34 Comments
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JoJo Thomson's avatar

This is spooky. I was rootling in Sour yesterday (looking for a shrub or switchel recipe) and the book fell open on the apricot upside down cake. I bought a bag of almost ready apricots yesterday .. I’m so making this cake very soon! 🙏

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Ha! It was meant to be

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Feasts and Fables's avatar

This feels like very exciting news. Served with cherry ice cream, my love?

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JoJo Thomson's avatar

Oh yes!! Already made!!

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Mark Thomas's avatar

What time do you want us round? 😆

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JoJo Thomson's avatar

Not made it yet 🤪

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Sally Morgan's avatar

I have finally discovered the culinary delights of day lilies, grown them for years but only started to eat them this year

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Mark Ridsdill Smith's avatar

Mmm, I've also grown them for years but 99% of them -I'm ashamed to say - stay on the plant. Never quite sure what to do with them. Any tips welcome.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

My favourite is raw in salad but tempura is a close second

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Lesley's avatar

Thanks so much for the apricot upside-down cake recipe, Mark. I must definitely give it a try. I love apricots

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Lesley, perfect time for good ones too

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Christie Dietz's avatar

I saw Brian Wilson in 2004 too, at the Royal Festival Hall. It remains one of my favourite concerts I've ever been to.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

We were the lucky ones!

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Lucy Brazier's avatar

Black limeonade?! Can already taste this god damn you. Off to rootle around online because I doubt Lyme Nisa will help me x

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Amela Marin's avatar

That apricot cake is calling me. And it would be rude not to respond.

Thanks, I really enjoy the Compendium. And the writing course.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Amela - I hope you enjoy the cake

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Amela Marin's avatar

I will, I promise.

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Mark Ridsdill Smith's avatar

Mighty Baby! It's YEARS since I've heard anyone mention them. Their track, Virgin Spring, was a favourite back in the day when I was at Uni.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

I shall go and investigate that one!

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Hazel Pinto Rodrigues's avatar

I absolutely enjoy Mark's Substack and his posts on Sour were particularly exciting to read.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

I couldn't agree more

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Vanilla Black's avatar

If my memory serves me correctly. The Beach Boys had a patent on a musical vocal process. Basically, the vocals were recorded twice into a song but with a split second delay, which created a richer sound. Well, I’m almost sure it was The Brach Boys.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

The Brach Boys were even better than the Beach Boys too

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Vanilla Black's avatar

I always get those guys mixed up with each other.

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Catherine Phipps's avatar

Thanks Mark, I wondered why I was getting a flurry of new subscribers! I am thinking about taking your advice - this time! - and thinking about what shape it would take….xx

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Hurrah!

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Fiona Whittaker's avatar

Ok, bookmarking the apricots along with the cocoa cauliflower to try this summer once the busyness of term has ceased.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

I hope you enjoy them both Fiona

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Mark Thomas's avatar

Well, what an absolute TREAT to wake up to find you have kindly mentioned me! Thank you, Mark - truly. This journey all started and has been fuelled continuously by your good self - but cooking from Sour, this cake in particular, has certainly awoken something further.

I hope you’ve had a relaxing few days away, the food and views have looked idyllic. The perfect way to gird your loins for the book launch!

I’ve recently found and have been loving Catherine’s Substack too - Pressure Cooking the Books is fast becoming one of my favourite series here on Substack.

Pretty sure I say this every time, but I love these compendium posts - perfect thing to read whilst having a morning brew in the garden.

Speaking of, will for sure be placing an order of some seeds soon. After my recent success with cucumbers, I’ve found myself with green fingers…

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Mark Diacono's avatar

The growing bug is an addictive one! And thank you for your kind words, they are much appreciated

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Sharon Moncur's avatar

A lovely read, Mark, thanks. Thrilled to see you’re on the programme for the Garden Museum LitFest in September. It’s a great event (we always go, pandemics permitting). See you there!

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Sharon, and yes, greatly looking forward to the Garden Museum event - see you there

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Catherine Sharman's avatar

All lovely – that apricot cake! The Beach Boys, Catherine Phipps (I found Catherine just before Christmas via the lovely India Knight – have never looked back. How I got to 57 without a pressure cooker I’ll never know). Your writing is wonderfully relaxing and hypnotic - meandering gently through different topics, drawing me in and soothing my brain. It’s not hard to see why you’ve won so many awards. Such a joy to read, thank you ☀️💛

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Ah, Catherine, thank you for your lovely words - great to have your company here

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