecake sounds so easy and delicious. I make something similar, but with whipped heavy cream in place of the St. Moret cheese, which I’ve never seen here.

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Lisa D. May 17, 2021 - 11:06 pm

I love your furry garden helper. Thanks for the delicious looking post.

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Vicky from Athens May 17, 2021 - 11:16 pm

Sounds like a yummy dessert and I can’t wait to try it!
Your garden helper is especially cute and I’ll bet he’s the best at digging holes right where you need them!!

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robert May 17, 2021 - 11:48 pm

Your smaller canine child in the wheelbarrow is adorable…..pure charm. The cheesecake sounds delicious and easy!! Wonder how it would be with a lemon curd garnish?

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Jeanne May 18, 2021 - 12:16 am

The lemon cheese cake dessert is tempting.
Could you or any reader give me approximations for the biscuits and the cheese you used. I live in New England in the US and I don’t recognize these ingredients. Amounts can be altered so no need to redo the whole recipe.
Would a spice biscuit be similar to a ginger snap? Thank you for a great post!
Jeanne

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Paula May 18, 2021 - 1:02 am

I agree Jeanne, and I wonder what the measured amounts would be here in the US? I bet google will have the answer!!? I love that puppy , what kind is he or she 🙂

Kind Regards
Paula

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Leslie in Oregon May 18, 2021 - 11:36 am

His name is Ghetto, and unless I am mistaken, he is a Jack Russell Terrier.

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Bonnie Mack May 18, 2021 - 1:03 am

I really enjoy your posts. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful weekend with all of us. You recipe for the cheesecake grounds wonderful and simple. Your little helper is so adorable.

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Emm May 18, 2021 - 4:39 am

For Jeanne et al., Chef Google has lots of choices. Just google for “recipe conversion” or similar terminology. It’s the only way I manage to deal with metric and the US system.

So nice to see Ghetto. Hope Gibson is well, too.

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Kathryn Gauci May 18, 2021 - 6:28 am

I will try this recipe this weekend. Thank you, Sharon.

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villaeduardS May 18, 2021 - 8:20 am

It’s always a more pleasant day for me … when I visit your site … I feel at home with us … house and garden … beautiful

Here, too, another spring is full of rain … but wisteria is already blooming … peonies are gaining strength and promising beautiful flowers … I’m looking forward … they are newly planted.
We also have a dog helper at home … bigl Beta.
Lemon pie..with cream..excellent inspiration …
Many greetings to Beta

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franki Parde May 18, 2021 - 2:09 pm

This just “tastes” like SPRING!! franki

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Cheryl May 18, 2021 - 8:17 pm

Love your blog Sharon – it feels like “home” thank you.

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Sue Malizia May 18, 2021 - 8:23 pm

Just love your garden pictures especially Ghetto in the wheel barrow…makes me smile!

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Annie Falk May 18, 2021 - 9:38 pm

So lovely and inspiring. As I get my own garden up and running your images create excitement and momentum for the task ahead. Thank you.

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Laura Susan May 19, 2021 - 1:39 pm

I find myself saving your blog posts until I have had a rough day, because I enjoy reading them so much! Thank you!

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Mary May 19, 2021 - 10:08 pm

Your four-legged fur child is so cute!

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