As usual my piping is far from perfect, but overall I’m pretty proud of this. Each component is a lot of work, but they come together so beautifully thanks to Mary Berry’s great recipe and design www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes...

Will follow up later with photos of a slice + tasting notes

Here's my thread about the pastry-wrapped poached pears for more details on those. The method is different bc you poach the pears first, then wrap and bake. This gives a crispier/flakier/more typical pastry crust cloak:
bsky.app/profile/ferr...

To make apple cider reduction (aka apple cider molasses):
Simmer apple cider in large pot on stove until thickened and reduced to about 1/8th original volume
If desired, you can add cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise etc and other flavorings to the cider while simmering

To make apple dumplings:
Peel & core apples
Fill w/ dabs of butter & mix of sugar/warm spices
Wrap individually in pie dough
Brush w/ egg + more sugar/spice
Bake 400F for 15 mins
Add apple cider reduction to dish & bake 375 for another 30 - 40 mins until golden brown, basting dumplings w/ reduction

Same! I just had to try that combination. It's a lot lighter than American apple pie, with a more interesting texture. Here's a recipe if you're interested www.polkafoodie.com/szarlotka-po...

Here you go! You can use pretty much any nuts you prefer or have on hand soufflebombay.com/cranberry-pi...

Moving onto darker shades against a white background:

From the same video, a closeup of an ancient leaf gingerly peeled from rock and suspended between acetate sheets. You can see its colors, veins, and even blemishes that might be spots of damage from weather or insects.

A relic from a different Earth, another world, yet instantly familiar.

In this fantastic video (timestamp adjusted), you can glimpse the autumnal burgundy of a freshly excavated Miocene leaf, which quickly fades to black. Hosted by @martinebotany.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?t=239&...

Working from 1886-1936, the Blaschkas used innovative techniques to emulate the colors, forms, & textures of real plants, meticulously joining numerous individual parts on wire frames, melting glass on glass, and often coating and adorning the glass with resins, gelatins, cotton fibers, and paint.

Thank you! 🙏🏼